After a frustratingly slow start to the season, Lee Jung-hoo (25, Kiwoom) is back to being the Lee we knew. Once he found his groove, his batting performance has been terrifying. His batting pace is explosive, as if he’s trying to make up for what he missed earlier in the season.
By May 9, Lee was batting .222 with a .671 OPS in 29 games. It’s the worst performance he’s had since his rookie year. His average bat speed was good, but the direction 메이저놀이터 and overall quality of his at-bats were poor. “I had a lot of outs that didn’t make sense,” Lee admitted. “I was thinking too much and letting good pitches go by. My head and hands were playing separately.
After May 10, however, it was a completely different story, as Lee completely reclaimed his reputation with a .378 batting average and 1.042 OPS in 31 games. Seventeen of his 45 hits were for extra bases, and his plate discipline came alive as he drew a whopping 19 walks while striking out six times. It’s not unreasonable to expect this performance to continue once he gets a feel for the game. Lee’s entire career gives us plenty of reason to believe.
After this season, Lee will try to make it to the major leagues through the posting system (closed competitive bidding). Many major league teams have been following him for three to four years, and his scouting report is already almost complete. Regardless of how he performs this season, his valuation is mostly over. This year will be all about how he improves and overcomes his weaknesses.
Major League Baseball teams believe that Lee can hit for power in the big leagues. While the level of batting average that each team evaluates is different, many believe that Lee’s overall ability to handle hitting will not drop too much from his performance in Korea. This is said to be reinforced by his performance at the World Baseball Classic (WBC).
His defense is mixed, but some clubs consider his infield to be digestible. His baserunning is also considered above average. On a scale of 20-80, Fangraphs gives Lee a 60 for his bat, and he also has a relatively high score of 60 for his defense and baserunning. That’s the kind of score you’d expect from a player who can hit triples and double-digit home runs, even if his power is somewhat lacking. That’s better than my pre-draft evaluation of Kim Ha-Sung (28, San Diego), who also made it to the majors.
The box office is also relatively strong. In order for a post to be a box office hit, many teams have to bid on it. And in order to increase the ransom in the bidding competition, many teams with money must gather and race. However, Lee Jung-hoo is a team that the deep-pocketed teams are paying attention to. If the evaluation of major league clubs is not bad, the price can naturally be pushed up.
“Currently, big-market teams such as the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and San Francisco Giants are regularly sending scouts to Lee’s games,” said a source familiar with the situation, “and there are stories that small-market teams are nervous when they make moves.” “There’s a sense that small-market teams are nervous because they don’t want to fight the big money teams. The Dodgers, Yankees, and Cubs are all teams with outfield needs.
In the end, if he finishes the season healthy at his current pace, he may be able to cross the Pacific for more than we think. The biggest thing major league teams are looking at besides ability is Lee’s age. He’ll be 26 next year. If they sign him, they could get four or five years of his prime. That’s why he’s likely to be offered a long-term contract. The clock is ticking for Lee to reach the major leagues, even while we’re asleep.