Chae Eun-sung (33-Hanwha Eagles) has been a run-producing hitter this season.
In the first game of a midweek three-game series against the KIA Tigers of the 2023 KBO League at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on March 23, Chae started at third base and went 2-for-5 with two RBIs to lead her team to a 9-5 victory. In the second game against KIA on April 24, he hit a four-seam fastball from opposing pitcher Yoon Young-chul for a solo home run to left field with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning while trailing 1-0. Season No. 8.
Chae has 32 RBIs in 40 games in which he has played as of April 24. That’s tied for second in the league with Austin Dean (32-LG Twins) behind Edison Russell (36-Kiwoom Heroes). Narrowing it down to domestic hitters, he’s first.
He’s been consistent enough to hit safely in 18 games. He’s also maintained a triple-digit batting average with runners in scoring position. “I think I’m more focused when I’m up to bat with runners in scoring position. I like those situations more,” she laughed.메이저사이트
Chae’s career high in RBIs was 119 in the 2018 season. It was fourth in the league. At the time, Chae had 30 RBI in the first 40 games of the season. This season, with a faster pace of production, is the perfect time to break her personal best.
“I don’t set a numerical goal for myself because I only get hits with runners in scoring position. Even in the 2018 season, I just went out with the mindset of ‘if there are runners on base, I’ll do whatever I can to bring them home,’ and that’s how I surpassed 100,” she said.
“There’s no point in getting 100 RBIs if the team isn’t doing well. It’s best to have a lot of hits that directly contribute to the win.” “In a bases-loaded or runners on first and third, even if you don’t get a hit, you can still get a hit. I think we need to be more aggressive so that we don’t strike out and go home.”
He also emphasizes this attitude to his juniors. When Hanwha’s rookie outfielder Moon Hyun-bin struck out with the bases loaded in the top of the first inning against KIA, Chae Eun-sung approached him and advised him, “A defensive attitude is poison.”
Chae Eun-sung batted just .074 in seven games last month, from the Lotte Giants on June 26 to the Doosan Bears on July 3. This was due to a sore left thumb. She took painkillers, but it didn’t improve, so she missed some games.
But she found her groove again, batting 3-for-15 (.333) in 15 games starting on April 4 against Doosan, with 12 RBIs in that span.
Chae said, “The pain is lasting longer than I thought. Finger injuries are hard to heal completely. Most players play with injuries. I don’t want to say that I can’t play because of the injury.”