Lee Jeong-hoo , who won a jackpot worth over 100 million dollars, expressed strong resistance to being mentioned along with world-class baseball player Shohei Ohtani . For Lee Jeong-hoo, Otani is not a rival but an object of admiration and goal.
Lee Jung-hoo returned to Korea through Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on the evening of the 19th after a grand induction ceremony for the San Francisco Giants. Although the flight arrived about two hours later than originally scheduled, he stood in front of reporters with a bright smile and no sign of fatigue.
Lee Jung-hoo, who entered the big league through the posting system after completing the 2023 season, agreed to a six-year contract worth $113 million (approximately KRW 147.6 billion) with the San Francisco Giants, a traditional powerhouse in the National League's West Division, on the 13th (Korean time). Four years later, he achieved his dream of advancing to the major leagues by signing a very large contract that included an opt-out clause.
Coincidentally, Ohtani, who dominated the major leagues with his two-batting career, was also frequently linked to Lee Jung-hoo as he recently signed a 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers of the Western Division for $700 million (approximately KRW 914.9 billion), the largest contract in North American professional sports. Another attraction, the Korea-Japan match between Lee Jeong-hoo and Ohtani, has been added to the rivalry between San Francisco and the Dodgers, drawing attention to the real-time match between the two countries' leading stars.
Ohtani debuted in the Major League wearing the LA Angels uniform in 2018, and as a pitcher, he had 38 wins, 19 losses, and an ERA of 3.01 in 86 games. In 716 games as a hitter, he had a batting average of .274, 171 home runs, 437 RBI, and an OPS of .922. He is currently the best superstar in the major leagues, having won the American League MVP unanimously this year following 2021.
It might have been an honor to be mentioned alongside Ohtani, but Lee Jeong-hoo thought differently. Lee Jeong-hoo said, “I am a player who cannot compare to Ohtani. While Ohtani is the best baseball player in the world, I am just getting started. In fact, there is no comparison, including the contract amount. “I hope you don’t compare too much,” he pleaded.
During his induction ceremony in San Francisco, Lee Jeong-hoo was unable to give an easy answer when asked by local reporters how he felt about having Otani as his rival, but briefly expressed his determination by saying, “I will work hard first.”
Lee Jeong-hoo also received attention when his dog was compared to Otani. During Ohtani's Dodgers induction ceremony, his dog became a hot topic, and Lee Jung-hoo's dog 'Kao' also received local attention during his San Francisco induction ceremony.
Lee Jeong-hoo said, “I heard that the club holds a ‘Dog Day’ twice a year. “I think the club introduced me because I said I also raise a dog,” he said. “Player Ohtani also has a dog, but the comparison makes no sense.” “I am not a player who can compare to Ohtani,” he said, waving his hands.
So what kind of effort will be needed to be mentioned along with Otani in the future?
Lee Jeong-hoo said, “I changed my batting form this year, and the United States evaluated it highly. “The way I tried to make changes when I was at my best was also highly praised,” he said. “First, I plan to try my hand at the major leagues. Your body will change to fit the fastball. I am still young. “I think I can adapt quickly,” he said, expressing confidence. 안전놀이터
He also set a bold goal of winning his first championship ring during the contract period. Lee Jeong-hoo said, “I want to win the KBO League because I have never won it before. If you do your best every day, you will get good results. “I hope I can somehow help the team win.”