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Rangers’ Choo Shin-soo belts 14th homer, says he’s pleased with production

August 4, 2015
Texas Rangers' Shin-Soo Choo, left, is congratulated by Mitch Moreland, right, for his two run home run against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 3, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)

Texas Rangers’ Shin-Soo Choo, left, is congratulated by Mitch Moreland, right, for his two run home run against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 3, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)

ARLINGTON, Texas (Yonhap) — After hitting his 14th home run of the season and reaching the half-century mark in the RBI department, Texas Rangers’ outfielder Choo Shin-soo said Monday he’s pleased with his current level of production, low batting average notwithstanding.

Choo hit a two-run shot off Lance McCullers of the Houston Astros in the first inning, helping the Rangers to a 12-9 victory at home and extending his modest hitting streak to six games.

In 93 games this year, he now has one more homer than he had in 123 games last year. He has long surpassed last year’s RBI total of 40.

Though the power numbers are there, Choo is still batting .239, after struggling to .242 last season. After Monday’s game, however, Choo said he has nothing to complain about in his offensive production.

“I think I am back on track in terms of home runs and RBIs, and only my batting average remains low,” he said. “I’ve been drawing more walks since the All-Star break and I think my on-base percentage should also rise.”

Choo said he is seeing the ball better at the plate and added, “Finally, I think things are about to go my way.”

In 13 second-half games, Choo is hitting .364 (16-for-44) with three homers and 12 RBIs.

Choo set his career-highs at 22 homers and 90 RBIs with the Cleveland Indians in 2010. Choo also hit 21 long balls with the Cincinnati Reds two years ago, his last 20-homer season.

He parlayed that 2013 season into a seven-year, US$130 million contract with the Rangers, but he was a major disappointment in the injury-plagued 2014 season.

The 33-year-old had an awful start to 2015, batting only .096 in April but has since bounced back and managed to avoid major injuries.