On the day Ha-seong Kim (28, San Diego Padres) broke his own record in the Major League (MLB), Shin-soo Choo (41, SSG Landers) set the record for the most hits in his career in Korea. He also had a different mindset when looking at his juniors.스포츠토토

After the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO league away game (9-6 victory) with the Lotte Giants held at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 5th, Choo Shin-soo said, “I saw (Kim Ha-sung’s stolen base record) as an article,” and said, “Only things left to get better in the future, and it was nice to see.” “He praised his junior’s performance.

On the 5th (Korean time), Ha-seong Kim played as the first batter and second baseman in the 2023 Major League home game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park in San Diego, California, USA, recording 2 hits, 1 walk, and 2 steals in 4 at-bats.

Kim Ha-seong succeeded in getting on base from the first at-bat at the end of the first inning. He technically attacked Dodgers starter Bobby Miller’s 4th low breaking ball and went to first base with a hit that slightly exceeded the height of second baseman. Then, he stole second base from Juan Soto at bat in third and succeeded in stealing his 23rd base of the season. With this, Ha-seong Kim broke the record for the most stolen bases (22 steals) by a Korean major leaguer in one season, set by Shin-soo Choo (then Cleveland) in 2010, for the first time in 13 years.

In the meantime, Kim Ha-seong survived with a bullet-like hit in the second at-bat, and this time also stole second base and recorded the 24th base steal of the season. From then on, every base stolen by Kim Ha-seong this season becomes a new history of the Korean league.

The heart of the senior who saw this couldn’t help but be happy. Choo Shin-soo said, “Records are always there for someone to break.” At the same time, he was convinced, “In the case of Kim Ha-seong, he is a very fast and good player in Korea, so I think he will steal more bases.”

In fact, Choo Shin-soo said he learned about juru only after he went to the United States. At first, he joined the Seattle Mariners as a pitcher and confessed, “I was a pitcher and then changed to a hitter. I also learned sliding in the United States. Before that, I couldn’t even slide.” On the other hand, Kim Ha-seong, who grew up as a professional infielder, recorded 22 steals from the second year of the KBO (2015) and stole 134 bases in his career before advancing to the United States.

Conversely, it can be said that it is great that Choo Shin-soo showed a hot-tempered aspect in the big leagues. Shin-soo Choo, who entered the American stage in 2001, stole 12 bases in the rookie league from his first year, and stole 37 bases in single A the following year. In 2004, when he was about to be called up to the major leagues, he stole 40 times in Double-A.

Choo Shin-soo (middle) attempts to steal second base during his major league days. /AFPBBNews=News1
Since then, Choo Shin-soo stepped on the big league stage in 2005 and started stealing bases in earnest in 2009. Joining the 20-20 club with 20 home runs and 21 stolen bases that year, he subsequently recorded 20 or more steals in four of his five seasons through 2013. Achieving 20-20 on three occasions was a bonus. Since joining Texas in 2014, his steal attempts have decreased, but his success rate has not been bad. In 2019, he stole 15 bases in 16 attempts.

Ha-seong Kim is the player who follows Shin-soo Choo’s hot-tempered side. Having achieved the 20-20 club twice in Korea (2016 and 2020), his home runs and stolen bases are increasing year after year after advancing to the United States. He recorded 8 home runs and 6 steals in 2021, 11 home runs and 12 steals last year, and this year, he is achieving 15 home runs and 24 steals as of the 5th. At this rate, it is possible to become the first Asian infielder to achieve 20-20.

In addition, Ha-seong Kim is showing off his top-notch skills in the league in defense, where Shin-soo Choo was somewhat weak. Choo Shin-soo couldn’t help but be happy to see a junior following his own path.