Choo Shin-soo of the Cincinnati Reds surpassed 100 walks in a season for the first time in his career in a road game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.
Choo went 0-for-3 against the Brewers but had two walks to reach 101 free passes for 2013. The South Korean outfielder also stole a base and scored a run in the game, as the Reds lost 6-5.
Only Joey Votto, Choo's teammate, has drawn more walks in the National League (NL) this season with 118. In the American League (AL), Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels leads the way with 100 walks.
Choo also added to his team-leading total by scoring his 101st run of the season. That's the second-highest total in the NL behind Matt Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals, who has scored 116 runs.
Only one other player, Trout with 104 runs, has crossed the plate at least 100 times this season.
A free-agent-to-be after this season, Choo is enjoying one of his most productive seasons in 2013. In addition to walks and runs scored, Choo is also second in the NL with a .422 on-base percentage.
Choo has hit 21 home runs and stolen 18 bases so far, and is two steals shy of his third career 20-20 season.
The Reds' primary leadoff hitter, Choo has hit all of his 21 home runs from the top of the order, while drawing 99 walks and scoring 99 runs. He has also played nine games as the No. 2 hitter and scored twice and walked three times in 38 plate appearances from that spot.
He has made one pinch-hitting appearance in the ninth spot and was hit by a pitch.
The 31-year-old made his big league debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2005 and was traded to the Cleveland Indians in 2006.
The former pitching prospect didn't become a full-time major leaguer until 2008.
He went to the Reds as part of a three-team trade last December. He's making $7.37 million this year and could be in for a lucrative free-agent deal this winter. (Yonhap News)
