Doosan Bears outfielder Cho Su-hyung is thriving as an outfield newcomer. In an environment where baseball has become more favorable due to the expansion of bases and the introduction of pitch clocks, Cho has made the most of his starting opportunities.
On April 10 against the Hanwha Eagles in Jamsil, Cho led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single and stole second base. He then came home on Jung Soo-bin’s RBI single to give the Eagles a 6-4 lead.
Against Hanwha in Jamsil on the 9th, Cho came in as a pinch runner in the bottom of the seventh inning and stole third base to create a runner on first and third. The next batter, Kim Jae-hwan, hit a three-run home run to center field.
After the win on Tuesday, Cho said, “I’m happy that the team is on a winning streak. There is a lot of competition for outfield spots in the team, so it was important for me to start today. I aimed to get on base, but I’m disappointed that I haven’t been able to satisfy myself yet, but I think it’s positive that I’m getting hits. I always feel confident when I steal bases. I’m always confident in my baseball. I think a single stolen base can change the atmosphere of a game,” he said, expressing his confidence in his base running.
Cho added, “Even in yesterday’s game (in the seventh inning), I felt confident because I had to get to third base to get a sacrifice fly. (Kim) Jae-hwan told me that he felt comfortable swinging because of my steal, so I’m grateful. I was even happier that Jae-hwan got home on his home run. I will continue to improve my batting in addition to stealing and defense. Thank you to the 메이저사이트 fans for always supporting me,” he said.
In 11 games of the 2024 season, Cho is 1-for-11 with a home run, four doubles, and six RBIs. The competition for the starting outfield spot has been a bit of a close call early in the season. Doosan’s bench utilized foreign-born Henry Ramos in right field, while running a “platoon system” with Kim In-tae and Kim Dae-hwan. There was no room for Cho to play in the outfield. “It’s unfortunate that he didn’t get more playing time due to the team’s situation,” Lee Seung-yeop said of Cho.
Still, Cho has been making his presence felt in the outfield and on defense, which are his strengths. His recent two crucial stolen bases on consecutive days show his value. It will be interesting to see if he can continue to perform like a new outfield stealer.