Shin-Soo Choo Joins Elite Ranks After Saturday's Loss

 

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Choo Shin-soo got on base three times Saturday during a loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates to join an elite company of MLB players who have notched a set of impressive stats in a single season.

Choo is now one of only seven players in MLB history to hit 20 home runs, steal 20 bases, score 100 runs, walk 100 times and get on base 300 times in a single season. The others are Barry Bonds, Jeff Bagwell, Carl Yastrzemski, Chipper Jones, Bobby Abreu and Mike Trout.

Choo led off the game with a single into center field. In the third inning he was hit by a pitch for his 100th walk of the season. In the fourth inning Choo walked again for his 300th on-base of the season. The only other players to get on base at least 300 times this season are teammates Joey Votto and Trout.

Choo had already distinguished himself early in the season by

But the Reds’ leadoff batter couldn’t spark enough offense to offset Pittsuburg’s six homers, their biggest homer output in six years. The Pirates won 8-3 and secured home-field advantage against the Reds for the National League wild card playoff game Tuesday night in Ccinnati.

Choo has compiled other impressive stats. He leads the National League in being hit by pitches with 26 plunkings for the season. He is also second in the league in both runs scored (106) and walks (111).

Choo, 30, came over from S. Korea to join the Mariners in 2005. He was traded to the Indians in 2009, then to the Reds at the end 2012. His current salary is $7.35 mil. Choo’s consistency in getting on base has some talking about him as becoming MLB’s best leadoff batter, a status long held by Ichiro Suzuki while playing for the Mariners.