Korea Professional Baseball's Kiwoom Heroes' Lee Joo-hyung (24) is preparing for the new season while receiving advice from San Francisco Giants' Lee Jung-hoo (27), who has entered Major League Baseball.

On the 11th, Lee Joo-hyung started in right field batting third in a game against the KT Wiz at Suwon KT Wiz Park as part of the '2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League,' achieving 2 hits, 1 home run, 2 RBIs, and 2 runs scored in 3 at-bats.

In his first at-bat with one out and runners on second base in the top of the first inning, Lee Joo-hyung grounded out to second against KT's right-handed starting pitcher William Cuevas. In the third inning, batting second with one out and the game tied 1-1, he hit a solo home run over the right field fence with Cuevas' third pitch, a cutter clocked at 140 km/h. The home run traveled an impressive distance of 130 meters.

Leading 2-1 in the fifth inning with one out and runners on first and second, Lee Joo-hyung stepped up to bat for his third at-bat and delivered a 1-RBI single against right-handed pitcher Joo Kwon. Successfully advancing to second base, Lee Joo-hyung scored on Choi Joo-hwan's 2-RBI single. He was substituted in the sixth inning's defense for substitute Oh Joon-seo, finishing the game. Thanks to Lee Joo-hyung's performance, Kiwoom won 9-5, breaking their two-game losing streak.

Since joining Kiwoom through a trade in 2023, Lee Joo-hyung has recorded a batting average of .281 in 198 career KBO League games (704 at-bats, 198 hits), with 19 home runs, 96 RBIs, 117 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases, with an OPS of .789. Last year, in his first full-time season, he had a batting average of .266 across 115 games (473 at-bats, 126 hits), recording 13 home runs, 60 RBIs, 82 runs scored, and 6 stolen bases, which left him slightly disappointed.

Lee Joo-hyung, who needs to grow into a key player for the team this season, is currently recording a batting average of .364 in 4 spring training games (11 at-bats, 4 hits), with 1 home run, 3 RBIs, and 2 runs scored, and an OPS of 1.144. Up until the day of the game, he had only 2 hits in 8 at-bats, but his performance that day significantly improved his statistics.

After the game, Lee Joo-hyung said, 'I wasn't feeling good because I hadn't gotten a hit in the last 2 games, but I'm happy that the team won today and I got a hit. I hit a really well-timed ball for the first time in a while. It's been a long time since I felt this way. I'm glad the practice paid off. When I hit the home run, I thought it was a relief that at least one came out.'

'I haven't had good timing and rhythm lately,' said Lee Joo-hyung, 'but today I paid a lot of attention to that part, and it seems like my thoughts have been clearer. I think I’ll have to keep playing to figure it out. Every day is different, and I’m trying to create a more certain routine to reduce that fluctuation.' He added, 'It feels good to have hit a home run against a foreign pitcher. The ball that was caught was also a well-hit ball.'

Lee Joo-hyung, who had a delayed start to the season due to an injury during last year's spring training, said, 'Still, the fact that I've not missed even one practice during the camp means that I've managed my body better than last year. I’m proud of myself and will take care of my body to stay with the team until the end of the season.'

Having completed the second spring training camp in warm Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Lee Joo-hyung, who is participating in spring games in Korea, talked about managing his condition, saying, 'Since I've been continuously playing away games after coming to Korea, it seems that away games are great for players who live alone since I don't have to pack my own meals. When I have a home game, I have to do my own laundry and house chores, which I dislike, but during away games, I get taken care of, so it's nice.'

Having trained alongside his senior Lee Jung-hoo, who entered Major League Baseball over the winter, Lee Joo-hyung said, 'Not long ago, I received a text from (Lee) Jung-hoo asking if things were going well. When I shared some challenges, he advised me to practice hitting while putting strength into my left heel. I practiced that, and I've been getting hits from the very first game of the spring training, so I want to continue this consistency. He also told me to think of the spring training as just that and not to focus too much on the game results.' He further noted, 'Even though I listen to Jung-hoo hyung during practice, he advised that during games, I should go with my own thoughts.'

Ahead of the new season, Lee Joo-hyung stated, 'Once the season begins, I don't know what batting order I'll fit into, but I’ll do my best to stay alive. Last year, I showed a tendency to die easily. This year, I want to show that I can go all the way.'

[OSEN]