Korean Major Leaguer's pride is expected to be in the MLB opening game, Lee Jung-hoo No. 1 center fielder Kim Hye-sung No. 9 second baseman. Expectations for the starting line are soaring

Feb 12, 2025

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Will Korean big leaguers Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants) and Kim Hye-sung (LA Dodgers) secure their team's starting position.

An accurate evaluation will come out only at the opening time, but so far, it seems that there is a green light. This is because he proudly put his name on the expected starting list for the opening game on the official Major League website.

MLB.COM released the expected starting lineup and five-man rotation list for the opening game of 30 Major League teams on the 12th (Korea time). This is the result of consideration by the staff in charge of each club of MLB.COM. Both Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-sung were in the starting lineup for the opening game between San Francisco and the Dodgers.

First of all, Lee Jung-hoo was listed as San Francisco's leadoff and center fielder. The second batter is Willy Adames (striker), who San Francisco recruited as an FA instead of Kim Ha-sung. It is an atmosphere in which the table setters of the Hota Jun people are formed.

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MLB.COM said of San Francisco's starting lineup that "Adames, who joined the team for seven years - $182 million (about 264.4 billion won), should show the slugging power that San Francisco needs. In addition, San Francisco expects Lee Jung-hoo, who had to end the rookie season early due to a left shoulder injury in May last year, to return and give the team a great boost", he explained.

It is evidence that expectations and good evaluations for Lee Jung-hoo have been steadily maintained until now. However, such expectations may disappear sooner than expected. This is because there are not many statistics that Lee Jung-hoo has accumulated.

He left due to injury without showing his capabilities properly. He appeared in only 37 games and 158 at-bats, 38 hits in 145 at-bats, 262 batting average for two home runs, and 3301 slugging percentage. There is not enough data to evaluate the real skills.

Rather, it can be seen that expectations are still maintained thanks to this poor data. In a nutshell, it is in a state of being under-bubble.

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Therefore, Lee Jung-hoo needs to actively appeal his capabilities through exhibition games and early in the regular league. Doubts are already being raised. The Athletic, a U.S. sports media outlet, said, `We need to prove whether Lee Jung-hoo is a backup or a star player.' How valuable would it be if extreme contact hitters could not supplement their power in modern baseball. Can Lee Jung-hoo be reborn as a productive runner. Will he be able to play consistently in the game?' he said, predicting that he will maintain his main position only when he increases his slugging power compared to the rookie season.

Like Lee Jung-hoo, Kim Hye-sung, a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West, was also on the opening starting list. It's the 9th batter and second baseman. Shortstop Mookie Betts (second batter) and Keystone duo will be drawn. MBL.COM did not elaborate on Kim Hye-sung, saying, `A few new players have joined, but the starting lineup led by three former MVP hitters is not much different from last year.'

This is because Kim Hye-sung is not a starter who shows a clear presence. Currently, he has to compete with Kiké Hernández, Chris Taylor, and Miguel Rojas. Kim Hye-sung also needs to highlight his batting strengths in exhibition games. In the Major League, it is difficult to establish a starting position only by defense. Productivity at bat is very important.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.