Lee Jung-hoo recorded a batting average of 0.231 (28 hits in 121 bats) in the first 30 games of this season. Until last month, he stayed at a batting average of 0.218 and then rebounded a bit. He has already struck out 13, and his OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) is only 0.686.
Compared to his last season, his sluggishness is more noticeable. Lee Jung-hoo played an active role in his first 30 games last year with a batting average of 0.328 (39 hits in 119 at-bats) and an OPS of 0.856. There were only three strikeouts. The number of strikeouts per at-bat (KK/PA) was 0.02 and the miss rate was 2.6%, the lowest in the league during the same period.
On the other hand, this year, KK/PA was 0.09 (7th) and the miss rate soared to 4.2%. Both are still in the top 10, but they don’t live up to Lee Jung-hoo’s reputation. Multi-hit games (two or more hits in one game) also decreased from 11 games to 6 games during the same period, and no-hit games doubled from 5 games to 10 games. Lee Jung-hoo said, “The slump lasted longer than I thought, so I became more and more aware of it.
The signs are getting better. Lee Jung-hoo played an active part in the LG Twins game in Jamsil on the 10th with 2 hits, 2 RBIs and 2 points in 4 at-bats. He helped the team escape its fourth straight game, recording a multi-hit in seven games. Kiwoom coach Hong Won-ki recently adjusted Lee Jung-hoo’s batting order from 3rd to 1st with the meaning of “Getting in one more at-bat to find a sense.” The effect is noticeable. Lee Jung-hoo said,토토사이트 “I feel like it will get better in the future.”
Lee Jung-hoo changed his batting form last winter. He succinctly refined his swing to cope with the fastballs of MLB pitchers ahead of his major league (MLB) challenge next season. After getting used to it for a year, he tried it with the intention of going to the United States, but it didn’t work in Korea, so the stress increased. In the end, Lee Jung-hoo decided to “play comfortably if possible”. His swing also returned to a form similar to last year. It wasn’t without income, though. He said, “I had a good experience in the process. It helped a lot technically, and I was confident in the original batting.”
He also got advice from Ja-wook Koo (30, Samsung Lions), who went through a similar process. Ja-wook Koo had the worst year last season due to injuries and sluggishness. He has overcome the time well and is regaining his former strength this year. Lee Jung-hoo asked Ja-wook Koo, whom he met on a recent expedition to Daegu, for advice, saying, “We do the same as last year, but strangely, not this year.” Koo Ja-wook said, “Last year and this year, the physical condition and balance are all different. You shouldn’t cling to last year.” After that, Lee Jung-hoo changed his pre-training routine and sought a change, and he is gradually finding an answer.
Lee Jung-hoo is Kiwoom’s star and the core of its power. While he was sluggish, Kiwoom suffered several consecutive losses and fell to 8th place. Lee Jung-hoo said, “I felt sorry for the coach and colleagues who continued to trust me. If you wait a little bit, I will definitely show a better image in the future.” Lee Jung-hoo, the best hitter in the KBO League, is slowly coming to an end.