Despite their relatively small power compared to pitchers,안전놀이터 Asian batters have been active by establishing their own areas. In the early days, there were many small players with good contact ability and quick feet. However, the number of players who can hit long balls began to increase.
The number of players who are ‘all-rounders’ rather than so-called half-players is increasing. A representative player can be seen as Shohei Otani (29, LA Angels), who has already dominated the league. Even apart from his historic role as a pitcher and hitter, Ohtani is building a successful career as a hitter, equipped with long hits, quick feet, and precise hitting.
In fact, Ohtani played in 135 games as a hitter this year and showed outstanding performance with a batting average of 0.304, on-base percentage of 0.412, 44 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 1.066. He also had 151 hits. However, his absence is currently prolonged due to elbow and side injuries, and there are even speculations that he will undergo elbow surgery early, making it unclear whether he will be able to build additional records.
If so, Kim Ha-seong (28, San Diego) could become another player who challenges the history of Asia’s ‘all-round player’. Ha-seong Kim, who is already recognized for his top-level defense in the league, has shown good scoring production by sharply improving his batting sense since mid-season. It is unfortunate that his batting skills have declined somewhat in September, but it is still a good result.
Ha-seong Kim started in the game against Houston held at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas on the 11th (Korean time) and added one hit. Center fielder Chad McCormick attempted a diving catch, and the initial ruling was out. However, it was overturned after video review. If it weren’t for the misjudgment, Ha-Seong Kim, who had already reached second base, could have made a double, but unfortunately, only a single was recognized in the video review.
However, Ha-seong Kim set his record for most hits in a season with this hit. The previous record was 130 hits recorded last year. Considering that there are still more than 15 days left in the season, Ha-seong Kim’s streak of new personal records is expected to continue.
▲ If he uses a little more strength in stealing bases, Ha-seong Kim is a player for whom even 40 stolen bases is not a dream.
▲ Ha-seong Kim can achieve 150 hits if he maintains his current pace and plays all remaining games. ⓒYonhap News/AP News
▲ In the history of Asian players, no player has recorded more than 150 hits, more than 16 home runs, and more than 30 steals in a single season.
Although the team suffered a crushing loss due to poor performance, Ha-seong Kim’s record-building continued. Ha-seong Kim is recording a batting average of 0.271, 131 hits, 17 home runs, 57 RBI, and OPS of 0.778 in 139 games of the season as of today. His 34 stolen bases have already re-written the highest single-season record in Korean player history.
The key now is whether he can become the first Asian player to achieve over 150 hits, over 16 home runs, and over 30 stolen bases. It seems like it would be quite an example since there were many cross hitters, but there has never been a case like this among Asian players.
The closest was Ichiro Suzuki’s 2005, when Ichiro not only recorded 206 hits, but also added 15 home runs and 33 stolen bases. However, the number of home runs was slightly short. He also had 212 hits and 34 stolen bases in 2003, but only 13 home runs. This year, the number of stolen bases and hits are similar to those of Kim Ha-seong, but the number of home runs is somewhat lacking.
Ha-seong Kim now has 19 hits left. If he can improve at his current pace and continue playing until the end of the season, he could hit 150. The 150 hits alone is a record that not many players in Asia have achieved. Among Korean players, only Choo Shin-soo holds this record. Choo Shin-soo has recorded more than 150 hits a total of five times, starting with 175 hits in 2009.
Among Asian players, Shin-Soo Choo, Ichiro, Hideki Matsui, Norichika Aoki, Shohei Otani, Tadahiro Ikuchi, and Akinori Iwamura have records of over 150 hits. Among them, Ikuchi and Iwamura were infielders, and Ha-seong Kim is attempting to become the third infielder in Asian history to reach 150 hits. Ikuchi and Iwamura only stole 11 and 8 bases that season, respectively.
Currently, Kim Ha-seong’s team, San Diego, has played 144 games and has 18 games remaining. Kim Ha-seong’s mathematical hitting pace is around 151, assuming he plays in all future games. Even more is possible if you improve the feeling of hitting a little more. If he works a little harder on his home run and steal pace, he could become the first Asian player to hit 20 home runs and steal 40 bases. Everyone is watching with bated breath to see where Kim Ha-seong’s final results will end.
▲ Kim Ha-seong, who is attracting great interest in whether he won the Gold Glove and his personal records.
▲ San Diego Kim Ha-seong