Sports
White Sox 1B Munetaka Murakami out 4-6 weeks, put on IL
May 26, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the eight inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images The Chicago White Sox will be without rookie slugger Munetaka Murakami for four to six weeks due to a Grade 2 strain of his right hamstring, manager Will Venable announced Saturday.
The White Sox placed Murakami on the 10-day injured list earlier on Saturday.
The 26-year-old first baseman, who shares the American League lead with 20 homers, sustained the injury in Friday’s home win against the Detroit Tigers.
Murakami grabbed his hamstring after hustling down the first base line to beat out a double play in the third inning. He was removed from the game and walked gingerly to the dugout without assistance; pinch runner Luisangel Acuna replaced him. An MRI on Saturday confirmed the injury.
“It hurts. It hurts,” Murakami said through an interpreter as to how his hamstring feels on Saturday.
Murakami is batting .240 with 41 RBIs and leads the AL with 43 runs scored through 57 games in his first year in the majors. The Japanese star signed a two-year, $34 million contract in December.
“It’s obviously disappointing at this stage being injured,” Murakami said. “There’s a lot of ways to contribute to the team, like cheering on and other stuff I can do. I’ll keep doing that so they can keep grinding as a team.”
In corresponding transactions, Chicago selected the contract of infielder Jacob Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte and transferred right-hander Jordan Leasure (right flexor strain) to the 60-day injured list.
Gonzalez, who is celebrating his 24th birthday, was not in the starting lineup for Saturday’s matinee with the visiting Detroit Tigers. He is ranked as Chicago’s No. 23 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
A first-round pick (15th overall) by Chicago in 2023 out of Ole Miss, Gonzalez is slashing .317/.419/.668 with 19 home runs and 62 RBIs in 52 games at Charlotte this season. He leads the minor leagues in RBIs and total bases (133) and is tied for the lead in homers through Friday.
Most of Gonzalez’s starts in the minors have been at shortstop, although he has started five games this season at first base and five at second base.
Gonzalez could become just the second player in White Sox history to make his major league debut on his birthday, joining left-hander Ken Patterson on July 8, 1988.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Bulls coach search includes BYU's Kevin Young
Mar 3, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young works the sideline against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the first half at Fifth Third Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images The rebuilding Chicago Bulls reportedly have expressed interest in BYU head coach Kevin Young for their head coaching vacancy.
ESPN reported Friday that “early conversations” with Young are part of a wide net being cast to replace Billy Donovan, who stepped down on April 21 after six seasons.
Chicago also parted ways last month with executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley. The Bulls finished 31-51 this season and missed the playoffs for the eighth time in the past nine seasons.
Young, 44, has guided BYU to a combined 49-22 record with two NCAA Tournament appearances since being hired in April 2024 after Mark Pope left to coach Kentucky.
The Cougars reached the Sweet 16 and finished No. 13 in the final poll in Young’s first season in Provo. They were ranked as high as No. 7 last season.
Young was an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns (2020-24) before taking over at BYU, including three seasons as the associate head coach. He was an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers from 2016-20 and has been the head coach of multiple teams in the NBA G League.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Song Yadong submits Deiveson Figueiredo in Macau
Jan 24, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Sean O’Malley (red gloves) fights Song Yadong (blue gloves) during UFC 324 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images China’s Song Yadong forced Brazil’s Deiveson Figueiredo to tap out, giving Song the victory in the bantamweight main event on Saturday at UFC Fight Night in Macau.
Song (23-9-1) locked Figueiredo, 38, in a guillotine choke to force the submission at 4:42 of the second round, handing two-time flyweight champion Figueiredo (25-7-1) his second straight loss and fourth in his last five fights.
It was the first fight on home soil since 2018 for Song, 28, who was coming off a loss by unanimous decision against Sean O’Malley at UFC 324 in January in Las Vegas.
Alonzo Menifield defeated China’s Zhang Mingyang by KO/TKO at 4:15 of the first round in a light heavyweight bout.
Heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich of Russia punched out Brazil’s Tallison Teixeira just 39 seconds into their fight.
Japanese bantamweight Kai Asakura also scored a first-round KO/TKO against Cameron Smotherman.
Other winners included Jake Matthews (welterweight) and Cody Haddon (bantamweight) of Australia; Luis Felipe Dias (middleweight) and Jose Henrique (welterweight) of Brazil; Japan’s Rei Tsuruya (bantamweight); Peru’s Rodrigo Vera (featherweight). Angela Hill and Brazil’s Jaqueline Amorim won their women’s strawweight fights.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Veteran D Tim Ream to captain U.S. at World Cup
Sep 6, 2025; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; US Men’s National Team defender Tim Ream (13) in action during the second half against South Korea at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Tim Ream will captain the U.S. men’s national team at the upcoming World Cup.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino awarded the armband to the 38-year-old Charlotte FC defender on Saturday.
“I am so grateful he is with us — he is a great captain not only (on the) field but more importantly off the field. He has the experience and capacity to be the leader we want,” Pochettino said.
Ream has earned 80 caps with the USMNT since 2010 and started all four matches for the 2022 World Cup squad captained by Tyler Adams in Qatar.
“This is more than a dream come true,” said Ream, who is set to become the oldest American to play in a World Cup. “It’s the highest honor for me.”
The U.S. squad is currently ranked 16th in the world and is in Group D for the World Cup in North America, opening play June 12 against Paraguay in Inglewood, Calif., before matches against Australia (June 19 in Seattle) and Turkey (June 25 in Inglewood, Calif.).
The Americans’ final tune-up friendlies are against Senegal (Sunday in Charlotte) and Germany (June 6 in Chicago).
Professionally, Ream is in his third season with Charlotte and fourth in the MLS. He has two goals and three assists in 105 regular-season matches (102 starts) with the New York Red Bulls (2011) and Charlotte (2024-26). He also played in England for Bolton Wanderers (2012-15) and Fulham (2015-24).
–Field Level Media
Report: Bulls coach search includes BYU's Kevin Young
Song Yadong submits Deiveson Figueiredo in Macau
