The KBO League has three 100 RBIs, but it may become the RBI king with 80 RBIs in 62 years. If Murakami, who is tied for first place, goes like this, 78
Sep 05, 2024
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As of the 4th, Austin, Davison and Choi Hyung-woo have more than 100 RBIs. KT Wiz Mel Rojas Jr. and SSG Landers Guillermo Herredia follow with 99. It is notable that foreign batters are at the top. By the 4th, 11 players had more than 90 RBIs.
Compared to last year, 'Tago-tugger' has intensified. Last season, Hanwha Eagles' Noh Si-hwan scored 101 RBIs to take the title. A total of four players went over 90 RBIs. In 2022, five players, including Lee Jung-hoo, recorded triple-digit RBIs.
The Japanese professional baseball, which has been driven by a strong 'thugo-taser', is in a very different atmosphere from the KBO league. In particular, Central League hitters are struggling.
Yakult Swallows foreign hitter Jose Osuna hit his 16th home run against the Yomiuri Giants at Kyocera Dome in Osaka on the 4th. In the fourth inning, when the score was tied 0-0, he hit a two-run home run to the left with no outs and first base to lead the team to a 3-0 victory. The game was hosted by Yomiuri with different leagues on the home turf of Orix Buffaloes, a member of the Pacific League.
Osuna, who had two RBIs, had 64 RBIs. Kazuma Okamoto, the fourth batter of the Yomiuri Giants, who tied for first in RBIs, and his teammate Munetaka Murakami by one point.
Hanshin Tigers second-year outfielder Shota Morishita follows them with 61. A total of four players including Morissita have more than 60 RBIs. 요코하마 베이
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It is the second half of the season when a fierce ranking fight is underway. Hiroshima Carp has 26 games and Hanshin has 20 games left. If this continues, he may become the RBI king even if he is below 80 RBIs. If the current pace continues, Murakami will finish the season with 78 RBIs, Okamoto and Osuna with 76 RBIs, Maki with 71 RBIs and Morisita with 70 RBIs.
Okamoto and Murakami have not had an RBI in their last five games. Morissita and Maki have added two RBIs in each of their past five games.
Okamoto hit 97 in 2020 and 113 in 2021 and topped the RBI list for the second consecutive year. Murakami topped the list with 134 RBIs in 2022 and Maki with 103 RBIs in 2023. Compared to recent years, we can see how sluggish RBI production has been this year.
In 1962, the last 80-run RBI king came out. In that year, Yomiuri's Oh Sadaharu (Wang Jeong-gi, chairman of the Softbank Hawks) ranked first with 85 RBIs. At that time, Yomiuri played 134 games, nine fewer than now.
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huelva@sportschosun.com
