Lee Jong-wook, Jung Soo-bin and Oh Jae-won, as well as Jung Soo-geun, who was a four-time stolen base king, have overcome all the Bears’ history. Cho Ha-soo (31, Doosan Bears) broke the Bears’ record for most stolen bases.스포츠토토
Cho started as the ninth batter right fielder in Game 14 of the season against the Samsung Lions at Pohang Baseball Stadium on the 21st and helped his team win 5-2 by scoring one hit, one walk and one run from three times at bat.
Personally, stealing bases in the top of the third and fifth innings gave significant meaning to him. Cho, who stole 57th and 58th bases in a row, set a new record for the most stolen bases in a single season in the Bears’ history.
It is a feat that none of the Bears’ previous stolen bases have achieved. Lee Jong-wook (51 steals) in 2006, Oh Jae-won (46 steals) in 2011, and Jung Soo-bin (39 steals) in last year, as well as Jung Soo-geun, who won the title four times, recorded the highest number of steals in 1999 with 57 steals.
In addition, he is somewhat different from the previous stealers as he was a veteran player who had long been unknown. In the fourth inning, Jung Soo-keun had a career batting average of 0.280, 1493 hits and 474 steals, Lee Jong-wook had a career batting average of 0.291, 1478 hits and 340 steals, Oh Jae-won had a batting average of 0.267, 1152 hits, 289 steals, and Jung Soo-bin had a batting average of 0.279 1,450 hits and 320 steals. He was an indispensable key player in the team, who has been wearing Doosan’s uniform since his debut.
Cho was recognized as a fast runner. He joined the team with high expectations by ranking fifth overall in the second round of the Doosan Bears` first round in 2016, but did not grow as much as expected. During the seven seasons he spent in the first team before this season, he had 126 games last year, but he only played 249 times at bat. Compared to starting players throughout his professional career, Cho had to play as a pinch runner and a big-time defense in the middle of games. Although Cho had remarkable baserunning, he had 26 steals last year, which was his personal record.
Things have changed this season. He has had many chances to play as a quarterfinalist since the beginning of this season. He has advanced in batting performance, having played 322 at-bats in 108 games, gaining the most chances since his debut and posting a batting average of 0.272. He has been a burden to Lusang since his debut, but as he has had more chances to get on base than ever before, the burden to his opponent has doubled.
This record is all the more special in that it was set in eight years since his debut as a pro golfer. With a gap of 13 points with Chung Soo-bin (45, stealer), who is virtually one step closer to the title of stealer king, Cho is aiming a higher goal.
Currently, the Korean team ranks 12th with Lee Soon-cheol (1988), but with the current pace, it can add 12 more in the remaining 23 games, which can surpass 70 steals. Although the number one ranking is 84 for Lee Jong-beom (Haitai) in 1994, the gap is far from the top, but the team is likely to challenge 75 for Jeon Joon-ho (Lotte) in 1993 or 73 for Lee for the third in 1993.
“I’m honored to have achieved the record of the most stolen bases ever by the Doosan Bears,” Cho said after the game. “At the beginning of the season, I didn’t expect to be able to do this much, but I was able to achieve the record because the coach and the running coach trusted me a lot. Thank you for always giving me a good opportunity.”
Of course, the desire to become a stealer is natural, but I think it is more important to make the most of the opportunities that have been sought after since his debut. “People around me mention the stealer king a lot,” Cho said. “I try not to pay as much attention as possible. If I focus on each game, I think good results will naturally follow. My top priority right now is to repay the opportunities I received with results.”
“I’d like to thank the fans who came to Pohang despite the hot weather,” Cho said. “I was able to play confidently because the fans’ support was always a good driving force. I’ll continue to show good performances.”