"I especially hate strikeouts" As we ask for the secret of 124 consecutive strikeouts, SD batters are the number one hit
Sep 14, 2024
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Lee Jung-hoo ended the season after injuring his shoulder while playing outfield defense in May, before he could unleash his potential. There are plenty of opportunities to challenge Araez after next year.
The record that symbolizes Araez's contact ability is the strikeout rate. As of the 13th (Korea time), Araez's strikeout ratio to at-bats was 4.2% (616 strikeouts), the lowest among 134 batters who passed the regulation. This means that he is the most difficult batter to strike out. It is less than half the strikeout rate (9.4 percent) of Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan, who ranks second in this category.
Since being traded from the Miami Marlins to San Diego in May, it has been 3.2%. His figures are lower than in 2022 (7.1%) and 2023 (5.5%), when he was the batting king for the second year in a row. It can be said that the elaborate pioneering plan of Araez is still evolving.
However, if you look at Araez's recent batting, it has become so sophisticated that you can't remember when he struck out.
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Arraez never struck out on 445 pitches during the period. He naturally rose to the top of the batting list due to his excellent ability to accurately guess. The batting average rose from 0.302 on Aug. 11 to 0.317. He is the No. 1 hitter in the National League.
Arraez recently said he doesn't strike out "All hitters hate striking out. Especially I do."
Arraez's current record is not enough to rank in the `top 5' in consecutive at-bats since the major league club expansion began in 1961. According to MLB.com , Philadelphia Felice Dave Cash did not strike out for 223 consecutive at-bats in 1976, ranking first in the category. It was followed by Chicago White Sox Nelly Fox (185) in 1962, Los Angeles Dodgers Bill Buckner (184), Philadelphia Philadelphia Greg Gross (173), and San Diego Padres Tony Gwynne (170) in 1995.
However, Araez's record stands out because of the recent major league trend. Since 2010, Major League Baseball has seen a boom in strikeouts among pitchers, reaching its peak this season. MLB.com said, "'Araez's aversion to strikeouts gives strength to a historic march at any point in MLB history.'" However, Araez's record of consecutive at-bats should be considered given this season, when pitchers' pitches are the most difficult to hit and strikeout rates are the highest ever. He is special. It's impossible to strike him out.
jhno@sportschosun.com
