Hong Chang-ki has an on-base percentage of 0.446 (as of the 24th) this season, far ahead of Kim Do-young (0.421, KIA Tigers), who is ranked second in this category. As there are not many games left in the regular season, his title is likely to win unless something unexpected happens.토토사이트
Hong also ranked first in on-base percentage in 2021 (on-base percentage of 0.456) and last year (0.444). “Before the opening of the season, I was worried about whether I would be able to hit another .400 on-base percentage. I’m glad that my confidence and anxiety coexisted,” he said with a smile.
The KBO League introduced automatic pitching system (ABS) for the first time in the world during the 2024 season. A ball that could have been declared a ball if a referee had made a decision in the past can often be a strike in ABS.
While batters struggled to adapt to ABS, Hong Chang-ki was still given the title of on-base man. “I tried to adjust to the ABS zone, but the batting balance seemed to be getting worse. That’s why I am maintaining my own strike zone,” he said. “There are differences in ABS in different stadiums. It is a part that I need to adapt again and try again next season.”
Hong’s on-base percentage is 0.430. He has recently become the No. 1 in on-base percentage based on his ability to digest 3,000 or more at-bats. He has surpassed not only Jang Hyo-jo (0.427), who has won the on-base percentage title six times in the KBO, but also other players such as Yang Joon-hyuk (0.4209) and Kim Tae-kyun (0.4208).
“It’s an honor. It’s better to be up there for a while than Jang Hyo-jo, who has good contact with his zone,” Hong said. “The seniors (Yang Joon-hyuk and Kim Tae-kyun) played more than 8,000 at-bats, and I’m just over 3,000 now.”
Hong’s high on-base percentage is attributable to his batting eye and contact ability. At the game against SSG Landers on Monday, he also showed off his charm from his first at-bat in the first inning. Leadoff Hong was driven by 0 ball-2 strike in the top of the first inning, and got on base by a walk after a game of nine pitches. After two strikes, balls entering the zone were cleared by fouls three times. LG first scored two runs in the first inning using Hong’s on-base hit. SSG ace Drew Anderson, who had struggled since the first inning, left the mound early by allowing six runs during two innings. Hong’s on-base hit was the driving force behind LG’s decision to rank third (14-6 wins) in the final round of the regular season.
Hong has posted a batting average of 0.334 this season. His batting average in September reached 0.433. “We need to prepare (for the semi-playoff) right after the end of the season. I think we will be able to prepare for the post season with confidence,” he said.