As we head into the second half of the season, the prospects for the Major League Baseball free agent (FA) market are coming out one by one.
The biggest word on the free-agent market this year is definitely Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels), and all eyes will be on Ohtani’s move.
However, for Korean fans, it is also of interest to see which club’s uniform Lee Jung-hoo (Kiwoom)
who will try out for the major leagues through the posting system, will wear.
And he proved his interest by being named in the ranks of free agent players that Major League Baseball is watching.먹튀검증사이트
Jim Bowden, a former Major League Baseball general manager and columnist, announced his free agent ranking of No. 30 in The Athletic.
Lee Jung-hu’s name was placed at No. 27.
Bowden said, “Major league scouts have mixed opinions about Lee’s hitting ability.
Some believe that he will be able to hit well in the major leagues right away,
while others think that he will have 1~2 years to adapt and learn against pitchers at the major league level.”
He continued
“Also, some people believe that he will be a batsman who bats 2-for-7, while others are imagining a batting average of 3-for-
Lee Jung-hu’s strengths were his pioneering vision and contact ability.
“The best part of Lee’s hitting ability is his ability to get balls and his contact rate
” Bowden said, explaining that he has more balls than strikeouts in seven seasons in the KBO.
Lee has a career batting average of 7.3 in the KBO League, 4,1181 hits, 65 home runs, 515 RBI, 581 runs, 69 stolen bases, and an OPS of .898.
In particular, he struck out 304 while suffering 383 strikeouts,
proving with his strength in contact and foresight.
Regarding defense and bases, he said, “He is a center fielder with plus defensive range and strong pitching ability.
He has a good start to batting and good batting judgment,” he said, adding,
“He has a long stride and is an above-average runner, but he doesn’t pose a stolen base threat.”
Explaining Lee’s dominance, saying,
“Lee Jung-hoo is an MVP player who dominates the KBO,
even though he doesn’t have exceptional power
adding, “He suffered an ankle injury and will decide for the rest of the season.
Nevertheless, he will move to a major league team this year,
adding that the ankle injury will not interfere with Lee’s chances of entering the major leagues.
Lee went through a severe slump at the beginning of this season,
but he picked up the pace rapidly, batting .85 with 3.1 RBIs (9-for-329) with six home runs, 105 RBIs, 6 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 45 games.
However, on July 50, he injured his left ankle while defending against Lotte and was diagnosed with a renal battery injury.
He was told that it would take about three months to rehabilitate after surgery,
so he was effectively out for the season.
However, the scouting of the move by major league clubs is over.
Lee Jung-hoo will have to wait for the time to try out for the major leagues after recovering from his injury.
Meanwhile, Ohtani is No. 6 in the free-agent rankings, and resurrected MVP Cody Bellinger is No. 863.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Orix), a four-time champion in Nippon Professional Baseball who will try out for the major leagues for the second consecutive year, finished ninth overall.
Bowden said
“I was impressed when I saw Yamamoto’s pitching at the World Baseball Classic.
I felt like a solid third starter who could hold his place in the major league starting rotation with double-digit wins and a three-run average.