Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, USA where the World Baseball Classic (WBC) national baseball team is in full swing. There are people here who stare at the ground sharply, wearing black sunglasses every day. These are major league scouts.
Those who gathered from all over the United States showed their faces from the 15th (Korean time) when the national team was convened. At first, the scouts of the Chicago Cubs kept their place alone, but in the practice game against the NC Dinos held the next day, scouts from nine clubs occupied one side of the crowd. It was a staff dispatched by the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Texas Rangers.
Major league scouts were reluctant to contact domestic reporters. However, the purpose of the field trip seemed clear. This is the observation of Lee Jeong-hoo (25, Kiwoom Heroes).
Lee Jung-hoo, who won five batting crowns and MVP last year, is the best star in the KBO League. It is evaluated that not only skills, but also personality and star quality are the best. Even in the early days of his debut in 2017, he was not free from the shadow of his father Lee Jong-beom, but he became a unique existence only through his own efforts.
The next concern is the future. Lee Jung-hoo already officially announced that he would advance to the United States in December of last year. He revealed that after this season, he will knock on the door of the major leagues through the posting system. Also, last month, they joined hands with Bora Corporation, run by American ‘super agent’ Scott Boras.
Major League Baseball, which received Lee Jung-hoo’s challenge, also became busy. Considering that he is still young in his mid-20s and received a military service exemption by winning the gold medal at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, he believes that he has plenty of potential for growth.
In fact, the major league interest in Lee Jung-hoo is more than expected. MLB.com, the official homepage, has been pouring out articles with Lee Jung-hoo’s name on them every day. Reports related to Lee Jung-hoo have also increased significantly in other local media. The movements that can be seen with the eyes are also impressive. That is the tenacious observation of major league scouts. Starting with Kiwoom’s US spring camp, they visit the national team’s convocation training several times and watch Lee Jung-hoo. In particular, San Francisco officials are showing great interest by taking attendance stamps every day.
Then, what is the inside of the person who is receiving such hot attention? Lee Jeong-hoo met with the reporters after completing batting and defense training on the 19th and said, “(The scouts) are not very conscious,” and “I heard at a glance that the evaluation related to me was over. Right now, I’m just thinking of coming to see you because I’m curious about how I do it,” he said calmly. At the same time, he brought out the names of his colleagues instead, saying, “I think that players who want to go to the United States, such as Go Woo-seok, Jung Woo-young, Kang Baek-ho, and Kim Hye-seong, would be the target of observation.” 먹튀검증
I am not very conscious of the people around me, but my mindset to prepare for this season is different than ever. The most important part is, of course, the modification of the batting form. I am polishing concise movements to improve accuracy.
Lee Jung-hoo said, “I am still trying many things. I am looking for a movement that I can feel comfortable within the changed frame,” he explained the current progress. “In the US, I am training with the idea of live betting. As there are still more practice games left, I will match the timing and find a batting form that suits me.”
Lee Jung-hoo shook his hand at the story that this WBC would be his showcase. He instead expressed his aspiration to devote himself to the national team’s advancement to the semifinals rather than individual performance.
Lee Jung-hoo said, “First of all, my biggest goal is to come back to the United States (where the semifinals will be held). For this, Australia must be unconditionally captured. Considering that the opponent in the next match is Japanese, we must win,” he said. “All national team matches were prepared with the same mind, but this tournament is more special. It’s because there are many of our peers. International competitions will continue to be held in the future, but if the seniors are left out, we have to do it from now on. I hope I do well from this tournament,” revealing a sense of responsibility as a hitter who is the main player in the national team.