Correspondent Lee Sang-hee] In 2016, the San Diego Major League Baseball team provided the Nippon Ham, a professional baseball team, with team spring camp facilities in Peoria, Arizona, USA. It is known that this was to observe Shohei Ohtani (29, LA Angels) from a close distance, who was aiming to advance to the major leagues as a member of the Nippon Ham at the time.
San Diego not only watched Ohtani up close, but also 먹튀검증devoted its utmost sincerity to Nippon Ham by giving facilities free of charge to form an amicable relationship with him. San Diego also recruited Hideo Nomo, a Japanese former major league pitcher, as an advisor to the team. In other words, it was a ‘big picture’ in preparation for the future. However, Ohtani eventually joined the Angels in 2018 and has now grown into one of the best stars in the big leagues.
KBO League star Lee Jeong-hoo (25, Kiwoom), who announced his advance to the major leagues after this season, was reportedly treated similarly to Ohtani.
An official familiar with the Arizona club’s situation said in an interview with Star News in Peoria on the 4th (Korean time), “Just as San Diego devoted itself to Ohtani in the past, the Arizona club also observed Lee Jung-hoo and made a good relationship with him in February. I understand that he rented Arizona’s spring camp facilities to his team, Kiwoom, at his own expense.”
He continued, “This effort may not lead to a signing as soon as San Diego did, but I heard that Arizona has more information about Lee Jung-hoo than other major league clubs.” It will help us win,” he added.
Lee Jung-hoo, who debuted in the KBO League wearing a Kiwoom uniform in 2017, can advance overseas through the posting system after this season. At the end of last year, he announced his intention to challenge his team in the major leagues, and as Kiwoom also accepted it, interest from big league clubs increased.
When Star News visited the Kiwoom camp set up in Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona last February, four major league scouts followed Jung-hoo Lee and recorded his every move on camera. An official from Kiwoom’s public relations team said, “Scouts with different faces come every day, but an average of 4 to 5 scouts a day are constantly looking for them.”
Lee Jung-hoo also said in an interview with Star News at the time, “I started studying English after I decided to challenge the major leagues, and I am trying to adapt to the local food culture.”
When asked if there was a team he wanted to join, he said, “If there is an offer from the major leagues, I will discuss it with my agent, but there is no team I have a particular interest in right now.” I will continue to work hard to advance to the major leagues and achieve my dream.”
As long as there are no surprises, Lee Jung-hoo’s advancement to the major leagues is a foregone fact. It is not an exaggeration to say that only his choice remains as to which team uniform he will wear.