Cincinnati's Choo Shin-soo ends first half with bang

SEOUL, July 15 (Yonhap) -- Choo Shin-soo, the leadoff man for the Cincinnati Reds, closed out the first half of the Major League Baseball (MLB) season in much the same way as he started -- with a bang.

Choo belted his 13th home run of the season against the Atlanta Braves on the road on Sunday and extended his hitting streak to 12 games. He went 2-for-3 with an RBI, three runs scored and two walks, as the Reds beat the Braves 8-4.

The Reds and the rest of the MLB will enjoy the All-Star break until Thursday.

Playing in his first season for the Reds after an offseason trade from the Cleveland Indians, Choo is now batting .287 with 13 home runs and 31 RBI, along with 11 steals.

His on-base percentage, which has never dipped below .400 this season, is now sitting at .425, third-highest in the entire MLB. Choo's 64 walks rank him second in the big leagues, seven behind his Cincinnati teammate Joey Votto, while he's third in the National League with 66 runs scored.

Choo, 31, began the season on a scorching note, batting .337 with an on-base percentage of .477 in April as the primary leadoff man. Much had been made of the Reds' struggles from the leadoff spot in 2012, with seven different players combining for just a .208 batting average and a .254 on-base percentage.

Choo went through a lull in May and June. He batted just .240 in 26 games in May, albeit with six home runs. His batting average for June was .224, and he only managed two home runs in 26 games last month.

The centerfielder turned things around in July, hitting safely in 12 of 13 games he's played this month and raising his average from .264 on July 1 to .287 after Sunday's contest. With his blend of power, contact ability and speed, Choo has been just the type of a leadoff hitter that the Reds had wanted as they chase another playoff berth.

In an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Saturday in Atlanta, Georgia, Choo said he was more pleased with having stayed healthy in the first half than with his strong statistics across the board.

"I am not too concerned about my numbers," Choo said. "If I can stay healthy and play every day, then stats will come naturally."

Choo attributed his earlier slump to his mental issues.

"It wasn't anything technical, but I think I was just pushing myself too hard to do better," he said. "I've been more relaxed in recent games, and I think that has led to some good results."

Choo has been among the league leaders in on-base percentage and walks all season. The one category where he's firmly entrenched at the top is the hit-by-pitch (HBP).

Choo has been nailed a career-high 20 times in 92 games this year, five more than the next batter, Starling Marte of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Choo's previous career mark for HBP was 17 in 2009, when he played 156 games for the Indians.

Choo said opposing pitchers are only trying to get the better of him and that he doesn't mind getting hit.

"The pitchers are trying to study and analyze me as much as I analyze them," he said. "From their perspective, they must feel that they should come inside to keep me from getting hits."

Choo's hot start to the season put him in some All-Star conversations before his quiet stretch in May and June ruled out the possibility of his first All-Star appearance. Some U.S. papers considered Choo among the All-Star snubs, but the player said he will enjoy a little downtime during the break. He has played in 92 of the Reds' first 95 games this season.

"When I started the season well, I was hoping to play in the All-Star Game," Choo admitted. "But I gave up hopes after May and June. I am not disappointed. I am an everyday player, and so four days of rest should help me a great deal in getting ready for the second half."

Choo said his goal for the second half is to stay as healthy as he is now.

"I'd like to play every game the rest of the season," he said. "If I can do that, I think the numbers will just follow."

Choo is set to become a free agent after this season. Before he got traded, Choo signed a one-year deal worth US$7.37 million, and if he keeps up his performance this year, Choo could be in line for a lucrative multi-year contract.

The Reds, not among the deep-pocketed big league clubs, may or may not be able to afford Choo after this year. Whatever the future holds, Choo said he is enjoying his time with Cincinnati.

"I am surrounded by great teammates and coaches," he said. "In particular, I feel that manager Dusty Baker really cares about players from outside the U.S. He gives me plenty of advice, and I am very grateful."

After Sunday's victory, the Reds were sitting at 53-42. Their .558 winning percentage is the fourth best in the NL, but in the highly competitive NL Central, the Reds are only in third place, behind the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pirates.