input2023.02.09 13:19
correction2023.02.09 13:19
The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is the only international tournament in which ‘active major leaguers’ participate.
Of course, players who play in the American major leagues are featured, but the WBC is also a contest for ‘preliminary big leaguers’.
This is why the New York Post of the United States suggested on the 9th (Korea time), “Take note of Group B, which the United States does not belong to.”
The New York Post said, “In Group B, Korean Professional Baseball MVP Lee Jung-hoo and Nippon Professional Baseball Pacific League MVP Yamamoto Yoshinobu.”
Lee Jung-hoo (25, Kiwoom Heroes) aims to enter the big league through the posting system (private competitive bidding) after this season.
The New York Post said, “Lee Jung-hoo signed a contract with Boras Corporation, headed by Scott Boras, a major agent.
Last year, while posting a 0.349 batting average, 23 home runs, and 66 walks, he only struck out 32,” Lee Jung-hoo introduced to American fans.
However, it also pointed out Lee Jung-hoo’s weakness.
The New York Post said, “It’s hard to maintain the results in Korea in the big leagues.
In the big leagues, only Shin-soo Choo and Choi Ji-man are hitters who have performed well,” he said.
Lee Jung-hoo is also not familiar with the ‘big league-level restraint’ yet.
Also, he doesn’t have slugging power,” said one of the league’s top scouts.
Despite these weaknesses, Lee Jung-hoo is still an attractive hitter.
Scout Lee said, “Lee Jung-hoo has some talent.
He has the contact ability, the concentration ability, and the throwing ability is also good.
He can do a lot on the ground,” he said.
The innovative plan is also good,” he added.
The New York Post praised Yamamoto (Orix Buffaloes) as ‘a pitcher who will immediately act as an ace in the big leagues’.
Yamamoto went 18-5 with a 1.39 ERA and 206 strikeouts in 2021 and 15-5 with a 1.68 ERA and 205 strikeouts in 2022, winning four consecutive crowns (most wins, winning rate, strikeouts , average ERA) and Pacific League MVP, Sawamura Award
A major league scout told the New York Post, “Yamamoto doesn’t need to show anything more in Japan now.
He’s a pitcher with tremendous competitiveness in the major leagues,” he said. “He can get his speed up to 99 miles an hour (about 159 km) whenever he wants.
The splitter also has top-notch pitches in the big leagues.
He’s a much better pitcher than Senga Godai (who signed with the New York Mets).”
Lee Jung-hoo also recognizes Yamamoto.
And I am trying to surpass Yamamoto.
In the 2019 World Baseball Confederation (WBSC) Major League 12 finals, Lee Jeong-hoo hit three pitches off Yamamoto, who came out as a relief pitch.
After that, Lee Jung-hoo, who said several times, “I will definitely punish Yamamoto the next time I meet him,” had 2 hits in 3 at-bats against Yamamoto, who started against Korea at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
The 2023 WBC match between Korea and Japan will be held on March 10th at 7pm at the Tokyo Dome in Japan.
If a rematch between the Korea-Japan MVP and the ‘preliminary big league’ Lee Jeong-hoo and Yamamoto happens, it may catch the attention of the league’s top officials.
/happy news
