Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 10th. There was a man who couldn’t take his eyes off the face-off between the Samsung Lions and the Kiwoom Heroes in professional baseball. Pete Putilla (34), general manager of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. There was a reason why Putilla, the head of the team, came and watched the game held in Korea, not in the United States. It was to observe Kiwoom outfielder Lee Jung-hoo (25), who returned to the game on the same day after undergoing left ankle surgery in July.
Lee Jung-hoo, who declared that he would advance to the Major League at the end of this season, returned from injury through the final home game on the 10th. Kiwoom came out as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the eighth inning when it was 5-3 and played a persistent game with Samsung pitcher Kim Tae-hoon to reach 12 pitches. The result was an infield grounder, but it was a day that proved that there was no major problem with the body.
The scene that caught the eye was the reaction of Putilla, who watched Lee Jung-hoo. Putila, who had been sitting and watching throughout the game, jumped up from his seat when Lee Jung-hoo came out as a pinch hitter. Then he clapped and even cheered. The applause did not stop easily even after he stepped down with a bad hit.
Putila’s standing ovation proves the Major League’s interest in Lee Jung-hoo. Lee Jung-hoo, who became the best star last year by winning five batting medals and MVPs in professional baseball, has been raising the possibility of entering the U.S. for a few years. The problem was the timing, but it was not yet FA, but it was decided to try after this season as it decided to knock on the door of Major League Baseball through the posting system.
Lee Jung-hoo, who met at Gocheok Sky Dome on the same day, said, “I’m not paying much attention to the contract issue. We don’t even know which club to talk to yet. “When the posting system starts, I think the agent will proceed well.” At the same time, he said, “I talk a lot with Kim Ha-sung, who went to the San Diego Padres earlier. I’m going to return home tomorrow and ask more questions. I learned a lot from watching my brother’s process of entering the U.S. from the side,” he added.
I am also studying English from time to time, the biggest task of adapting to the local area. Lee Jung-hoo said, “When I ask my seniors, they say that local adaptation is important. So I am studying English, but I keep forgetting because I don’t do it every day. I’m going to work harder in the future,” he said with a smile.
Lee Jung-hoo had a special farewell party after the game. Shortly after the final home game, the Kiwoom club screened a video showing Lee Jung-hoo’s process from his 2017 debut to becoming MVP last year through an electronic board. A parting gift prepared by Kiwoom, who shared the growth of a franchise star. Fans could not leave easily and shared their last memories with Lee Jung-hoo. Some even wiped away tears.
Lee Jung-hoo said, “I’ve been nervous since last night. I was very nervous, too. I prepared hard because I thought I could show my last appearance at the home stadium, he said. “I felt that seven years passed quickly.” “I’ll have a longer baseball life than the next seven years, but I’ll never forget this seven years I first started,” he said, talking about how he felt about breaking up with his fans for a while.
Lee Jung-hoo developed his dream as a big leaguer by watching his seniors playing in the U.S. from an early age. Now, if he advances to the Major League, he can become a role model that he can be admired by his juniors. 스포츠토토
Lee Jung-hoo said, “I have something to say to my juniors. Don’t be satisfied with becoming a professional baseball player. “I hope the first team will play baseball with the mindset of becoming the best player in professional baseball, not the goal,” he said emphatically. “I want to do well in the U.S. like my seniors,” he continued. I will also do my best to help the next juniors continue to come to the Major League,” he vowed.