Jung Hoo Lee #51

Lee is the son of Jong-beom Lee, a former KBO MVP whose nickname is “Son of the Wind.” He earned the label after stealing a KBO-record 84 bases in 1994 en route to being the league’s Most Valuable Player...In his introductory press conference, Jung Hoo called himself “Grandson of the Wind”, honoring his father’s legacy. His father ’s 19-year playing career began in Korea for the Kia Tigers but eventually took him to the Chunichi Dragons in Nagoya, Japan, where Jung Hoo was born...Jong-beom was the 1993 Korean Series MVP winner after batting .310 to help Kia to a championship...Lee will wear #51, the same number he wore through his seven-year career with the Kiwoom Heroes. Lee chose the number after his favorite player, Ichiro Suzuki, who was on the rise with the Orix Buffaloes in 1998 when Lee was born in Japan...Lee has his own cheer song, which fans would sing during his at-bats during his career in the KBO. You can watch video of the anthem here...Is good friends with San Diego infielder and former Kiwoom Heroes teammate Ha-Seong Kim. Kim played for Giants manager Bob Melvin in San Diego for two seasons from 2022-23...Lee’s sister, Ga Hyun Lee, is married to new Padres reliever Woo Suk Go. The two were wed in January of 2023. Go signed with San Diego this past offseason, joining Lee’s close friend Ha-Seong Kim. Go served as the closer for the defending KBO champion LG Twins before coming to play in the states. Lee and Go have been competing against one another on the field since Lee’s third year of middle school.

2023

Appeared in 85 games for Kiwoom and slashed .318/.407/.456 with six home runs, 45 RBI and 50 runs scored...Had his season cut short after breaking his left ankle during a game against the Lotte Giants on July 22...Underwent season–ending surgery on July 27. Was able to make a brief appearance in the team’s final game on October 10, where Lee had one at-bat in his final KBO appearance...Played for South Korea in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and hit .429 with two doubles and five RBI in the tournament. 

2022

Named the KBO’s MVP after slashing .349/.421/.575 in 142 games. Established career bests in homers (23) and RBI (113)...Once again led the KBO in average (.349) while also leading the league in hits (193), RBI (113) and OPS (.996). 

2021

Led the KBO in batting average after hitting .360 in 123 games...Played for the South Korean national baseball team at the 2020 Summer Olympics (which were delayed until 2021). 

2020

Won his third consecutive Gold Glove Award while batting .333 with 15 home runs, 101 RBI and a career-high .921 OPS.

2019

Hit .336 during the regular season to help the Heroes reach the Postseason. He was named a KBO Playoff MVP after helping Kiwoom reach the Korean Series...With Lee’s father, Jong-beom, also being named MVP in the 1993 Korean Series, it became was first time in league history that both father and son won a postseason MVP award...Following the KBO season, Lee played for the South Korean national baseball team at the 2019 WBSC Premier12.

2018

Slashed .355/.412/.477 in his second season with the Heroes...Represented South Korea at the 2018 Asian Games and delivered the winning RBI against Chinese Taipei.

2017

Selected by the Nexen Heroes in the 2017 KBO League draft held in 2016. He was originally taken as an infielder but converted to the outfield after joining the Heroes...Made the team’s Opening Day roster at just 18 years old without ever going through the KBO Futures League. He became the first rookie out of high school to appear in every game for a KBO team...Set a KBO rookie record with 179 hits and slashed .324/.395/.417 with two homers, 47 RBI and 12 stolen bases on his way to win the KBO League Rookie of the Year Award.