Can Lee Become Japan’s Home Run King?

How many home runs will Lee Seung-yeop of the Yomiuri Giants add to his record? Will he be able to become the Japanese professional baseball home run king?

Lee Seung-yeop begins the second half of the season with a home game against Hiroshima at the Tokyo Dome on July 25. During the first half, his impressive rankings in the Central League were: first in home runs (29), third in batting average (0.323), second in hits (109), fourth in RBIs (64), and first in runs (70). However, the final results of the season depend on his performance in the second half.

Lee Seung-yeop said, “I will go into the second half with a new frame of mind.”

“Forty Homers, a Given” –

Lee Seung-yeop hit 29 home runs during the 88 games of the first half, averaging one home run per three games. Theoretically, he will hit another 19 during the 59 games of the second half, making a total of 48 home runs.

Lee himself is confident of passing the 40 mark. After his second All-Star game, he stated his season home run goal, saying, “I think I’ll easily hit over 40. But it really depends on my condition, so for now, 40 is my goal.”

Even just 40 home runs could give him the title because he is seven ahead of Shoichi Murata of Yokohama, who is in second place and has 22 home runs.

Other Records-

Lee is only three home runs short of 400 total home runs in the Korean League and the Japanese professional league. He is also close to 200 RBIs and 300 hits in Japan alone.

Achieving 64 RBIs during the first half, Lee has four to go to reach 200 RBIs in his Japanese career. His record is steeply rising, marking 50 in his first season, 82 last year, and 64 in just the first half this year.

Five more hits will bring his total to 300. He hit 80 in his first year and 106 last year. Lee’s season hit record is 170, which he set in 1997 as a Samsung player. Whether or not he will be able to break his own record is also an issue.

What Will It Be: Japanese League or Major League? –

This season ends Lee’s one-year contract with Yomiuri. Contrary to his view during the first half, he seems to be wavering about going to the Major League. His place as the clean up hitter on the best team in Japan is definitely tempting. On the other hand, the Major League is full of uncertainties. Lee Seung-yeop avoided giving a decisive answer, saying, “This is a decision that will change my life. I want to focus on my game during the season.”

Sung-Kyu Kim kimsk@donga.com