Rookie catcher Lee Joo-heon, 21, of the LG Twins of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), has improved his chances of making the postseason with a surprise performance.
Lee started at No. 8 catcher against Kiwoom on June 26 at Jamsil Stadium. In his first career start in LG’s final home game of the season, Lee went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. He had two doubles.
Lee hit a two-run double down the left field line in the second inning to lead off the game. With the score tied 1-1 in the fifth, he singled to right to put runners on first and third with no outs. Austin pinch-hit and scored on a grounder to third base to give LG the lead back at 2-1.
In the top of the seventh inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Lee added another RBI with a double down the left field line. In his fourth at-bat of the eighth inning, with the score 6-3, Lee struck out with the bases loaded.
Drafted by LG with the 27th overall pick
Drafted by LG with the 27th overall pick in the third round of the 2022 KBO Draft, Lee made his first appearance on the first team roster on May 25. He played in the second team after joining the organization and entered active duty in October 2022. He served as an army administrative soldier in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, and was discharged in April this year.
He played 39 games in the second team this year, batting 2-for-8 with 23 runs (81 at-bats), six home runs, 21 RBIs and 19 runs scored. 토토사이트 He was called up to the first team and made his debut on May 25 against Jamsil Hanwha, playing one inning as a substitute catcher in the ninth inning. After being disappointed with his lack of at-bats in his debut, Lee made up for it with three hits in his first start.
“It’s still kind of surreal,” Lee said after the game, adding, ”I was told last night that I was going to start (today). I didn’t sleep well at night because my heart was racing and I was shaking a lot. After the first inning today, I relaxed.”
When asked how he felt when he got his first hit in his first at-bat,
Lee said, “It was good to run, but I wasn’t really excited or anything.” “I didn’t really feel it when I was batting or fielding, but when I went to the plate and heard the cheers, I got goosebumps,” he said.
“I was in the reserve team for about a month after I was discharged from the military. Coach Kim Jae-yul kept instilling confidence in me, and Coach Son Ji-hwan told me to pull my batting point forward about two inches. I was hitting too far back. I changed it, and I hit a lot of home runs.” He was grateful.
“I didn’t expect to hit three home runs. I think the coach gave me a good opportunity, and I’m grateful to him for this result.”
Before the 26th game, manager Yoon Kyung-yup said of Lee, “The second team recommendation was very good, and there was a recommendation from the battery coach and the catcher’s meeting that he would be the best backup catcher next year. I’m planning to play the remaining two games as a catcher, so if it’s okay, he can make the postseason roster.”
“I don’t think it’s my concern to play in the postseason, and I think if I keep quiet, the opportunity to play will come,” Lee said. ”I think if I play the remaining games without regret, without greed, and do what I’ve been doing faithfully, I think there will be good results.”