 Cleveland Indians outfielder Choo Shin-soo hit his 20th home run of the season Saturday, becoming the first Asian player to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a season. / Korea Times File |
By Matt Flemming
Staff Reporter
Choo Shin-soo belted a two-run homer off Boston Red Sox pitcher Paul Byrd in the seventh inning Saturday to become the first Asian player to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a single season in Major League Baseball history.
The right fielder hit a 1-0 pitch over the Green Monster in left field at Fenway Park in Boston, scoring shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera.
The 27-year-old swiped his 20th base of the season on Sept. 25 and stole his 21st last Wednesday.
As have many of Choo's great offensive performances this season, it came in a losing cause as the Indians fell 11-6. The Tribe was burned by their former catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez, who was traded to Boston earlier this season. Martinez hit a grand slam against starter Aaron Laffey in the second inning.
Cleveland couldn't take advantage of a shaky start by the Red Sox ace who gave up four runs in the first two innings.
Choo's blend of power and speed has made him one of the rising young outfielders in the game. He is one of 12 players, through Saturday, who had at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases.
Asia has produced more prolific home run hitters ― Hideki Matsui of Japan has four 20-homer seasons, and more prolific base stealers Ichiro Suzuki has averaged almost 40 stolen bases a season over his career ― but Choo is the first to join the 20/20 club and has done so in his first full season in the majors.
The Busan native currently leads the Indians in both categories, as well as in slugging percentage (.489), on-base percentage (.394) and RBIs (86), and is second in doubles (38) and third in batting average (.300).
Choo also broke former major leaguer Choi Hee-seop's record for home runs in a season by a Korean player, when he hit his 16th last month.
Park Chan-ho Re-aggravates Injury
Philadelphia Phillies reliever Park Chan-ho aggravated his right hamstring while pitching in an instructional league session on Thursday and will likely not be ready to pitch when the Phillies begin the National League Division Series (NLDS).
When asked by team trainers how his hamstring felt after the session, Park replied "Not good," according to the Phillies Web site.
"Right now, it's day-to-day," said Philadelphia general manager Ruban Amaro Jr. "We'll see how it goes. I can't say whether I'm optimistic or pessimistic, because you never know how he'll heal over the next couple days. But I do know it's unfortunate, because he was throwing the ball real well. We'd love to have him."
The Phillies clinched the NL East last Wednesday and clinched home field advantage on Saturday despite losing 4-3 to the Florida Marlins.
The team was also dealt another blow when pitcher J.C. Romero announced he is likely done for the season, due to tendinitis in his left elbow.
mattflemming@koreatimes.co.kr
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