Kiwoom removed outfielder Lee Joo-hyung and Bae Sang-kwon from the first team entry prior to the first game of the season against the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League Lotte Giants at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 12th. The vacancy without the two was filled by Lee Yong-kyu and Joo Sung-won being called up from the second team.
Lee Joo-hyung complained of hamstring pain the next day after completing the match against the Incheon SSG Landers on the 10th. A detailed examination confirmed damage to the micromuscle of the right hamstring. He was diagnosed that he needed at least two weeks of rest before recovering.
Lee Ju-hyeong failed to start the regular season in the first team due to a muscle injury in his left thigh at the end of his team’s spring camp this year. Fortunately, he recovered his physical condition smoothly and was listed in the first team’s entry on the 2nd.
As soon as he made a call-up for the first team, Lee displayed strong batting performance. He showed off his batting average of 0.483 (14 hits in 29 times at bat) in seven games, playing a key role in Kiwoom’s lineup.
However, as Lee was hamstrung again by unexpected injury, Kiwoom had difficulty in managing fielders. Coach Hong Won-ki also inevitably needs to change the lineup that Lee had built around him.
“Let’s stop talking about Lee Joo-hyung today,” coach Hong Won-ki said before the Lotte match on Wednesday. “Lee Joo-hyung is a player who is really desperate for baseball. I couldn’t control my instinct to play hard.”
“Lee Joo-hyung is also out of control instantly while instinctively hitting, running, and catching while playing,” he said. “First of all, there is no rule not to let such injuries recur next time. The most important thing is to come into the first team in a healthy body.”
Lee moved to Kiwoom through a trade with the LG Twins in July last year. To acquire Kiwoom’s Choi Won-tae, who was one of the best starting pitchers in the league at the time, LG sent its key promising player Lee Ju-hyung to Kiwoom.
Lee Ju-hyeong immediately settled down in the first team after joining the Kiwoom Heroes. As if trying to get rid of the sadness of having to stay in the second team due to the LG fielders’ thick depth, he swung his bat vigorously.
Lee Joo-hyung recorded a batting average of 0.326 (70 hits in 215 times at bat) with six homers, 36 RBIs and three steals, with an OPS of 0.897 in 69 games in the 2023 season. Although he failed to meet the stipulated number of hits, he showed strong performance with high expectations for his first full-time in the 2024 season.
Kiwoom entered the Major League after the end of the 2023 season with Lee Jung-hoo, the best hitter in the KBO League, through the posting system. The team prepared for the 2024 season with the idea of leaving Lee Jung-hoo’s vacancy to Lee Joo-hyung.
Kiwoom has had a smooth start with eight wins and six losses since the opening of the regular season on April 23. However, it is quite burdensome for the team to jump into the early rankings of the season without Lee Ju-hyung until at least April.
“I’m also heartbroken. I think the most upsetting thing right now is Lee Ju-hyung. I have nothing else to say, and the only thing the player must be sorry for me. I hope I can get well soon and meet him in a healthy and healthy manner,” he added.
BY: 안전놀이터