Bae Bae-hwan, who changed everything, writes the ‘winning equation’
Bae Ji-hwan of the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB) has led his team to a winning streak after changing his batting form and running style. Bae’s simplified batting form, which eliminates the leg kick (a left-handed batting technique that involves raising and lowering the right foot), has improved his accuracy and stopped his “runaway” tendency to steal second base whenever he gets on base.
Bae started in the No. 8 spot in the lineup against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, on April 1, going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and three runs scored.
It was Bae’s 11th multi-hit game of the season (two or more hits in a game).
His batting average, which was in the low teens through mid-May, has soared to .275 (149-for-41), and he’s been on fire of late, going 11-for-31 (.355) in his last 10 games. At the same time, he stopped trying to steal bases. He realized that even if he didn’t try to steal second base, he could still get home from first base on a medium-hit ball.
“Bae has switched from hitting with a high leg kick to a more streamlined approach with a shorter stride,” said MLB.com of Bae’s recent rise, “and he’s unleashed a sophisticated attack.”
Until early last month, Bae used to perform extreme leg kicks, raising and lowering his right knee until it touched his stomach. This form of striking can increase the distance of a hit because of the large weight shift. However, accuracy is compromised. The Pittsburgh coaching staff told Bae that he needed to modify his leg kick.
“Coach (Andy Haines) asked me if I was using the leg kick for power, and if so, he advised me to hit with my legs instead of the leg kick,” Bae told MLB.com. “It feels different, but I’m learning every day,” he said. Bae also had two hits on the day with the new batting form.
Down 0-1 in the third inning, Bae led off with a walk and scored on the next batter’s single, and in his second at-bat in the fourth inning, he doubled and came home on the next batter’s single. In the sixth, he led off with a single up the middle and scored on a bases-loaded walk. Pittsburgh pounded out 14 hits up and down the order to win 9-4 and extend its winning streak to two games 토토사이트.