*This content was translated by AI.
Another successor started at Gyeongnam High School, the alma mater of KBO legendary hitter Lee Dae-ho (44). Lee Ho-min (18), a promising right-handed slugger who will play as the main third baseman this year.
Lee Ho-min is a sturdy right-footed infielder with a height of 184 centimeters and a weight of 94 kilograms based on the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA). Despite being a prestigious high school with a strong player base, he took the lead from the first grade.
It has been a long time since Han Dong-hee (27, Lotte Giants) and Noh Si-hwan (26, Hanwha Eagles) that scouts agree on this. It has the power and sophistication of national constituencies. He has a batting average of 0.304 (24 hits in 79 at-bats) in 27 games in the first grade and a batting average of 0.409 (47 hits in 115 at-bats) in 31 games in the second grade, reaching a total batting average of 0.366. KBO club scout A said in a recent phone call with Star News, "Lee Ho-min's strength is hitting. Compared to his slugging power and size, he summarized, "The batting is more sophisticated than I thought."
Even scouts, who expressed conservative opinions, expected a top-round nomination, so their presence at bat was clear. Another KBO club scout B said, "Basically, hitting fastballs seems okay. I have a skill to guess, but now I want to see how well I can cope with the breaking ball," he said. "I'm still careful to say whether I have the best power among the third graders now. However, he admitted that he has the highest power in the country.
The batting skill was not the only thing that felt Lee Dae-ho's scent. Lee Ho-min played as the center hitter in 31 games last year and swept 45 RBIs with four homers, nine doubles and four triples. At the same time, he gave Gyeongnam High School its first presidential trophy, which was not particularly related to Bonghwanggi in 22 years and 6 runner-ups. In recognition of his performance, he received the RBI Award and the Order of Merit Award at the Bonghwangdaegi, and the Order of Merit Award at the Presidential Cup.
KBO Scout C said, "Lee Ho-min has been in charge of Gyeongnam High School's central batting lineup since his freshman year, sweeping away the RBI at an important moment. It's thanks to the ball flowing (outside) at the high school level or the ability to cope with the high side ball. He praised his clutch ability very highly."
On the same day as he visited Gyeongnam High School, Lee Ho-min showed his clutch ability by hitting a cool home run at his first at-bat in his own Cheongbaek match. Lee Ho-min recently met with Star News at the Gyeongnam High School playground and said, "I was in the second grade, but it was a year where I could learn a lot. I'm satisfied that the batting average was higher than I thought, so I think I prepared well. "I personally think I was able to make my name known," he said, but he looked back on last year, saying, "It's a pity that there weren't many home runs or long hits."
The lack of third base defense was the leverage to determine the first round of the 2027 KBO rookie draft, which will be held later this year. There are many good prospects in this year's third base, including Kim Ji-woo (18, Seoul High School), Han Seung-woo (18, Yoo Shin-go), Choi Min-sang (18, Masan Yongmago), and Cho Hwi-won (18, Gwangju Ilgo). Lee Ho-min is still a strong dog who spreads 140km/h easily on the mound, but he showed a disappointing side in the third base defense because he played first base for two years. KBO Scout B said, "I heard we're going to play third base this year, but we need a little more training."
KBO Scout C, who praised his batting ability, also said, "The athletic ability is above average, and the third base defense shown at the No Brand tournament in November last year is currently a question mark. When I threw from third base to first base, I didn't seem to have a sense of distance yet. "The ability to catch and the footwork also seem to require a lot of training as a third baseman," he said with a cool head. "It's definitely competitive and really impactful in terms of hitting. Considering the nomination of the upper round, if the defense is not supplemented, the likes and dislikes will be divided. There are many good third basemen this year, and defense must be supported to some extent to overcome the competition, he added.
The player himself is aware of this point. Lee Ho-min said, "I've been defending third base in earnest since October last year, and I definitely felt that the ball was different from the first base. There was also pressure to throw to the first base right away, but I've adapted by practicing a lot recently. "I'm also practicing to send a lot of the distribution of batting this winter to the outfield," he said with strength.
A fourth-grade elementary school boy who grew up supporting Lotte dreamed of becoming a complete big shot like Kyungnam High School senior Lee Dae-ho and Ahn Hyun-min (23, KT Wiz). Lee Ho-min said, "I really want to imitate Lee Dae-ho's ability to hit between first and second bases with soft swings and sophisticated hitting. At the same time, I want to show the power that comes out of the power like Ahn Hyun-min," he said with a smile.
I looked forward to the day when I could face Jung Woo-joo (20, Hanwha Eagles), who was two years older and caused pain someday. Lee Ho-min said, "When I was a freshman, I struck out by Jung Woo-joo at the National Sports Festival. I was very fast at that time, but I want to play well against him again next time I see him," he said.
"I want to go to the team that needs me the most. To do so, I think the biggest goal will be to put Gyeongnam High School back on the top of the national competition this year, and I can't wait to be nominated in the first round and experience the professional," he added.
Finally, when asked to introduce himself to fans, he said, "I look big and fierce, but I'm a soft and flexible baseball player. The skill is not only the skill, but the strength is the leadership and mentality that can lead the players on the field. I will always greet you as a strong mental player who does not collapse easily in the future," he said.
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*This content was translated by AI.
