Kiwoom Heroes veteran outfielder Lee Hyung-jong contributed to the team’s victory by hitting a decisive timely hit against his former team.
In Game 14 of the season against the LG Twins of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on April 25, Lee Hyung-jong recorded one hit, one walk, and two RBIs in three times at bat. He produced RBIs in first-team games in about four months since the game against the Gocheok Kiwoom Heroes on April 14.
Lee Hyung-jong, who had only struck out, walked, and left-handed fly balls in the previous three at-bats, had a golden opportunity in his fourth at-bat. With the two teams tied at 4-4 with the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, he pulled LG Kim Jin-sung’s two-pitch fastball to make a left-handed hit. Third baseman Kim Hye-sung and second baseman Song Sung-moon came home one after another, and Kiwoom, which regained the lead with this hit, held a two-point lead until the end.
There was only one hit, but it was meaningful in that it came at an important moment. Kiwoom manager Hong Won-ki also said, “Lee Hyung-jong succeeded in turning the tables as he connected the last chance with a timely hit. It must have been a lot of hard work, but I look forward to playing a big role today (25th).”
Lee Hyung-jong, who received water from his teammates after the game, said, “I don’t know who sprayed (water). My eardrums got water in them,” and laughed, “Actually, I don’t really aim for pitches, but senior Kim Jin-sung threw a lot of folk balls at me when I was in the NC Dinos, so I aimed for folk balls. I was embarrassed because a fastball came in at the first pitch, and after that, I thought it would be good to make contact with the timing of the fastball, or else there will be another chance after a swing and miss, so I thought not to miss the fastball.”
“I think (Kim Jin-sung) threw a fastball because he thought I was aiming for a breaking ball, but I think he was lucky to have a fastball because he took a different idea after the first pitch came in,” he added.
In fact, Lee Hyung-jong swallowed his disappointment by catching all the hits he had made until his timely hit came out. In the game on the 24th, a long-hit ball entered right fielder Hong Chang-ki’s glove in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the next day, left fielder Kim Hyun-soo snatched Lee Hyung-jong’s ball with one out and one on the first base in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Lee Hyung-jong said, “I was good to (Hong) Chang-ki and (Kim) Hyun-soo, but I think Chang-ki took good care of me as a younger brother. I called and said, ‘Let’s not contact each other from now on’ (laughs). I always exchange gifts with Chang-ki on my birthday, and he said his body moved like that,” adding, “The coach told me to hit him comfortably because he was getting along so well and it was okay, but I felt a bit of pressure as the result was released. Except for the first game of the three consecutive games, I think the hitting was okay.” 메이저사이트
Lee Hyung-jong, who joined LG with the first nomination in 2008, signed a four-year total of 2 billion won with Kiwoom through the Futures FA (free contract) after the 2022 season. Considering his performance so far, it is more regrettable than satisfaction. Lee Hyung-jong was sluggish last year with a batting average of 0.215 with three home runs and 37 RBIs in 316 at-bats in 99 games, and he is also suffering from ups and downs this year with a batting average of 0.216 with an OPS of 0.646 with an on-base plus slugging percentage of 0.215 and 22 with a batting average of 0.216 with four home runs and 19 RBIs in 35 games.
In particular, Lee is having a tougher season than ever this year. He was diagnosed with a fracture when he was hit in the left foot by a foul ball during a game in April, and returned to the first team on April 9 after going through rehabilitation for more than two months. However, he headed back to the second team ahead of the game against the Doosan Bears in Jamsil on July 25.
At the time, the head coach made the decision, judging that the player needed more time to reorganize. Since then, Lee Hyung-jong has played the Futures League games from the LG Twins game on the 2nd to the Hanwha Eagles game on the 22nd, and came up to the first team on the 23rd after playing eight games.
Lee Hyung-jong said, “I think something went well because I prepared well for the season and the team wasn’t bad, but I rehabilitated for a long time after the injury. I think I rehabilitated for about 8 years only as a professional, but I felt weak. I had a lot of thoughts and was worried. When it came time to return, the team was in a difficult situation, so I felt responsible and pressured to show it. I think it was mentally difficult because the results weren’t coming out in such an environment.”
Lee Hyung-jong wants to continue this trend until the end of the season. Once called a “photoma” when he was running on the ground, he said, “I raised my legs again after going down to the second division for financial purposes, and I tried to be comfortable. That was my charm in my former team as well as swinging confidently, but I don’t think I’ve been able to show those parts. It’s time to organize my mind,” he said, adding, “I’m spending the season with new experiences.”
