ARLINGTON -- Rangers designated hitter Shin-Soo Choo pushed his on-base streak to 25 games in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Astros, drawing his 39th walk of the season in the fifth inning.
Choo's streak of reaching safely in 25 games is the longest active streak in the Majors and tied for the third-longest in the American League this season. Prior to Saturday's game, Choo was batting .330/.468/.580 during the streak, and his .468 on-base percentage was the highest in the AL during that time period.
"He's not missing pitches in his zone," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said before the game. "He shrinks the strike zone for himself, doesn't chase. Prior to this streak he's on right now, the on-base streak, he probably expanded a little more than what he wanted to."
Choo also manages to lead the Rangers in walks and show up in the top 10 in the AL walks leaders despite taking plenty of first-pitch strikes. Banister said that's all about confidence and veteran know-how.
"You become OK with it and know that hitting with a strike on you, you can still do it," Banister said. "You can still get on base even after you have two strikes on you."
Choo walked again in the seventh and ninth innings, putting him on pace for 99 walks this season. That would be the second-highest total of his career and most as a Ranger.