High school SS new record, and yet it's headed right... Will a short-term study abroad be born as a special shortstop

Jan 01, 2025

Samsung Lee Jae-hyun is training in defense in Game 3 of the Korean Series between KIA and Samsung at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 25th. Daegu = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.10.25/

Samsung Lee Jae-hyun hits a hit in the bottom of the second inning in the first round of the playoffs between LG and Samsung at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 13th. Daegu = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.10.13/

Could the 'year of the snake' of 'Bam' be a little more special.

Lee Jae-hyun (22, Samsung Lions) made a strong professional appearance Lee Jae-hyun, who joined Samsung with the first nomination in 2022, batted .235 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs in 75 games in his first year.

It is a somewhat ordinary grade, but considering that Lee Jae-hyun's position is shortstop, the value of the record goes up. Seven home runs are the most by a high school shortstop. It is not easy for a high school graduate to firmly establish himself at the center of the center line. Lee Jae-hyun's first year led to the expectation of Samsung's creation of a 'large shortstop'.

Lee Jae-hyun, who had the best start, continued to grow steadily afterwards. He played in 143 games in 2023 and recorded a batting average of 249, 12 home runs and 60 RBIs with an OPS of 0.708, and last year, he had a batting average of 26 14 home runs and 66 RBIs with an OPS of 0.784 in 109 games.

Samsung's fourth game of the Korean Series between KIA and Samsung at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 26th. Samsung's Lee Jae-hyun hit a solo home run in the fifth inning. Daegu=Song Jeong-heon, Reporter Song@sportschosun.com/2024.10.26/

When it comes to hitting, it maintains steady growth every year. The defense was also not bad, with only 11 errors last year. In particular, he played in five Korean Series games and hit home runs last year, adding to his experience.

Despite last year's underdog evaluation, Samsung showed its ability to advance to the Korean Series after finishing second in the regular season. After the end of the season, he began to dream of reviving the dynasty by reinforcing starting pitchers such as recruiting FA Choi Won-tae.

There was no special reinforcement except for keeping Kim Heon-gon and Ryu Ji-hyuk, who were internal FA, in the fielders. As such, we are expecting the growth of the existing 'young blood'.

Samsung Lee Jae-hyun hits a solo home run and high-fives with head coach Park Jin-man in the bottom of the fifth inning in Game 4 of the Korean Series between KIA and Samsung at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 26th. Daegu = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.10.26/

At the end of the season, Lee went to Cressey Sports Performance (CSP), a baseball program facility in West Palm Beach, Florida, the United States.

After going through the body condition analysis and physical competency measurement process locally, intensive training was conducted for three weeks according to the individualized program. Lee Jae-hyun's goal was to install an optimized swing mechanism. The home run came out, but the batting average needed to go up a little more.

If Lee Jae-hyun, who is going through a steady growth phase, enjoys the effect of 'Short-term Study in the U.S.', Samsung can dream of 'Resurrection of Myeongga' with the birth of 'Big Shortstop'.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.