Lee Seung-yeop “Good Hitter But an Insufficient Batting Eye”

Because of this, about 10 Major League Baseball teams sent their Far East scouts in to Sapporo where the Asia Baseball Championship competition has been held in order to closely observe the best players from Korea and Japan. What is the grade that they gave Asia’s two best players?

The hitting results are very similar. Lee Seung-yeop had two hits, three RBIs at his seven at-bats without any home runs, and Matsui Kazuo recorded three hits and three RBIs in eight at-bats without a home run in two games. However, it appeared Matsui received more interest than did Lee Seung-yeop by these scouts.

As in the cases of Suzuki Ichiro (Seattle Mariners) and Matsui Hideki, scouts could not help but give Matsui more points in their evaluations because it has already been proved that the highest level of hitting in Japan can also succeed in Major League.

Matsui received a great evaluation. John Cox, in charge of Far East scouting for the New York Yankees, was generous in his praise, saying, “Matsui is an utility player with multiple talents in batting, running and fielding. We would prefer him to play (for us) in the Major Leagues.”

He pointed out, “Lee Seung-yeop is a good hitter, but he should be more careful of the strike zone.”

Regarding the question comparing the two players, “It is hard to compare them because the fielding position of the two players (shortstop for Matsui and first base for Lee) and their batting styles are so different. It is difficult to assert which is the better style between an utility player and a power hitter. Jim Thome (first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies) only has slugging power for example.” It is not sure which scouting reports these scouts will send to their teams after the competition is over. However, it is obvious that they have done more analysis of Matsui at present.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com