Munetaka Murakami was expected to make his first Jordan Brand appearance in the Air Jordan 3 “True Blue” cleat. Instead, he stepped into the MLB Home Run Derby wearing a pair nobody had seen before.
The Chicago White Sox first baseman debuted an Air Jordan 11 PE dressed in a deep red shade across the nubuck upper. A cracked pink tile pattern wraps the mudguard, replacing the patent leather normally associated with the model. White runs along the midsole, while metal spikes underneath finish the cleated setup.
It was a strong first showing for Murakami, who officially joined Jordan Brand ahead of his first MLB All-Star appearance. The Japanese slugger arrived in Chicago after hitting 246 home runs over eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball. He entered the All-Star break with 20 homers through his first 60 MLB games.
The original announcement pointed to the “True Blue” Jordan 3 as his first on-field shoe, but Murakami saved something much different for the Derby. The Air Jordan 11 PE matched the White Sox infielder’s burgundy batting gloves and stood out even more once the broadcast moved in for a closer look.
There are no release plans for Munetaka Murakami’s Air Jordan 11 PE. The pair appears to have been made exclusively for his Home Run Derby appearance and is not expected to be sold to the public.
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