Choo Shin-soo reaches 20-homer mark for third time in MLB career

Choo Shin-soo of the Cincinnati Reds reached the 20-homer plateau for the third time in his Major League Baseball (MLB) career at home on Thursday.

At Great American Ballpark, the South Korean center fielder took St. Louis Cardinals starter Lance Lynn over the center field in the bottom of the fourth for his 20th home run of the season. The solo shot gave him 48 RBIs for 2013.

He finished the game 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored. The Reds defeated the Cardinals 6-2.

Choo has launched three long balls in five games this month. He is batting .450 in September and .287 for the season.

Choo reached 20 homers for the first time in 2009 while with the Cleveland Indians, and then established a career high with 22 in 2010. His home run total dipped to just eight in the injury-plagued 2011 season, but he bounced back to 16 long balls last year.

The Reds have 21 games remaining after Thursday.

Choo also has 17 steals this year, and is three swipes away from recording his third-career “20-20” season, with at least 20 homers and 20 steals.

A free-agent-to-be after this season, Choo is enjoying one of his most productive seasons in 2013. After Thursday’s game, Choo is sitting in second in the National League in runs scored (95), walks (94) and on-base percentage (.420).

Choo played his first big league game with the Seattle Mariners in 2005 but was traded to the Indians in 2006. He didn’t become a full-time big leaguer until 2008.

Choo joined the Reds as part of a three-team trade last December. He’s earning US$7.37 million this year and could be in for a lucrative free-agent deal this winter.

via Choo Shin-soo reaches 20-homer mark for third time in MLB career.