Lee Jung-hoo (24, Kiwoom Heroes) takes over the overseas challenge baton.
An official from Kiwoom said on the 19th, “Lee Jeong-hoo conveyed his intention to challenge overseas expansion after the 2023 season at a meeting with the club today.”
He added, “The club is also in a position to review positively. When official work begins on January 2 next year, we plan to make a final decision after internal discussions.”
Lee Jung-hoo’s challenge to the American Major League is a predicted step. He has already expressed his dream of going to the big leagues several times.
Lee Jung-hoo, who entered the KBO League in 2017, can qualify for overseas advancement with the posting system by filling up 7 years if he plays until the 2023 season. If the club agrees, it will knock on the door of the US market with the posting system.
He stood tall as the best hitter in the KBO League early on.
Lee Jung-hoo, who has been a starting pitcher since his debut season, recorded a batting average of 0.342, 59 homers, 470 RBIs and 63 stolen bases in 798 games.
His consistent performance was even more impressive. Lee Jung-hoo, who won the batting title for the first time last year (0.360), 토토 dominated the batting average (0.349), RBI (113), hits (193), on-base percentage (0.421), and slugging percentage (0.575) categories this year, winning five gold medals. He was selected as the MVP of the regular season and also won the Golden Glove for outfielders for 5 consecutive years.
Heroes, always successful in posting challenges, got another chance to hit the jackpot.
At the end of 2014, Nexen (now Kiwoom) starting shortstop Kang Jeong-ho became the first Korean fielder to move to the United States through the posting system.
The Pittsburgh Pirates paid 5 million 2015 dollars (approximately 6.5 billion won) for posting fees to recruit Kang Jeong-ho and signed a 4+1 year total of 16.5 million dollars (approximately 21.5 billion won).
Thanks to Kang Jung-ho’s success, ‘Home Run King’ Park Byeong-ho (KT Wiz) also left for the United States after the 2015 season. Park Byung-ho joined hands with Minnesota for 4 years and 12 million dollars (approximately 15.6 billion won), and Minnesota paid 12.85 million dollars (approximately 16.7 billion won) to Nexen for posting fees.
Kiwoom, who earned a transfer fee of 17,852,015 dollars (about 23.2 billion won) by sending Kang Jung-ho and Park Byeong-ho, allowed Kim Ha-seong (San Diego Padres) to post after the 2020 season. San Diego signed a contract with Kim Ha-seong for up to 39 million dollars (about 50.8 billion won) for 4 years + 1 year, and sent 5.525 million dollars (about 7.2 billion won) to Kiwoom for posting costs.
Players leave for a bigger stage in search of their dreams, and Kiwoom, which has no parent company, pursues a ‘win-win’ by earning transfer fees through the posting system and adding them to the club’s operation.
Now, Lee Jung-hoo is preparing to jump on a bigger stage following in the footsteps of his team seniors.