Ahead of the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), local interest in Lee Jung-hoo (25, Kiwoom) is soaring.
On the 12th (Korean time), MLB.com, the homepage of the Major League Baseball (MLB), reported on its own selection of the best players for each position in the WBC. At the same time, he mentioned MLB superstars Mike Trout (LA Angels)
, Mookie Betts (LA Dodgers), and Lee Jung-hoo for the three outfield positions. MLB.com said, “Lee Jeong-hoo may not be the best outfielder in the WBC, but he can be the most interesting player.” explained the reason for the selection. In addition, Lee Jung-hoo’s performance in the 2022 season and the fact that his team, Kiwoom, allowed him to go abroad were also added.
Trout and Betts, who were selected in the outfield category along with Lee Jung-hoo, are MLB’s signature outfielders that need no explanation. MLB All-Star outfielders such as Juan Soto (San Diego), Julio Rodriguez (Seattle), and Ronald Acuna Jr. (Atlanta) were only mentioned in the article. Lee Jung-hoo started preparing for the MLB by signing with super agent Scott Boras last month, and the American media is paying attention to Lee Jung-hoo’s progress. MLB.com said, “You will hear Lee Jung-hoo’s name a lot next year,” and highlighted that “Lee Jung-hoo could become an international sensation through the WBC.”
Among the representative players for each position selected that day, Lee Jung-hoo was the only player who did not play in the MLB. The catcher was JT Realmuto (Philadelphia, USA), first baseman Freddie Freeman (Dodgers, Canada), second baseman Jose Altuve (Houston, Venezuela), and third baseman Manny Machado (San Diego, Dominican Republic). In addition, Sander Bohartz (San Diego, Netherlands) was selected as the shortstop, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto, Dominican Republic) was selected as the designated hitter.
Sandi Alcantara (Miami, Dominican Republic) as the right-handed starting pitcher, Julio Urias (Dodgers, Mexico) as the left-handed pitcher, Edwin Dias (New York Mets, Puerto Rico) as the bullpen pitcher, and Shohei Ohtani as the pitcher (Angels, Puerto Rico) Japan) was named.