'Grandson of the Wind' Lee Jung-hoo says goodbye to the Kiwoom Heroes fans.
he timer for 'Grandson of the Wind' Lee Jung-hoo (25, Kiwoom Heroes) to enter the Major League Baseball (MLB) has begun to run in earnest.
The Kiwoom Heroes completed their 144-game regular season schedule on March 13 against the SSG Landers at SSG Landers Field in Incheon. Whether it's "for the time being" or "forever" is unknown, but it means we won't be seeing Lee Jung-hoo in a Kiwoom uniform for the foreseeable future.
Lee announced his desire to play in the big leagues as early as last December, and Kiwoom accepted. Unless something drastic happens, it's a safe bet that he'll make it to MLB this winter via the posting system (closed competitive bidding). In January, he signed an agency deal with big-name agent Scott Boras.
Lee has been rehabbing since undergoing ankle surgery in late July and made a surprise return to the field in Kiwoom's final home game of the season at the Gocheok SkyDome on Oct. 10. He came in as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the eighth inning, grounded out to third base, and then played center field in the top of the ninth.
Lee's final game in the KBO was watched by officials from several MLB clubs. San Francisco Giants general manager Pete Putteler, who is considered a potential destination, even visited the Gocheok SkyDome.
Interest in Lee Jung-hoo is also high in the United States. Earlier this month, American sports media outlet CBS Sports introduced its "Top 25 MLB Free Agent Rankings for 2024" and ranked Lee 15th out of 25. "He is a player with good ability on the basepaths and defense, and has a fastball contact rate of over 97%," it added.
Yahoo Sports in the United States also included Lee in its list of "10 players the New York Yankees could target in free agency" on July 7. Lee was ranked fifth on the list. "He could fill a spot in center field or left field for the New York Yankees," the publication said.
Yahoo Sports in the U.S. also highlighted Lee as one of the "10 players the New York Yankees could target in free agency." "Lee could fill a spot in center field or left field for the New York Yankees," they wrote, placing him at number five on their list. 먹튀검증
Lee's showcase is long over. The key is the conditions. Many things are positive. First of all, his skills are unquestionable. He proved his competitiveness at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March this year, not to mention his performance in the KBO. The ankle injury he suffered this year is not a major factor.
The fact that middle infielders who can hit and play defense are highly valued in the MLB is also an advantage. The success of Asian hitters such as Kim Ha-seong (San Diego Padres), Seiya Suzuki (Chicago Cubs), and Masataka Yoshida (Boston Red Sox), who were all seniors on the Kiwoom team, also raises expectations for the future.
Some of the biggest names in baseball are being talked about as possible destinations for Lee. San Francisco, whose manager has visited Korea, the New York Yankees, one of the most prestigious teams in the big leagues, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, where Shohei Ohtani plays, are on the list. San Diego, where Kim Ha-seong plays, is also reportedly interested in Lee.
Some are speculating that Lee's contract could total more than $100 million. While the price tag for big leaguers has risen steeply in recent years, $100 million is still recognized as the threshold for a luxury contract.
MLB expert Song Jae-woo said, "There aren't as many good hitters in the major leagues as you'd think as they're becoming more of a center fielder," adding, "Lee Jung-hoo is still in his mid-20s, so he has a lot of potential to improve, which is why clubs are coveting him."
However, they were a bit cautious about the price tag. "Unless there is a major change, Kim's contract total of $39 million (4+1 years) will definitely be exceeded, but $100 million seems unlikely," Song said, "It is likely to be similar to Yoshida (5 years, $90 million) and Suzuki (5 years, $85 million), who recently entered the MLB."