Kim Jae-hwan and Na Seong-beom couldn’t cross the big league outfield wall, but three years later, Lee Jung-hoo is possible[SS시선]

Kiwoom Kim Ha-sung hits a reverse solo for the 2020 KBO League NC game held at Gocheok Dome on July 14, 2020, and is high-five with Lee Jeong-hoo. Gocheok | Reporter Park Jin-up [email protected]

[스포츠서울 윤세호기자] It is not a dream stage for nothing. In order to stand tall in the world’s best league, you have to become a beautiful woman. Even if you’re not a 40-home run hitter, you can be recognized for its worth if you’re excellent in karate and multi-position. In other words, a customized strategy is needed according to the big league trends. It means that after three years of Kim Jae-hwan, Na Seong-beom and Lee Jung-hoo (23) who could not cross the major league outfield wall, it may be different.

It was proved that it was difficult simply by putting the long hitting power ahead. Kim Jae-hwan challenged the big league with a posting last winter and Na Sung-beom this winter, but returned home without being presented with satisfactory conditions. Both have as many strikeouts as home runs and are left-handed guns with limited positions in the corner outfield. He was less mobile than Eric Thames, who made a U-turn to the United States after signing a big league guarantee four years ago, and was unable to walk consistently like Thames. In order to sign a big league contract with Geoporo, the initiative must be supported to some extent, like Thames.

Lee Jung-hoo, who can advance to the big leagues through postings three years later, is not a Geopo-type hitter. In other words, the path toward the big league is also different from Kim Jae-hwan and Na Sung-bum. In 2017, his first year as a pro, he turned to an outfielder instead of a shortstop, where he was in high school, and became a center fielder and became a leadoff. At that time, he was a typical matchmaker, but his pioneering plan that separates strikes and balls was a special. The batter who just joined the pros steadily on base with his own strike zone clearly set. In 2017 and 2018, it recorded a high-level ratio with 67 strikeouts, 60 walks, 58 strikeouts and 42 walks, respectively. However, in 2019 and 2020, there were more walks than strikeouts with 40 strikeouts, 45 walks, and 47 walks and 59 strikes, respectively. The pitcher and the water fight improved based on the early completed pioneering plan, and he became a near flawless hitter.

In addition, the slugging power was also greatly improved. Every winter, due to injuries, he devoted himself to rehabilitation, but last winter he had a normal off-season without injury. With a long hit as a task, I have increased muscle mass through weight training, and I am getting more and more hitting points forward. Home runs from 2 in the first year and 6 in the second and third years increased significantly to 15 in the fourth year. With a slugging ratio of 0.524, he crossed the wall of 0.500 for the first time and set a new record for the most doubles in a season in the KBO League with 49 doubles. It is Lee Jung-hoo, who achieves the set goals as he says.

Kiwoom Lee Jeong-hoo is making a high-five with Kim Ha-sung after hitting a two-point home run in Hanwha’s game at the Gocheok Sky Dome on May 8, 2020. Gocheok | Reporter Park Jin-up [email protected]

Its flagship is high enough to record double-digit steals for four consecutive years, and there are no position restrictions. In addition to digesting all three outfield spots, he proved his solver ability in batting 3 in 2019 and 4 in 2020. Like Ha-seong Kim, if you step on the 30 home run by the age of 25, your slugging power can appeal to big league scouts. Like Hyun-jin Ryu, it is worth looking forward to a blueprint to spend the best time in the world by signing a contract with the big league club in December 2023, before the age of 26.

The secret to Kim Ha-sung’s getting a lot of attention from big league teams and signing an annual average of $7 million (about 7.6 billion won) with San Diego is his young age and versatility. Since 4 years ago, Lee Jung-hoo has been a roommate with Kim Ha-sung and has been breathing with a spare big leaguer inside and outside the ground. Although he is not a shortstop for all positions in the infield, Lee Jung-hoo is also a 5-tool player capable of all three positions in the outfield. There is a high possibility that big league clubs will compete for recruitment with Lee Jung-hoo, who grew up three years later like Kim Ha-seong.

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