Ha-seong Kim is fluttering, Hitting No. 1 Yoshida, Lee Jeong-hoo's value is growing

 Fluttering Kim Ha-sung...Hit No. 1 Yoshida, Lee Jung-hoo's value rises sharply, Major League Baseball interest remains unchanged despite injuries

San Diego Padres infielder Kim Ha-sung (28) is one of the hottest hitters in the Major League these days. He hit two home runs and two RBIs against the Pittsburgh Pirates on the 25th (Korea Standard Time) and two hits in the game on the 26th. On the 27th, he got on base twice with one hit and one walk.

In the last seven games, he has a batting average of .391 (9 hits in 23 at-bats), 3 home runs and 4 RBIs, a 0.517 on-base percentage, and a 0.826. He has a season batting average of .273 (89 hits in 326 at-bats), 14 home runs, 37 RBIs, and 54 runs and 19 steals. In his third year in the Major League, he is looking at '20 (Home Run)-20 (Stealing)'.

He was recognized for his excellent defense, and he even upgraded his offensive ability.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Yoshida Masataka (30) has been playing brilliantly since his first year in the Major League. In the game against the Toronto Blue Jays on the 26th, he hit three hits and scored two RBIs, including his 12th home run of the season. With a .32 batting average (110 hits in 345 at-bats), he topped Jandi Diaz (Tampa Bay Rays) and Bo Bissett (Toronto).

Yoshida, a former No. 4 hitter for the Orix Buffaloes, had a career batting average of .327 (884 hits in 2703 at-bats), 137 home runs, 133 home runs, and 467 RBIs in seven seasons. Even when he moved to the Major League, he played an active role that is not much different from his Orix days. When he signed a contract with Boston for five years to $90 million, there was an overpay controversy, but now it is said that it was a cheap contract.

There are Kim Ha-sung from the Heroes, outfielder Yoshida, and players who overlap in the Major League. Kiwoom Heroes outfielder Lee Jung-hoo (25). Like senior Kim Ha-sung three years ago, Lee Jung-hoo plans to advance to the Major League through the posting system.

Kim Ha-sung and Yoshida are the players that Major League Baseball clubs that pay attention to Lee Jung-hoo are watching with interest. Lee Jung-hoo's value and potential can be seen indirectly through the two players.

Aside from his contribution to defense, Lee Jung-hoo was evaluated as having a better batting ability than Kim Ha-sung when he was in the Heroes. This is recognized by Major League Baseball clubs.

Kim Ha-sung batted .294, 133 home runs and 575 RBIs for seven years as a member of the Heroes. In 2020, the season just before entering the Major League, he marked .36 with 30 home runs and 109 RBIs, hitting a career high. It is a very good performance, but Lee Jung-hoo is better than Kim Ha-sung in the rest of the performance without power.

Lee Jung-hoo has recorded .34 percent, 65 home runs and 515 RBIs so far this year. Last season, he recorded .36 with 193 hits and 113 RBIs with a 0.575 on-base percentage and a 0.421. This is why Kim Ha-sung said about Lee Jung-hoo, "It works even if he goes to the Major League right away."

Lee Jung-hoo will have to adapt quickly like Kim Ha-sung to succeed, but his KBO League performance, which is the standard for initial evaluation, is high.

Kim Ha-sung signed a 4+1 year contract with San Diego for up to $39 million.

For Lee Jung-hoo, the WBC (World Baseball Classic) held in March was an opportunity to show his international competitiveness. At that time, Lee Jung-hoo and Yoshida were the most notable fielders of the Korean and Japanese national teams. He is the best hitter who is planning to advance to the Major League and the best hitter who is about to make his major league debut.

Kim Ha-sung, who expresses his feelings on the confirmation of hosting the Seoul Series, and the San Diego Padres SNS account

The two have something in common as left-handed outfielders with good contact and excellent pioneering eyes. Some say that Lee Jung-hoo, a center fielder, is slightly ahead of left fielder Yoshida in terms of defense.

Both Lee Jung-hoo and Yoshida showed solid competitiveness in the WBC. Lee Jung-hoo batted .429 (6 hits in 14 at-bats) and scored four runs in four group games in the first round. He had two hits in the match against Japan, which suffered a crushing defeat. Lee Jung-hoo said, "It was a big harvest to be able to cope with the balls thrown by Japanese pitchers."

Yoshida, who started the first round as the fifth batter, played a big role in the fourth instead of Murakami Munetaka (23, Yakult Swallows), who was in a slump.

Few Asian fielders have succeeded in entering the Major League through their own professional leagues. Shohei Otani (29, Los Angeles Angels), who also serves as a pitcher, was excluded, and Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui were recognized for their steady performance.  스포츠토토

The strong performances of Asian Kim Ha-sung and Yoshida will serve as a boon to Lee Jung-hoo's major league contract.

Lee Jung-hoo injured his left ankle during defense in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Lotte Giants in Busan on the 22nd. He will undergo surgery on the 27th due to damage to his left ankle. It takes about three months to return.

Boston's Yoshida hit three hits and hit six RBIs, including a grand slam, against the Chicago Cubs on the 17th. He scored the most RBIs in one game in his second Grand Slam of the season. AFP Yonhap News Agency

In fact, he is out of the season, but he has shown enough competitiveness so far. Although the rehabilitation period is long compared to the degree of injury, there is no big problem in challenging the Major League.

According to a Heroes official, six to seven Major League Baseball clubs have contacted them to ask about their physical condition. The two clubs, which are planning to reinforce outfielders, are taking an active stance.