Lee Dae-ho Sets Record in All-Star Fan Votes

Lee Dae-ho (Lotte), who topped three batting records last year, set a record for all-star fan votes.

On July 4, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced the final result of its all-star game fan votes. On the top for seven consecutive weeks from May 18, when voting started, Lee won 341,244 votes as first baseman for the East League (Samsung, Doosan, SK, and Lotte), breaking the previous record made by Lotte’s Jeong Soo-geun (340,158) in 2005. In the West League, Hanhwa’s shortstop Kim Min-jae led with 260,052 votes.

By position, Lotte led in the East League with six players chosen, while Hanwha led the West with five players listed, followed by Samsung (3), Hyundai and Kia (2), and Doosan and LG (1). Number one SK had no player listed.

Yang Joon-hyuk (Samsung), who made a record of 2,000 hits, has made “Best 10” for eleven consecutive years from 1997, while Lee Jong-beom (Kia) was selected for the 11th time. The list of ten players recommended by each league’s head coach will be announced on July 5.

The all-star game will be held at the Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan at 5:00 p.m., July 17.

why@donga.com