Local media in the United States have predicted a successful debut season for Lee Jung-hoo, 25, in a Major League Baseball (MLB) San Francisco Giants uniform.
MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, named 10 potential candidates for the All-MLB team for the 2024 season on Monday (Aug. 18).
The All-MLB teams, which are comprised of the best players at each position, are determined by a combination of 50 percent fan voting and 50 percent expert voting, with nominees selected based on season performance in both the American and National Leagues. The team is divided into a First Team of the best players and a Second Team of position players.
With Lee set to play in the big leagues starting next year, there were positive predictions that he would be named to the All-MLB team in the center field category.
MLB.com first looked at Lee with some concern. “We still don’t know how he’ll perform in the MLB. In an injury-shortened season, he posted a nearly 60 percent ground ball rate and a .120 on-base percentage, both of which were down from the previous year.”
However, the organization noted Lee’s various strengths and explained why he was a candidate for the All-MLB team.
MLB.com wrote, “There’s a lot to like about Lee’s hitter profile. “He makes contact, has great power, and has a baseball pedigree as a ‘grandson of the wind,'” said MLB.com. “He can hit the ball in all directions, which could be an advantage at Oracle Park (San Francisco’s home ballpark) with its wide and deep outfield. He’s only 25 years old, and he’s a great defensive center fielder.”
“It’s hard to predict what kind of production Lee will have in San Francisco, but he said at his introductory press conference, ‘I’m going to impress the fans with my skills from day one.’ It’s not hard to imagine him living up to that expectation.”
Lee, who knocked on the door of the big leagues through the posting system (closed competitive bidding) after the 2023 season, signed a six-year, 온라인카지노 $113 million (KRW 14.64 billion) major league contract with San Francisco on Nov. 15. He surpassed Japanese slugger Masataka Yoshida, who signed a six-year, $90 million contract with the Boston Red Sox in December for a total of $118.7 billion, making him the highest-paid Asian baseball player.
Only Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (Rakuten Golden Eagles) was the only other Asian player to go through the posting system. Tanaka signed a seven-year, $155 million contract with the New York Yankees in January 2014.
In addition to Lee, Bobby Witt Jr. (shortstop-Kansas City Royals), Royce Lewis (third baseman-Minnesota Twins), Spencer Steer (infielder/outfielder-Cincinnati Reds), and Evan Carter (outfielder-Texas Rangers), Nolan Jones (outfielder-Colorado Rockies), Yoenis Diaz (catcher-Houston Astros), Paul Skennis (pitcher-Pittsburgh Pirates), George Kirby (pitcher-Seattle Mariners), and Imanaga Shota (pitcher-Free Agent) were nominated for the All-MLB team.
