LG Twins’ Park Hae-min Achieves Unprecedented KBO Milestone
LG Twins outfielder Park Hae-min has etched his name in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) history books, achieving his 13th consecutive season with at least 20 stolen bases. This remarkable feat marks a first in the league’s annals.
Record-Breaking Performance Against Lotte Giants
The historic moment occurred on June 13th at Jamsil Baseball Stadium during a game against the Lotte Giants. Batting second, Park Hae-min stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the first inning. After teammate Hong Chang-gi reached base with a single, Park Hae-min faced Lotte’s starting pitcher, Lee Min-seok.
On the sixth pitch of the at-bat, Park Hae-min drove a 136km/h slider into the gap between the second and first baseman, securing a vital hit. With Hong Chang-gi advancing to third, the situation presented a dangerous 1st and 3rd, no-out scenario.
During Austin’s at-bat, Park Hae-min demonstrated his exceptional speed, taking off for second base on the very first pitch. Despite Lee Min-seok throwing a 154km/h fastball, Park Hae-min’s aggressive start allowed him to slide safely into second base well ahead of the throw.
This successful stolen base marked his 20th of the current season, officially clinching the record for 13 consecutive seasons with at least 20 stolen bases.
Strategic Play Contributes to Early Lead
Park Hae-min’s strategic acumen continued to shine throughout the inning. He safely reached third base on Austin’s sacrifice fly, then capitalized on a brief defensive lapse to score the team’s second run when Moon Bo-gyeong hit a ground ball to first.
Analysis indicates that without Park Hae-min’s quick thinking and aggressive base running, LG’s initial offensive push might have been limited to just one run. His contributions helped LG establish an early 2-0 lead, setting a positive tone for the game and avenging a previous loss to the Lotte Giants.
A Legacy of Speed and Consistency
A graduate of Shinil High School and Hanyang University, Park Hae-min joined the Doosan Bears organization. Since his third season in 2014, his blistering speed and keen baserunning instincts have enabled him to record over 20 stolen bases every season.
Park Hae-min has been a dominant force in stolen bases throughout his career, having won the league’s stolen base title five times. He claimed the title for four consecutive years from 2015. Although he relinquished the title last year, finishing with 49 stolen bases, he has now reasserted his dominance with this new record.
