Lee Ju-hyung, 22, who started his professional career with the LG Twins, hit his first home run in the KBO in a Kiwoom Heroes uniform.메이저사이트
Lee batted fifth and started in center field against visiting LG on Wednesday at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, and with two outs in the top of the first inning and a 1-0 lead, he took a 134-kilometer-per-hour changeup from LG starter Casey Kelly and launched a two-run arch over the right field wall. The pitch traveled 125 meters at 166.5 kilometers per hour.
It was Lee’s first home run in the big leagues in 37 games and 52 at-bats.
Kiwoom sent starter Choi Won-tae to LG on March 29 in a trade that included outfielder Lee Ju-hyung, pitcher Kim Dong-gyu and a first-round pick in the 2024 rookie draft.
Strengthening LG’s starting rotation was the key to the trade.
However, the trade also opened the door for Lee Ju-hyung.
A right-handed hitter who was drafted by LG with the 13th overall pick in the second round of the 2020 KBO Draft, Lee was unable to break through LG’s thick outfield and only played 32 games in the first team.
He bounced back and forth between the infield and outfield to make the first team.
Kiwoom slotted Lee into the starting lineup immediately after the trade, locking him in at center field.
Lee Joo-hyung, who broke down in tears in an interview on LG’s YouTube channel, told reporters on the 3rd, “I received a lot of support from my seniors and fans even though I didn’t show anything at LG. I got teary-eyed because I was crying.” He also said, “At LG, it was hard to stand in one at-bat, but at Kiwoom, I stand in four at-bats a day. I don’t consider myself a starter yet. I’m going to cherish every at-bat and do my best.”
After showing off his precision with a 5-for-15 (.333) batting average in four games from July 29 to July 2, Lee showed off his long ball power on the third day with a cool home run in his first at-bat.