In leading off the Reds' half of the first inning Sunday in Cincinnati, Shin-Soo Choo was hit by a pitch. Then, in the fourth, Choo was hit again. He has now been hit nine times this season, which is notable for several reasons. Let us count the ways:

  • Kevin Youkilis is second in the majors with only four HBPs. Or less than half the number of times Choo has been plunked.
  • Entering Sunday and excluding Choo's Reds, only one team (Yankees) had been hit nine times all season. Three (Twins, Mariners, Dodgers) had exactly eight.
  • If Choo doesn't get hit again during Sunday's game, he's on pace to get hit with 77 (!) pitches this season. The major-league record for HBPs in a season is 51 (Hughie Jennings, 1896).
  • Only 16 players have had a season with as many as 30 HBPs -- the most recent being Craig Wilson in 2004. And of those 16 seasons, only seven came since 1900. 
  • Choo's career high for HBPs in a single season is 17, so he's more than halfway home. 
  • The most HBPs per season in the last five years (from most recent): 17, 23, 25, 24, 27. 

So Choo's magnetism for the baseball has been rather impressive this season. It's helped him boast a .512 on-base percentage with almost one run scored per game through three plate appearances Sunday.

No immediate word on whether or not Carlos Quentin thinks NL pitchers are building a "history" with Choo.