Park Hae-min (33), LG’s four-time stolen base champion, achieved 20 stolen bases for the 10th consecutive year. He became the protagonist of the second record in KBO history.
Park Hae-min started as center fielder No. 9 in the home game against SSG held at Jamsil Stadium on the 16th. He went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a significant stolen base.
Park Hae-min, who was retired by a grounder to second base in his first at-bat in the third inning, reached base with a single to left after two outs in the fifth inning. He then attempted to steal second base during Hong Chang-gi’s at-bat and succeeded by sliding headfirst. 20th stolen base of the season. Afterwards, Hong Chang-ki’s timely hit resulted in a score.
Haemin Park set a record of 20 steals for 10 consecutive seasons. This is the second record in history, following Jeong Geun-woo (retired)’s 20 stolen bases in 11 consecutive seasons (2006-2016).
Hae-min Park debuted in the KBO League in 2013, and succeeded in stealing his first base on May 4, 2014, against Daegu NC. He finished the 2014 season ranked 5th in stolen bases with 36. He won his first career stolen base title with 60 stolen bases in the 2015 season. He won the stolen base title for four consecutive years through the 2018 season.
Until last year, he had built a reputation as a master of stolen bases by ranking in the top stolen bases every season. His personal career total of 362 stolen bases ranks him 10th all-time and second among active players.
After the game, Park Hae-min said, “I knew the record,” and “I thought I could do at least one even if it wasn’t today, so I didn’t think I had to do it today.”
On this day, LG held an event for the players’ family day and invited the players’ families. Park Hae-min said, “My parents, wife, and child came together.”
Stealing bases is Park Hae-min’s representative strength. There is no slump in his feet. Park Hae-min said, “I always try to make the plays I can on the ground, and I think that if I don’t steal bases anyway, I might lose my competitiveness in my baseball life, so I ran hard and I think I was able to steal 20 bases for 10 consecutive years.” He shared his thoughts on the record.
When asked how it feels to look back on 10 years, Park Hae-min said, “I thought I could steal 20 bases for 10 years in a row, but I didn’t set that as my goal, but I am very proud that I was able to steal 20 bases for 10 years in a row. “I think so,” he said.
He came closer to Jeong Geun-woo’s record by one season. Park Hae-min said, 토토사이트 “I have a desire to break the score, but stealing bases is something that cannot be done just by thinking about the individual. It is also something that the team has to think about, so if I think about those things carefully and try to utilize my strengths, I can tie for the 11th consecutive year. “I think we can break that record as well,” he said.
He then added, “If I get greedy about stealing bases, it may seem selfish to the team, so I think (records) will follow if I play the baseball I can.”
With the arrival of Manager Yeom Kyeong-yeop, LG is emphasizing ‘running baseball’ and actively asking players to steal bases. Park Hae-min can show his strengths. Park Hae-min said, “Director, there are only two years left in his term. “If we do it for two years, it will be a new record,” he said with a smile, adding, “I think I will be able to do it as long as I don’t get hurt (a new record for 12 consecutive years).”
His extensive experience and accumulated know-how in stealing bases does not lag behind the speed and competition of young players in their 20s. Park Hae-min said, “There are other records that I am greedy for. There is only one player, senior Kim Il-kwon, who has stolen bases five times, so I have a desire to try that as well. First, let’s do well this season and win the championship, and then (expanding the base, limiting checks, etc.) “If things change in that direction, I would like to challenge for the stolen base title again next year,” he said.