Lee Jung-hoo, is preparing for his first major league season

San Francisco Giants spring training in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. It’s where the “hitting machine” Lee Jung-hoo, 26, is preparing for his coveted first major league season. Korean baseball fans and the media have been following his every move. He’s been training since before the Yasoojos joined camp. With a six-year, $113 million contract, Lee is San Francisco’s highest-paid player.

He’s not the only Asian outfielder preparing for the new season. Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, 32, is a former Nippon Professional Baseball home run king. The former center fielder for the Yokohama BayStars has been in the United States for five years.

Unlike Lee, who is expected to start in the No. 1 spot on Opening Day, Tsutsugo’s status is uncertain. He entered camp as an invitee. He’ll have to prove himself before he gets another shot at the big leagues.

“I’m in a position where I have to produce results,” Tsutsugo told the Japanese media on July 21 (KST). That’s all I’m thinking about. This year is the best I’ve felt in the last five years.”

In the live batting session, 스포츠토토 Tsutsugo faced left-hander Kyle Harrison and closer Camilo Dorbal. He said he benefited from seeing both pitchers’ pitches to get a better feel for the game. Japanese media reported that Tsutsugo hit a well-timed foul ball against Dorval.

Following the live batting, he practiced outfield defense and took free hits.

The Japanese media wrote, “Tsutsugo practiced with a cheerful expression, chatting with his new teammate, South Korea’s Ichiro Lee Jung-hoo.

Tsutsugo can play both outfield and first base. He said he hasn’t decided on a position yet. He said he would likely play both positions.

Tsutsugo spent last year in the minor leagues with the Texas Rangers and San Francisco, trying unsuccessfully to get promoted to the major leagues. He also played in the independent leagues. He also had a finger injury.

Tsutsugo was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in the winter of 2019. He signed a two-year, $12 million contract. In 2020, which was shortened to 60 games per team due to the pandemic, he impressed in his first game. In the opening game against the Toronto Blue Jays, he batted third and hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning. The opposing pitcher was Ryu Hyun-jin. It was his first major league hit.

But the major leagues weren’t easy.

In 51 games in his rookie season, he went 1-for-9 with eight home runs, 24 RBIs, and a .708 OPS. In 2021, he was released after hitting 1-for-6 in 26 games. He moved to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he went 1-for-2 in 12 games. He was cut from the 40-man roster in August of that year.

He then moved to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he played another 43 games. He batted 2-for-6 with eight home runs, 25 RBIs, and an OPS of .883. He re-signed for one year and $4 million.

In 2022, his third year in the majors, he was released again after batting .171 with two home runs and 19 RBIs in 50 games. 카지노사이트 추천 He tried unsuccessfully to get promoted from Toronto’s minor league affiliate. Last year, he participated in Texas’ spring training as an invitee, but ended the season in the minors.

After leaving Texas last June and after the season ended last year, Japanese clubs made offers. Instead of returning to Japan, Tsutsugo opted for the major league challenge.

Tsutsugo was the Central League’s home run and RBI leader in 2016, hitting 44 home runs and 110 RBIs that year. In his Nippon Professional Baseball career, he has 977 hits, 205 home runs, and 613 RBIs. He represented Japan in the Premier 12 in 2015 and the WBC in 2017.