“(At bat) I try not to attack. Trying not to do that seems to produce good results.”
‘Jamsil Big Boy’ Lee Jae-won (LG Twins), who is gradually solidifying his position in the team, confided about the reason for his success.
Lee Jae-won, born in 1999, is a right-handed hitter who boasts a confident physique of 192cm and 100kg. In the 2018 rookie draft, he was nominated by LG with the 17th overall in the second round of the second round, and his natural long hitting power was chosen as his greatest strength, enough to become the home run king in the Futures (second team) league in the 2020 and 2021 seasons in a row.
Lee Jae-won gradually showed his presence on the first team stage last season. In his 85 games, his batting average was somewhat disappointing at .224, but he arched 13 and hit his first double-digit home run in his debut.
Originally, Lee Jae-won was scheduled to go to Sangmu and serve in the military after last season. However, manager Yeom Kyung-yeop, who took the helm of LG, dissuaded him. Lee Jae-won, who led LG’s 7-3 victory by making a big success against KT Wiz in Jamsil on the 17th with 1 hit and 3 RBIs including the final hit, said about the situation after the game, “I had a mind to go to the army during the finish camp last year. However, the director changed his mind. From then on, he was alert and focused. From then on, he seems to have caught his heart,” he confessed.
However, Lee Jae-won, who was preparing for the season with a new heart, faced an ordeal. Suffering a left flank injury in spring camp. Afterwards, he returned to the team during an exhibition game after undergoing rehabilitation, but the pain recurred shortly after, and he could not be seen in the first team stage for the time being.
Lee Jae-won said, “I think I had a lot of thoughts. It was difficult, but I talked a lot with his family. This happened anyway, so I made up my mind to prepare well and go up,” he said, looking back at the difficult times.
After that, he was finally called up to the first team this year in the match against Doosan Bears in Jamsil on the 6th (cancelled in the rain), and was even listed in the starting lineup in the match with Samsung Lions in Daegu on the 12th.
Lee Jae-won, who gradually emerged, swung a fire bat with 3 hits, 2 home runs and 2 RBIs in 4 at-bats, including an arch in consecutive hits against KT in Jamsil on the 16th. In particular, the speed of both batted balls that became home runs exceeded 170 km, and the distance was measured at over 120 m.
Although LG knelt down to KT 7-12 after a slugfest in the game, Lee Jae-won’s performance remained as a ray of hope. LG coach Yeom Gyeong-yeop, who watched this, said, ahead of the game against KT in Jamsil on the 17th, “(Lee Jae-won) can become a 30% hitter if he just makes an in-play batted ball. The swing line is good, and the line is good, so the quality of the ball is good,” he said.
Could it be because of this influence? Lee Jae-won also showed off his presence in the game that day. He struck out in his first at-bat in the bottom of the second inning, but turned the bat fiercely in the bottom of the fourth inning, which was the match for the day. With LG trailing by 1-2 and with bases full, opponent starting pitcher Bo Schulser hit a 140km cutter on the first pitch and hit a big ball toward the center fielder.
KT center fielder Anthony Alford moved to catch it, but the hit ball was so fast that he couldn’t catch the falling ball clearly, which eventually led to a timely triple with 3 RBIs. As LG later won without allowing a tie, Lee Jae-won became the protagonist of the final stroke.
He said, “(Last 12th) I started as a starter against Daegu Samsung, but the coach always told me to relax. I was able to do this because the coach believed in me.” It was helpful that coach Lee Ho-jun told me a lot. he hit the pitch He thought of turning it boldly,” he said with a bright smile.
Lee Jae-won then went on base with an automatic intentional 4th pitch in the bottom of the 5th inning with 1 out on 1st and 2nd base. It was also a part that gave a glimpse of his changed status. Lee Jae-won also said, “Actually, I felt good. He wanted to be happy. He had a desire to hit, but he went out with a grateful heart,” he laughed.
In particular, he gave LG strength with good defense in the first two innings. Kang Baek-ho, who was digging into the home on Alford’s left-handed hit in second out and second base, was caught at home with an accurate throw. Coincidentally, Kang Baek-ho is also Lee Jae-won’s classmate at Seoul High School.
Lee Jae-won said, “It felt good, similar to the home run. He said please, please as he threw the ball. He threw it, but fortunately (?) (Kang) Baekho. I’ll call later and try to play a prank.”
He then said, “I’m glad I’m playing as an outfielder rather than a first baseman. To be honest, the outfield is comfortable,” he said. “First baseman is not an easy position. I always look at the infield seniors and think they are great.”
What is the secret of Lee Jae-won’s propaganda? He said, “I try not to attack (at the plate) rather than being confident. Last year, when I felt good, I attacked a lot after that, but when I tried not to do that, I think good results came out.” (Moon) Sung Joo-hyung and other hyungs also talked a lot about it.”
Director Yeom took the example of ‘National Geopo’ Park Byeong-ho (KT) early on and predicted that Lee Jae-won would be actively employed.먹튀검증
Regarding this, Lee Jae-won said, “It felt really good to talk about senior Park Byung-ho. He is the senior I respect and like the most, and I thought that I want to be like him too,” he said with his eyes twinkling.
Lee Jae-won is included in the preliminary list for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, which will be held between September and October this year. The final list of 24 members will be announced in June.
He said, “I’m not going because I want to go. If you keep doing it as you are now, it may work, or it may not. I try not to have regrets,” he emphasized.