Kim Hee-joon and Lee Ju-young, probationary reporter = On the Major League (MLB) stage, 'best friend' Kim He-sung (LA Dodgers) and Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants) exchanged words of blessing and cheered each other.
Lee Jung-hoo, who left the country first on the 13th to prepare for the 2025 season, compared Kim Hye-sung to Park Ji-sung when he played for Manchester United in the English Premier League. A day later on the 14th, Kim Hye-sung, who headed to the U.S., praised Lee Jung-hoo, saying, "Superstar."
Kim Hye-sung, who was born in January 1999, and Lee Jung-hoo, who was born in August 1998, are in close relationship.
Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-sung, who met with the youth team and became close even before joining the professional team, have been a team with Kiwoom Heroes for six years. In the 2017 rookie draft, Lee Jung-hoo was selected in the first round and Kim Hye-sung was selected as the seventh overall pick in the second round.
The two have grown into top KBO league players dreaming of becoming MLB together in Kiwoom.
Lee Jung-hoo, who had high expectations even before joining the professional league, was crowned the Rookie of the Year in 2017, his first year as a professional player, and in 2022, he had a batting average of 0.349 with 23 home runs, 113 RBIs and 85 runs and an outstanding OPS (On base rate + slugging rate) of 0.996 and had the MVP of the regular season.
Lee Jung-hoo, who had a career batting average of 0.340 65 home runs, 515 RBIs, 69 steals, 581 runs, and an OPS of 0.898 in seven seasons, signed a six-year, $113 million contract with San Francisco through the posting system after the 2023 season and went to the U.S. first.
Kim Hye-sung also played a total of 953 games for eight seasons, batting .304 with 37 homers, 386 RBIs, 591 runs and 211 steals, and was one of the top infielders in the league. He embraced shortstop Golden Glove in 2021 and second baseman Golden Glove in 2022-2024.
Kim Hye-sung, who knocked on MLB's door through posting after the 2024 season, signed a contract with the Dodgers for up to $22 million for 3+2 years and $12.5 million for 3 years guaranteed and succeeded in entering the U.S.
Lee Jung-hoo is still a challenger even though it is his second year in the big league. On May 13 last year, he suffered a dislocated left shoulder after colliding with a fence while playing defense against the Cincinnati Reds, and played only 37 games at the end of this season.
To Lee Jung-hoo, who had little opportunity to show his skills due to injury, local media are emphasizing that "we have to prove it" this year.
Needless to say, Kim Hye-sung, who is entering his first year, cannot afford to mention this. Only when he impresses himself in the spring camp can he enter the big league. As the Dodgers boasts such a spectacular player base, it must overcome fierce competition.
The two, who are in the same position as the challengers, gave encouragement ahead of their departure.
"If my colleagues ask me about Kim Hye-sung, I will say that he is like Park Ji-sung who used to play for Manchester United in the English Premier League. I will explain that he is a very helpful player even if he does not shine," Lee said. "Kim Hye-sung is such a talented player that I cannot talk about.
He added, "I'm in the same position as Haesung. So we talked about cheering each other up."
"I laughed for three seconds when I saw (Lee) Jung-hoo's comment," Kim said with a smile. "Thank you for comparing me to such an amazing person."
"Lee Jung-hoo is a superstar who doesn't need a reason. I had a disappointing injury last year, but I will be able to do well this year," he said.
First, Lee Jung-hoo, who headed to the MLB stage, also gave Kim Hye-sung advice.
"I met (Kim) Hyesung before she went to the U.S. and kept in touch with her frequently even during the posting process. She asked me various questions when I made the final decision," Lee said. "She told me about her life and the depth and style of the team that Hyesung asks about. I talked about everything I know."
Kim Hye-sung also said, "Jung-hoo went to the Major League a year earlier, and I thought he knew well about it in terms of players' base and lifestyle, so I asked him that question. He also taught me well, which helped me choose."
They encourage each other, but on the MLB stage, they meet as enemies and face each other with a bat.
메이저사이트 The Dodgers and San Francisco Giants belong to the same National League West. Coincidentally, the two teams are considered the biggest rivals in the world.
Both Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-sung expressed their expectations for a showdown as a member of a rival team.
Lee Jung-hoo said, "When the Dodgers and San Francisco play, they are rivals to the point where they boo just by introducing the players," adding, "It would be more fun if we played against the Dodgers with Hyeseong in that atmosphere."
Kim Hye-sung also said, "When the opponent team had a close relationship at bat, there was only a match between Blue and White. It will be fun to meet," adding, "If the opponent team has a close relationship at bat, I think we should catch all the hits."