“I don’t really want to brag, but I have natural athletic skills (laughs).”
Kiwoom Heroes second-year pitcher Lee Myung-jong (21) wore the Kiwoom uniform as the 56th pick in the 2nd 6th round of 2022 after graduating from Sekwang Middle School-Segwang High School. Myung-jong Lee, who recorded 4 wins, 1 loss, 4 holds, and an ERA of 5.27 in 27 games last season, is recording an ERA of 4.37 in 41 games, 5 wins, 4 losses, and 1 hold, as of the 9th, this season, which is better than last season.토토사이트
Compared to the first half (20 games, 4 wins, 2 losses, ERA 3.28), the second half (21 games, 1 win, 2 losses, 1 hold, ERA 5.66) is somewhat poor, but unlike last season, they are quite capable of playing the role of a sure-win team that comes out when the team is winning. It appears to be growing.
Lee Myung-jong, whom I met recently, said, “I achieved the goal of 40 innings that I set before the season. He seemed to be in a good mood and very satisfied, but it was disappointing. “Right now, he has an ERA in the 4-point range, and I want to do better,” he said.
He continued, “Unlike last season, I wanted to pitch with confidence and boldly challenge the batter rather than giving up another walk,” and added, “Even if I get on the mound at a critical moment, I try to pitch more confidently. He added, “I think he controlled himself by smiling or staring strongly in order not to be defeated in a fight with a batter.”
Kiwoom’s foreign pitcher Yariel Jurado provides a lot of help from the side. It is said that he gives Lee Myung-jong a lot of help after coming off the mound in every game. “They told me to throw based on the batter’s reaction and timing. Sometimes, it always helps to say things like ‘the arm swing was slow’ or ‘the angle of the breaking ball was not good’.”
Myungjong Lee has a younger sister who is 2 years older than him and is like a friend. She is Lee Ye-rin, a softball player. Yerin Lee was named as an infielder on the softball team for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. Lee Myung-jong, who is said to be close to his younger brother, smiled broadly when he talked about his younger brother.
Myungjong Lee said, “We contact each other often and are close friends. He is close to each of his friends. Since I play around a lot with my younger brother, I don’t really like bragging. Still, if we were to reveal his true feelings, he was truly gifted with athletic skills. The strength was extraordinary. Also, if you rest for a few days and then exercise, it usually takes some time for athletes to improve, but my younger brother did well right away even after resting for a long time. “The talent is truly innate,” he said with a laugh.
Is there any advice you can give as a senior in life or sports?
Myungjong Lee said, “I never talk about baseball until my younger brother talks about it first. He usually talks like a friend. My younger brother also has pride, so he doesn’t ask questions before they are asked. Then, when you ask, I try to tell you a lot of stories.”
His younger brother entered international competitions with the Taegeuk symbol on his chest. Myung-jong Lee also does not have dreams of becoming a member of the national team. But before that, Myung-jong Lee’s dream is to secure a position at Kiwoom.
Lee Myung-jong said, “Don’t you think you have to play baseball for a long time to even dream of representing the national team? “I want to play baseball for a long time like my role model, Seung-Hwan Oh (Samsung Lions),” he said. “Senior Seung-Hwan Oh has been my role model since I first started pitching. I liked him because of his strong fastball and cool charisma. “After he returned to the major leagues, his speed decreased compared to his prime, but it’s great to see him making changes and making efforts to play baseball longer and get better,” he said.
He said, “Last year, I received contact information through senior (Lee) Yong-gyu’s arrangement. Since then, he has contacted me occasionally. I watch Seunghwan Oh’s games every day. “I really like him like Seongdeok, and he always gives me good things to say when I ask questions,” he said with a laugh.
Finally, “I still have a long way to go. I want to become a player who comes to mind when pitching at Kiwoom. An indispensable player. “I want to hear people say, ‘We need Lee Myung-jong in this situation,’ and I want to play baseball for a long time on the Heroes team,” he said.