The traditional metrics for evaluating hitters are classic stats like batting average and slugging percentage. They’re intuitive, familiar, and still used in many fields. But they also have their flaws. For example, batting average counts both singles and home runs as one hit.
We’ve moved on to more accurate measures like OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) and, more recently, to various sabermetrics like wRC+ (adjusted wRC+). Since the introduction of the ‘Statcast’ system in 2015, various indicators have been developed by closely analyzing the hitting expectations of hitters in consideration of the quality of their batted balls.토토사이트
The wRC+, which is increasingly used in the KBO as well as the double major leagues, is a record that calculates a batter’s offensive production and ancillary figures such as park factors, and is known as the most accurate batting figure that expresses the most run production among existing batting records. 100 is the league average. Anything above 115, which means 15% above average, is a definite plus, anything above 140 is outstanding, and anything above 160 is an MVP-caliber performance.
Only eight players (Yang Jun-hyuk twice) have recorded a wRC+ of 200 or more in a single season according to wRC+ calculated by the statistical site FanGraphs. They are Baek Incheon (MBC) in 1982, Eric Theismann (NC) in 2015, Jang Hyo-jo (Samsung) in 1983, Yang Jun-hyuk (Samsung) in 1993 and 1996, Shim Jung-soo (Hyundai) in 2003, Lee Man-soo (Samsung) in 1984, and Jang Jong-hoon (Binggrae) in 1991. Of these, Shim and Themes are the only players to have achieved the feat in the 21st century, and only Themes has achieved it since 2010.
Themes rejoined the major leagues after three stellar years in the KBO. In 2014, his wRC+ was 168.3. In a normal season, that’s enough to put him in contention for MVP honors. In 2015, he had a breakout year. His 222.3 wRC+ was the highest since Baek Incheon (227.0). It’s the second-best all-time. No player since then has broken the 200 wRC+ barrier.
This year, there is one player who is particularly disappointing. Na Sung-beom (34, KIA) had a slow start to the season due to a calf injury. Although it is difficult to make an accurate judgment due to the small sample size, Na has been performing at an all-time high since his late start.
On June 23, Na made his first first-team appearance of the season, and in the 52 games since then, he has put up a staggering .362 batting average, 16 home runs, 51 RBIs, and a 1.098 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). This is thanks to his high accuracy and slugging percentage (.430), plus his on-base percentage (.668). In just 52 games, he has 16 home runs and 51 RBIs. Considering the lack of home runs in the league this year, his performance is exceptional.
His wRC+ is a whopping 206.9, according to Statiz. Excluding 2019, when his season ended early due to injury, his previous record was 157.4, which he set last year. That’s a stellar performance, and it’s almost as if he’s making up for his lack of production in the first half of the year.
Of course, it’s hard to read too much into his numbers in regulation at-bats. If he was playing full-time, it’s likely that he wouldn’t have been able to achieve this level of performance. There are fitness issues. However, it’s safe to assume that if he had been on the bench from the beginning of the season, he would have been in the MVP race with Roh Si-hwan (Hanwha). His ratio stats would have been much lower, but his cumulative stats would have been competitive. In many ways, the calf injury is disappointing.
According to Na, the time he spent with his calf injury wasn’t completely wasted. On the contrary, he is confident that his more thorough workouts, original weight training, and new stretching techniques made him stronger and healthier. The results are showing in his late-season performance. His strikeouts are down. With more than half of the season gone, he’s already made more than enough of a contribution to the team, so it’s no wonder we’re excited about his future.
It’s disappointing, but there’s still work to be done. Their team, KIA, is in a fierce battle for second place. Based on their current position in the standings, they could move up to second place, but they could also drop to sixth place. If Na Sung-bum, who is in the second year of a six-year, 15-billion-won contract with the team to save face, can dominate the team’s fall, it could erase any thoughts of a lackluster first half.