Slugger Lee Gets Japan All-Star Nod

In this year’s Japanese MLB All-Star games to be held on July 21 and 22, Lee Seung-yeop is expected to put his splendid home run show on display.

Lee was the third selection for the Central League’s first baseman in fan voting, but will play in the All-Star games through the All-Star team coach’s recommendation.

He may not play as a starter in the first All-Star game to be held in Tokyo on July 21 because he is a player recommended by the coach. But he will have a chance to slam home runs in the league’s Home Run Derby before the main game starts. Lee, who leads both leagues with 29 home runs in the first half of the season, is one of favorites in the derby. The Central League and the Pacific League will play the derby separately, and Lee will compete with Tyron Woods, Chunichi, and Shuichi Murata, Yokohama, his rivals since he played in Korea.

Although he had made outstanding records as a slugger, including his 56 home runs in 2003, a new record in Asia, Lee has never won a home run race.

It is highly likely that Lee will play as a starter in the second game to be held in the Miyazaki Sun Marine Stadium on July 22. Akinobu Okada, coach of the Central League All-Star team, said, “Miyazaki is the place for Yomiuri’s spring camp. So our starting pitcher will be Yomiuri’s Tetsuya Utsumi.” It is certain that Lee, a Yomiuri player with an excellent performance in the first half, will be included on the starter list.

uni@donga.com