Lee Jung-hoo expresses desire to play in MLB

Just one day after expressing his intent to play in the Major League, Lee Jung-hoo, who had just won the KBO MVP award, also came under the spotlight from the Majors.

In an article entitled, “This KBO star could shake up next winter’s free-agent class,” MLB.com paid close attention to Lee. “The sensation from Korea,” the article wrote, “may become ‘the wind beneath the wings’ for the MLB next season,” citing the song with the same title that won the Grammy Awards in 1990. The song was released in 1983 under the title “Hero,” which is also the team’s nickname.

“Lee [was] nicknamed ‘Grandson of the Wind’ because his father is KBO legend Jong-beom Lee, who was nicknamed ‘Son of the Wind,’” the article wrote. “He holds the record for the highest career batting average (.342) among all batters in KBO history with at least 3,000 plate appearances.”

“Lee struck out just 32 times in 627 plate appearances last season, while drawing 66 walks,” MLB.com stated. It also expected Lee to soft-land in the Majors thanks to his batting eye, unlike other KBO batters who have suffered when facing higher velocity from big league pitchers.

MLB.com attached a video clip of a match between Heroes and Twins on June 18, 2022, where Lee Jung-hoo hit a ball pitched well outside the strike zone and still scored a run. “If you liked Vladimir Guerrero’s ability to hit a baseball anywhere it was thrown, you’re going to love Lee,” the article wrote. Guerrero was a notorious “bad-ball hitter” when he was playing. He became Hall of Famer in 2018, with an average of 0.318, 449 home runs, and 1,496 runs batted in.

In 2023, Lee will have played for seven years in the KBO. Having requested that he be posted at the end of the 2023 season, Lee Jung-hoo will become eligible for posting and heading to the MLB after completing his seventh season in 2023.


leper@donga.com