Marcus Semien On Verge Of Historic MLB Record As Texas Rangers Go For First World Series Title
PHOENIX — Marcus Semien is poised to break one of Major League Baseball's most obscure, but impressive records Wednesday night.
The Texas Rangers' second baseman and leadoff hitter is four plate appearances from surpassing Lenny Dykstra's 1993 record of 833 plate appearances in a single season (regular and postseason).
"That's pretty incredible, really, if you think about it," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. "That's a big number. He is a rock. For me, it's never been a thought who's leading off, who's playing second base. That's a luxury to have."
Semien enters Game 5 of the World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks with 830 plate appearances in 2023, including a career-high and MLB-high 753 during the regular season, the 20th most in a season in history. In fact, Semien has led the majors in PAs in four of the past five seasons.
He has 77 PAs in the postseason and starts Game 5 tied with the Miami Marlins' Juan Pierre, who had 830 PAs in 2003.
Semien has started all 178 games and played nearly every inning for Texas in 2023.
The PA record is especially impressive now because players rarely play every day. Semien was one of only four players to do it this season.
"For him to be able to go out there every day and mentally get through the grind, physically get through the grind," Bochy said. "I'm sure there are days he hasn't felt great, but he's such a tough guy mentally."
Bochy, who is in his first season managing the Rangers, has been impressed with Semien's dedication to his daily routine.
"It's been impressive how not only the fact he wants to go out there but how he prepares every day," he said. "He doesn't let up on his routine, his [fielding] ground balls, everything. He doesn't say, 'I'm a little tired, I'm going to play, but I'm not going to do this.' That's not him."
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