Reporter Ahn Ho-geun from Star News | 2023.04.27 07:10
His on-base percentage alone is 0.288. However, if he does get out, he transforms into one of the most feared runners in Major League Baseball (MLB). This is the story of Bae Ji-hwan (24, Pittsburgh), who ranks 4th in the National League (NL) in stolen bases. In the 2023 MLB home game against the Los Angeles Dodgers held at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, USA on the 26th (Korea time), Bae Ji-hwan started as a center fielder for the 8th batter and recorded 2 hits, 2 runs and 2 steals in 4 at-bats.
Although the team lost 7-8, Bae Ji-hwan’s performance was impressive. US CBS Sports noted Bae Ji-hwan’s performance and said, “The utility player, who started as a center fielder, ran wild against Noah Syndergaard, who struggled to put runners out even before MLB made stealing easier .”
He is literally running wild. His mobility energizes the team. Whenever he gets a chance, he steals second base and digs home with his quick feet. The defensive show created by the body flight is also possible due to the quick feet.
The game that day clearly showed the charm of Bae Ji-hwan. Both hits were infield hits, and he brought in consecutive second base, both leading to runs.
Bae Ji-hwan fully proves his worth this season. He plays the outfielder and the infielder at the same time, giving the coach a wider range of options, and has already created highlight films with his excellent defense several times.
There is also sadness in the attack. With a batting average of 0.224, an on-base percentage of 0.288 and a slugging percentage of 0.343, the OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) is only 0.631. However, quick feet and impact are by no means lacking. The media reported that “Bae Ji-hwan attempted 8 times and recorded 7 stolen bases.” He also hit two home runs, including a last bunt.
The most notable thing is lightning speed. According to Statcast, out of 176 people who have sprinted base running more than 10 times this season, Bae Ji-hwan was second with an average 90-foot (27.43 m) running time of 3.77 seconds.
Furthermore, MLB this season has created a more favorable environment for stealing by increasing base size and limiting pitcher pitches. That is why the value of Bae Ji-hwan has no choice but to attract more attention in the new environment.
Bae Ji-hwan, who has managed to steal 7 bases and is in 4th place in the NL, is expected to easily surpass Shin-soo Choo’s record of 22 in 2010. This is the record for most stolen bases by a Korean player in one season.
Moreover, at the current speed, Bae Ji-hwan could successfully steal 49 bases. Since the team is actually getting a green light, it seems they can manage to steal more bases than this if they raise the on-base rate a bit.
[저작권자 @머니투데이, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]
