The Chicago White Sox lost 102 games last season, but thanks to Munetaka Murakami and Miguel Vargas this season, they seem bound for October.

Vargas and Murakami are just a part of the equation for the White Sox this year. Breakout stars like Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, Sam Antonacci and Tristan Peters have also played a huge role.

However, it's Murakami and Vargas who are making history as the White Sox close in on a postseason berth, and perhaps even a first-round bye.

On Sunday, Murakami and Vargas both homered against the Detroit Tigers. It was the tenth time this season that the two homered in the same game, tying a franchise record. Luis Robert Jr. and Jake Burger in 2017, Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye in 2006 and Frank Thomas and Carlos Lee in 2003 all achieved the same feat.

The next time they homer in the same game will set a new franchise record. If they homer in the same game seven more times, they will pass Rafael Palmeiro and Alex Rodriguez's mark of 16 set in 2002.

Vargas has 28 homers this season, after hitting just 16 last season. Murakami has 29. Both were named All-Star, and rightfully so.

They are the first pair of White Sox teammates to each hit at least 28 home runs since José Abreu and Eloy Jiménez in 2019.

Looking at the bigger picture, what the White Sox have done is something many MLB teams will try to emulate. They have not achieved their success this year with big spending, but rather by taking risks and making strategic trades.

Murakami is the best example of the White Sox taking a risk. Coming over from Japan, many teams reportedly expressed interest in him, but were wary of paying him top dollar because of his swing-and-miss concerns.

That's not to say that players who don't carry a high average but hit for power cannot be successful, but there were concerns about whether his power would translate to the big leagues.

Other teams' hesitation led the White Sox to get Murakami on a two-year, $34 million contract that essentially serves as a "prove-it" deal.

His average is .234, but his OPS sits at .917. He does strike out a ton, but is in the 100th percentile for walk rate, hard-hit rate and barrel rate.

As for the young players making an impact, the Red Sox acquired Meidroth, Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery by trading away Garrett Crochet. Sean Burke and Antonacci are homegrown talents who are finally getting a shot to make an impact.

Whether or not the White Sox win the World Series or not is irrelevant at this point. This season is already a success considering many expected them to be out of the race by June.

They have turned themselves into a contender with young pieces capable of playing well for the next few seasons.

Photo: Chicago White Sox's Munetaka Murakami, right, celebrates his home run with Miguel Vargas, left, during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)