Stevan Florial, a foreign hitter for the Hanwha Eagles, who had suffered from 0 hits in 17 at-bats and faced the risk of being released, has now become an indispensable player.
On the 23rd, Florial led the team to a 6-4 win in the game against the Lotte Giants held at Sajik Stadium in Busan, showcasing remarkable performance with 3 hits in 4 at-bats, 1 walk, and 2 runs scored. It was a powerful batting performance that contributed to their 8-game winning streak.
On this day, in the first inning with no outs and a runner on first, he maintained the team's chance with a misaligned hit into right-center field. He played a significant role in establishing a 5-0 lead. In the second inning during his second at-bat, he hit a double to the right side with one out and no runners on, creating an opportunity, and crossed home plate when No Si-hwan hit a timely single to left. In the fourth inning, during his third at-bat, he earned a walk, completing a game with 3 times on base, and finished with 3 hits by hitting a double to the left side in the ninth. Although he was a highly touted prospect from the New York Yankees, his Major League career did not unfold well. He aimed to make a comeback wearing the Hanwha uniform this year. However, after the opening, he recorded 0 hits in 17 at-bats, which was not a good sign. He finally got a hit after 18 at-bats, but it did not serve as a catalyst.
His performance in the first 13 games was a batting average of .128 (6 hits in 47 at-bats), 1 home run, 2 RBIs, and an OPS of .417. Perhaps driven by eagerness, he frequently made bonehead plays. His body did not follow his mind. His performance warranted a possible release. It seemed that Florial was likely to bear the disgrace of being the 'first release'.
However, on April 8, against Doosan, he recorded 2 hits in 6 at-bats. He achieved his first multi-hit game of his career. Since then, in 13 games, he has been a completely different hitter compared to the previous 13 games. Florial produced hits in every game until the 23rd. That marked a streak of 13 consecutive games with hits. It was difficult to even see a single hit, yet multi-hits became a daily routine. During the period of 13 consecutive games with hits, he had 9 multi-hit games and 4 single-hit games. He has recently maintained a streak of 3 consecutive multi-hit games.
During these 13 games, he has been the hottest hitter in the league. He boasts a batting average of .439 (25 hits in 57 at-bats), 2 home runs, 11 RBIs, and 13 runs scored with an OPS of 1.178. He ranks first in batting average and hits during this period. Florial's overall performance has now reached a batting average of .298 (31 hits in 104 at-bats), 2 home runs, 18 RBIs, and 14 runs scored, and he is now aiming for a batting average above .300. It is time to call him a good fortune.
Florial is approaching the season seriously. He maintains his pace without getting overly excited and prioritizes the team over himself. After the game on the 23rd, he noted, 'I’m happy to have 3 hits, but team victory comes first. That thought never changes,' and added, 'I didn’t even realize it was a streak of 13 consecutive games with hits. My goal is always team performance.'
He also expressed his thoughts about aiming for a batting average of .300, saying, 'It's the same for getting close to a batting average of .300. Batting average is something I can't control; I can only focus on doing my best in every at-bat.' However, Florial also revealed his true feelings, stating, 'I want to surpass a batting average of .300.' Is it not reasonable to overlook some personal ambitions and goals around a .300 batting average for Florial, who is tirelessly working for Hanwha?
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