Son As-seop (35-NC Dinos) became the first player in the KBO to hit 150 hits in eight consecutive seasons.
Son started the home game against the Lotte Giants at Changwon NC Park on Sept. 9 as the No. 1 designated hitter, and in his second at-bat of the third inning, he took a fastball from opposing starter Park Se-woong and lined it to left field.
It was Son’s 150th hit of the season.
Son responded to the cheering crowd with a thumbs-up.
Son has now hit 150 or more hits in eight consecutive seasons from 2016, when he was with Lotte, to this year.
This is a new KBO record, surpassing the previous record of 150 hits in seven consecutive seasons set by KBSN Sports commentator Park Yong-taek from 2012 to 2018.
Son is the KBO’s recognized “hit maker.
He topped the hit list three times (2012, 2013, and 2017), and in 2021, he reached 2,000 hits in 1,631 games at the age of 34 years, 3 months, and 22 days, setting the record for the fewest games and the youngest player in the category.
Now, Son is chasing the record for the most hits by an individual in the KBO.
Park Yong-taek had 2,504 hits before retiring.
With his 2,379th career hit in the first game of the doubleheader, Son, who ranks second on the KBO’s all-time hits list, will surpass Park as the league’s all-time hits leader during the 2024 season.
Son also reached 200 RBI this season, becoming the second player in KBO history to reach 200 RBI in 11 consecutive seasons.
Lee Dae-ho (retired) hit 200 runs in seven consecutive seasons with Lotte from 2005-2011 before going overseas to play in the major leagues in Japan and the United States. He returned to Lotte in 2017 and continued the record for four more seasons, until 2020.
After 11 consecutive seasons of 200 RBIs, Son will break the record next year if he hits at least 200 more.
“I would like to thank everyone who supported me and congratulated me for achieving the record,” he said after the game, “I think records come naturally when you play consistently.”
Despite Son achieving the record, NC lost the first game 2-5.
“I regretted that I scored a hit in the first game, but it didn’t lead to a team victory, so I won’t attach much significance to it,” he said, promising to focus on team victories and fall baseball rather than my personal record. 파워볼게임
