They dug up real jewels. Moon Bo-kyung of the LG Twins surpassed the mark of 100 RBIs for the first time since her debut.
On the 28th, the final game of the season, Moon Bo-kyung poured his last strength into the match against the Daegu Samsung Lions, and went on an RBI hunt and showed a strength of 4 hits in 5 at-bats, 2 home runs, and sweeping 6 RBIs alone.
In the top of the first inning, Moon hit a three-run shot from the opponent team’s starter Choi Chae-heung to cross the right fence with one out and runners on the first and second bases, and in the top of the third inning, Moon pushed a solo shot over the left fence. With consecutive homeruns, Moon now has 22 homers this season. Moon, who had 95 RBIs until the previous day, instantly added four RBIs to reach 99 RBIs, raising expectations for his first 100 RBIs.
He also had a hit in the top of the third inning, but unfortunately failed to score an RBI. The leadoff Shin Min-jae had a hit, but failed to steal second base, and after Austin got on base with another hit, Moon Bo-kyung had a heavy hit, giving him a chance to hit first and third bases with one out. At the top of the sixth inning, he had a chance to score 100 RBIs with two outs and a third base, but unfortunately, he was out with a ground ball in front of the second base.
100 RBIs must have been his destiny. He had another chance. He had two hits and a walk after two outs in the top of the eighth inning to load the bases. Moon hit a curveball at the fifth pitch in the 1B2S count, making a clean two-run hit to the right. He had 101 RBIs, surpassing Moon’s first 100 RBIs in his career.
LG’s batting this season was definitely regrettable. It had ups and downs, and especially had difficulties in chances. The inability to score points added pressure on the mound, which had to be blocked, which slowed the growth of the bullpen.
Nonetheless, it is encouraging that he has elevated the No. 4 hitter who will lead LG. It has become a stroke of genius that he changed the focus of the No. 3 Kim Hyun-soo and No. 4 Austin from last year to Austin-Moon Bo-kyung in the second half. LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop appointed Moon Bo-kyung, who he considered as a future No. 4 hitter, early on, but Moon did not feel pressured about No. 4, but rather showed better performance, indicating that No. 4 was his batting order.
He hit .301 (156 hits in 519 at-bats) with 22 home runs and 101 RBIs this season, recording career highs in home runs and RBIs. If Hong Chang-ki and Shin Min-jae (Moon Sung-joo) get on base, LG’s scoring formula that Austin and Moon Bo-kyung bring in could be created.
It is a double celebration for LG. Austin became the first team to win the league with 131 RBIs, as Moon Bo-kyung became the youngest player to have 100 RBIs in LG’s history. 메이저사이트
In fact, 100 RBIs were valuable to LG. Smith from Samsung had 100 RBIs for the first time during the season in 2000, but this was higher by Samsung. The actual first 100-run hitter of LG was Petazini, who hit 100 RBIs in 2009. The following year, in 2010, Cho In-seong scored 107 RBIs at the age of 35, surpassing the first 100 RBIs as a Korean player. Since then, Jimenez has posted 102 RBIs in 2016, and Kim produced two 100-run hitters for the first time in 2018. Chae Eun-seong had 119 RBIs and Kim Hyun-soo had 101 RBIs. Chae raised expectations by scoring 100 RBIs at the young age of 26. However, since then, only Kim has posted 100 RBIs in 2020 (119 RBIs) and 2022 (106 RBIs), but none of them have made it to the 100-run mark.
Until last year, only six players including Smith, Petazini, Jo In-sung, Jimenez, Chae Eun-sung and Kim Hyun-soo had 100 RBIs. However, this year, Austin and Moon Bo-kyung are expected to have 100 RBIs at the same time. In particular, the fact that Moon Bo-kyung, who joined the first team in 2021, is constantly growing every year raises expectations.
With Moon Bo-kyung’s performance, LG won 11-4 against second-place Samsung and began preparing for the semi-playoff in a good mood.