This is already the 5th home run in the demonstration game. Lee Seong-gyu (30), Samsung’s late-earning hopeful, has an extraordinary sense of blow.
Lee Seong-gyu started as center fielder No. 1 in the 2023 KBO League demonstration game against the Doosan Bears held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 25th, and led the team’s 7th consecutive victory in the demonstration game with 1 hit in 4 at-bats (1 home run) and 2 RBIs.
Lee Seong-gyu, who learned his 메이저사이트senses with a fly ball in right field in the first inning, drew an arch in his second at-bat. In the 3rd inning when the match was 0-0, he appeared in a chance with 1 company and 3rd base, and hit a 142km fastball from Doosan starter Park Shin-ji and connected it with a left-handed two-run gun. On the 24th, following the game against Kiwoom in Gocheok, he shot a home run in two consecutive games and kept the first place in the home run category in the demonstration game. It was the moment when the gap with the joint second place group increased to three.
Lee Seong-gyu, born in 1993, joined Samsung with the 31st pick in the 2nd 4th round of the 2016 rookie draft after graduating from Gwangju Dongseong High School and Inha University. Afterwards, he headed to the police baseball team and hit 31 homers in 2018, winning the Futures League home run king, but when he came to the first team, he was often injured and could not show off his skills. Lee Seong-gyu’s first-team career record remains at a batting average of 107, 9, 12 homers and 38 RBIs in 148 games.
It is expected that this year will be different. Starting with a home run against LG on the 15th, consecutive home runs against KT on the 18th and 19th, against Kiwoom on the 24th, and against Doosan on the 25th, he started home runs two days in a row, virtually solidifying the home run king in the demonstration game. Along with his slugging power, his contact ability has also been upgraded, and he is recording a batting average of 40% in exhibition games. As a result, Lee Seong-gyu is mentioned as the number one candidate to fill the void left by Kim Hyun-joon due to injury.
The expectations of the command tower are also different. Samsung coach Park Jin-man said, “Lee Seong-gyu is standing at bat with confidence in the demonstration game. I feel confident in my ability to cope with the breaking ball, which was a weakness,” he said. He will play a role this year,” revealing his firm trust.
Lee Seong-gyu, who joined the pros in 2016, is already 30 years old. Attention is focusing on whether he can be reborn as Samsung’s clear lead-off and center fielder from a long-term prospect this season.
