Jeff Sullivan takes an in-depth look at why Shin-Soo Choo is getting hit by so many pitches.

Crowding the plate can be a subjective matter, because it can imply that a batter wants to get hit. Choo, from what we can tell, doesn’t. But he does objectively crowd the plate more than most, hence his hit-by-pitch rate. As for his hit-by-pitch total in 2013? He hasn’t changed his approach, so the expectation is that he’ll end up back to normal from here on out. Choo isn’t doing anything to make himself more hittable, so he’s not going to sustain a record-breaking pace.

Maybe Dusty Baker can talk to his old pal Barry Bonds about getting Choo some HBP body armor.