The name of Lee Jeong-hoo (26) is prominently placed among the next generation of major league monsters. Lee Jeong-hoo also showed that he has the power to hit a batted ball over the fence at any time. He was quite surprised and took notice of the major leagues.
Major League Baseball's official website 'MLB.com' mentioned 12 two-hit players who recorded notable statcast indicators in exhibition games on the 4th (Korean time). At the same time, attention was paid to the speed at which Lee Jeong-hoo hit the ball.
Jeong-hoo Lee started as center fielder No. 1 in the 2024 Major League Baseball exhibition game against the Arizona Diamondbacks held at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA on the 1st (Korean time). On this day, the major league took note of the two batted balls he hit in the game.
On this day, Lee Jeong-hoo hit hard hits, including a double and a home run. He repeatedly hit balls like clotheslines against full-time starter Rhyne Nelson, who recorded 8 wins, 8 losses, and an ERA of 5.31 in 144 innings in 29 games (27 starts) last year.
In his first at-bat in the first inning, Lee Jeong-hoo hit an 81.6 mile (131.3 km) curve on the low course toward the body on an unfavorable count of two strikes, hitting a double that sailed over the keys to right field. The exit speed of this batted ball reached 99.7 miles (160.5 km).
And in his second at-bat in the third inning, he hit a home run. With a favorable count of 2 balls and 1 strike, he pulled a 94.7 mph (152.4 km) four-seam fastball on the 4th pitch and hit a home run that flew over the right-center wall. A home run hit in 5 at-bats in 2 games of a major league exhibition game. It was an exciting hit with an exit speed of 109.7 miles (176.5 km), a distance of 418 feet (127.4 m), and a launch angle of 18 degrees.
Lee Jeong-hoo, who entered the major league stage after recording the KBO League's highest batting average of .304 (based on over 3,000 at-bats), was viewed as a contact hitter rather than a power hitter. However, this batted ball and other performances he showed at spring camp showed that his power was also formidable. This was the reason why the Major League could not help but be surprised and pay attention to Lee Jung-hoo's batting ball.
'MLB.com' mentioned both of the two batted balls that Lee Jung-hoo hit that day. The media said, ‘Lee Jeong-hoo, San Francisco’s main recruit this offseason, showed us in advance the hitting ability that will make it into the 2022 KBO League.’ Lee Jeong-hoo’s swing started with a double that opened the game. Not only that, he was able to quickly get the ball out of the park in his next at-bat, hitting a home run with a line drive of 109.7 mph, 18 degrees, and 418 feet.'
Jeong-hoo Lee's batting speed was not that low compared to the prospects called 'monsters' that the Major League is currently paying attention to.
Eli de la Cruz (Cincinnati Reds), who was introduced first, showed off a powerful hitting ball with an exit speed of 111.7 miles (179.8 km) and a distance of 470 feet (143.3 m) in this year's exhibition game. De la Cruz, who has strong athletic ability, recorded a hit-for-the-cycle (cycling hit) in his 15th game since his debut in a game against the Atlanta Braves on June 24 last year, and recorded 99.8 mph (160.6 mph) in a game against the San Francisco Giants on July 21. He left his name as the player with the fastest throw among infielders, with a bullet throw of 100 km/h.
Spencer Jones, the second top prospect of the New York Yankees to be introduced, also possesses tremendous strength. Even though Jones is 198cm tall and 106kg tall, he has outstanding athletic ability and power, allowing him to steal 43 bases in one season and play center field defense. He has enough power to be called the ‘left-handed version of Aaron Judge.’
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