“I just looked at (Lee) and said, ‘You’re very young, you’re a 30-homer, 30-double guy,’ and I told him, ‘I’m going to call the guys on that team (Kid Heroes) and ask them to help me out a little bit more.'”
I can’t think of another captain like him. LG Twins captain Oh Ji-hwan (33) meant it when he let go of top prospect Lee Ju-hyung (22, Kiwoom Heroes). 토토사이트 On the morning of the 29th, LG sent pitcher Choi Won-tae (26) to Kiwoom in exchange for pitcher Lee Ju-hyung, pitcher Kim Dong-gyu (19), and a first-round pick in the 2024 rookie draft. It was a trade of the future for the present. LG manager Yoon Kyung-yeop was pleased to get a solid card in Choi to add to a domestic starting rotation that was shaky outside of Im Chan-kyu.
Oh came to Jamsil Baseball Stadium early in the morning when he heard the news of the trade, knowing that Lee and Kim would be there to pack their bags. He met Lee at the stadium and said goodbye to him for the last time. He was sad to see his younger brother go, as he had a bright future ahead of him, but he wasn’t worried about moving on to a team with more opportunities.
“I purposely came to the ballpark early to meet Joo Hyung, and I gave him a lot of encouragement, saying that you’re very young and can hit 30-30. I told him that it’s going to be good, and I told him that it’s important now because he’s going to be a free agent like my brother and that’s the end goal. I told him to call the players of that team (Kiwoom) and ask them to help him a little bit more. (Lee) has an older brother in Kiwoom, and (Kim) Hye-sung played for the national team together, so I called them and told them to take care of him. That’s the best I could do,” he said, reflecting on the moment he said goodbye to Lee Joo-hyung.
“I think this is the reality of being a professional. Even if I’m the coach, it’s right to use players who are good when you look at it coldly. I think the club paved the way for me to get my chance. I don’t know now, but maybe he’ll be a major leaguer later, you never know. When I was younger, I watched (Kang) Jung-ho and he went to the U.S., and (Kim) Ha-sung went to the major leagues, so I think he can go to the major leagues because he can be the culture of the team,” he added, looking forward to seeing Lee Joo-hyung grow into a much bigger player.
Lee was considered a top prospect when he was selected by LG with the 13th pick in the second round of the 2020 Korean Baseball Organization draft out of Gyeongnam High School. The 22-year-old infielder, who cleared his military issues ahead of this season, is now on his way to blossoming.
His hitting talent is undeniable. In 31 games in the Futures League this year, he batted .323 (30-for-93) with three home runs and 18 RBIs. With a .559 on-base percentage, he has the ability to hit for the bigs. Now he just needs to prove it with the first team. While 30 home runs and 30 doubles may seem like a long way off, Oh believes the junior will have plenty of opportunities to develop quickly in the organization.
“I’m only on one team, so I don’t know what they’re thinking. This trade is a win for the team, and it’s a place where the younger guys in the color of Kiwoom can get a chance. I cringe a little bit when I think about (Lee) Joo-hyung and (Kim) Dong-gyu.