YOKOHAMA, JAPAN – AUGUST 01: Jung Hoo Lee #51 of Team South Korea hits an RBI single in the ninth inning during the round one of baseball team competition match between Team Dominican Republic and Team South Korea on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium on August 01, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
Jung Hoo Lee has made no secret about his desire to come stateside once he is eligible. That time is coming soon.
According to Jeeho Yoo from Yonhap News, Lee has told the Kiwoom Heroes that he wants to be posted after the 2023 season. As he would have spent seven years in the Korean Baseball Organization at that time, the 2023-24 offseason would be the earliest he could come stateside.
Jung Hoo Lee could be best KBO prospect to come stateside
It is entirely possible that Lee could be the best player to come from the KBO to the majors. Jung Ho Kang is currently the leader amongst position players with 5.9 bWAR. While Ha-Seong Kim could pass Kang this season, he may just be a placeholder until Lee comes over.
He certainly has the resume to make an impact. Lee was the 2017 KBO Rookie of the Year and has already set numerous records in his six seasons. He is the only player with at least 160 hits for six consecutive years, holds the KBO record for the highest batting average in a career (minimum of 3000 plate appearances), and was the fastest player to 1000 hits.
Lee took another step to cementing his stature as the best player currently in the KBO. He posted a .349/.421/.575 batting line with 23 homers and 36 doubles in his 627 plate appearances as he ran away with the MVP award. As impressive as those numbers may be, his walk and strikeout rates are even more incredible as he drew 66 walks with 32 strikeouts.
There are some questions about how Lee will do in the majors. He has had trouble with above average fastballs on the inner part of the plate. Lee is also very pull heavy when it comes to his power, but that may not matter since the shift has been banned. Despite those questions, Lee is going to generate plenty of interest once he is posted and could be a superstar.
Jung Hoo Lee is requesting to be posted once the 2023 season is over. The brightest star in the Korean Baseball Organization could be coming stateside.