What happened: Munetaka Murakami said he views postseason pressure as a privilege and explained how he handles high-stakes moments. The comment keeps the October focus on a rookie bat already carrying major attention.
Why it matters: Murakami enters the postseason after reaching 35 homers in a two-homer game last week, so his approach in leverage spots matters beyond a routine sound bite. A rookie power hitter can force different late-game pitching decisions once each plate appearance starts carrying elimination-level weight.
By the numbers: Murakami had 35 homers after his two-homer game on Sept. 25.
What to watch: The next read comes in Murakami's next high-leverage postseason at-bat. If the power carries into October, this line of thinking will get tested quickly.