Lee Jeong-hoo's farewell message, and that's how 'his challenge' began.
Lee Jeong-hoo appeared as a pinch hitter in the final regular season match against the Samsung Lions of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 10th. In the bottom of the 8th inning, with both teams tied at 3-3, Lim Ji-yeol's two-run shot went off with one out and one on first base, and Kiwoom immediately called for Lee Jeong-hoo at Su-jong Park's at-bat.
When Lee Jeong-hoo, wearing the equipment from the dugout, appeared on the ground, cheers erupted. After being unable to play in the game for over two months after his injury, he took off his helmet and greeted Kiwoom fans on the first base side and Samsung fans on the third base side in turn.
Coincidentally, Lee Jeong-hoo, who faced Kim Tae-hoon, who had a meal together at Kiwoom, displayed his will to hit by a persistent battle. After the full count, he showed concentration enough to cut 6 balls. Although the result was a ground ball to shortstop, the fans cheered Lee Jeong-hoo's challenge with generous applause. Some fans even shed tears.
Lee Jung-hoo, who received attention for his outstanding potential since his rookie days, has shown outstanding performance since 2017, his first year of debut. He had a batting average of over .300 every year until this year, and last year he even showed off his slugging ability by hitting 20 home runs for the first time in his debut.
Lee Jeong-hoo's presence also shined at international competitions. He participated in all international competitions, starting with the Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) in 2017 and ending with the World Baseball Classic (WBC) last March. In this way, Lee Jeong-hoo was no longer the ‘son of coach Lee Jong-beom (LG)’ or the ‘grandson of the wind,’ but was able to be reborn as the ‘first Lee Jeong-hoo.’
Lee Jeong-hoo, who had already completed verification in the KBO League, looked to a bigger stage. In December of last year, Kiwoom expressed its intention to challenge the major league through the posting system after the end of the 2023 season, and after internal discussions, Kiwoom agreed in early January of this year to respect and support the player's will and will. He also established a policy to help and support where he can at the club level.
Lee Jeong-hoo, who seemed to be continuing his high-flying march through the regular season following the WBC, suffered an unexpected injury not long after the second half of the season began. Lee Jeong-hoo, who started the game as the third hitter and center fielder, felt unwell while fielding in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the team's trainer immediately ran to the outfield. Lee Jeong-hoo, who found it difficult to walk alone, headed to the dugout with support.
The player, club, and fans all hoped it was not a major injury. However, as a result of detailed examinations at two hospitals, Lee Jeong-hoo was diagnosed with damage to the extensor zone of his left ankle. The extensor zone injury was damage to the membrane surrounding the ankle tendon, and suturing surgery was required to treat it. Kiwoom's explanation was that the rehabilitation period alone would require about three months. It has become difficult not only to participate in the remaining games, but also to participate in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
After successfully completing the surgery, Lee Jeong-hoo focused on rehabilitation and showed a smooth recovery. He had a strong will to stand in front of his home fans before advancing to the United States. Lee Jeong-hoo, who has been with the first team since the end of last month, was registered as an entry on the 3rd, and was able to play batting and defense in the final home game as he wanted. As he is not in 100% physical condition, he will not be able to play against Gwangju KIA on the 11th and against Incheon SSG on the 13th, but Lee Jeong-hoo plans to be with the players until the last game.
MLB teams are already showing great interest in Lee Jung-hoo, with San Francisco Giants general manager Pete Putilla visiting Gocheok Sky Dome in person. Some say that Lee Jeong-hoo is attractive enough for teams looking to strengthen their outfield lineup. Many fans are expected to pay attention to his actions as he takes on a new challenge in the United States this winter.
Meanwhile, on this day, Kiwoom defeated Samsung 5-3 and won the final home game, going on a 3-game winning streak and recording 58 wins, 3 draws, and 81 losses (0.417). In addition, Hanwha, which had suffered six consecutive losses, fell to last place and rose to 9th place.