Lee Jung-hoo announces overseas expansion, is there a way to post?

‘Grandson of the wind’ Lee Jeong-hoo (24, Kiwoom Heroes) conveyed his intention to advance overseas to the club.

On the 19th, Lee Jung-hoo visited Gocheok Sky Dome, the home stadium in Seoul, and expressed his intention, “After the 2023 season, I will challenge the overseas stage with the posting system (private competitive bidding).” An official from the club said, “We respect the player’s will and thoughts to challenge, and the club is also positive. However, it is a matter that requires internal discussion, so we will come to a conclusion when work begins next January. Kiwoom has finished its 2022 club business on the 16th.

Lee Jung-hoo’s decision to go abroad was one of the biggest issues in professional baseball this winter. Lee Jung-hoo, who debuted in 2017, will be qualified for the posting system by completing the ‘1st team registration for 7 years’ when the season ends next year. Non-FA (free agent) posting systems require club consent.

He has consistently expressed his intention to go abroad. On the 8th, after receiving the best hitter award at the Ilgu-sang ceremony, he said, “If I show a better figure than this year, I think it will get a good evaluation.” said. The next day, at the Golden Glove Awards Ceremony for Professional Baseball, he indirectly expressed his intention to challenge the US Major League Baseball (MLB), saying, “If I work hard with a goal, I wonder if good news will come next year at this time.” After finishing the year-end schedule and organizing his thoughts, Lee Jung-hoo officially requested the club to advance overseas on the 19th.

Lee Jung-hoo is the best outfielder in the KBO League. He won the Golden Glove for 5 consecutive years, and stood shoulder to shoulder with the record for the most consecutive Golden Gloves for an outfielder (5 consecutive years, 1983-1987) held by the late Jang Hyo-jo, former Samsung Lions second team manager. He played in 142 games this season, hitting .349 (193 hits in 553 at-bats) with 23 home runs and 113 RBIs. He won 5 KBO league batting crowns (batting average, most hits, RBIs, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage), including two consecutive victories in batting title, and was selected as the first best player (MVP) in his debut. During the season, MLB scouts visited Kiwoom’s home stadium several times to check on him. The possibility of going abroad naturally raised his head.

Lee Jung-hoo’s early collaboration with Ricoh Sports Agency (Rico) was interpreted as preparation for the MLB challenge. Lee Ye-rang, CEO of Ricoh, is an MLB accredited representative, and in the past, Kim Hyeon-soo (LG Twins), Park Byung-ho (KT Wiz), and Kang Jung-ho (retired) made it to the big leagues.

Kiwoom sent several players to the United States through the posting system. In 2015, Kang Jeong-ho signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and crossed the Pacific Ocean.

The posting system generates a posting fee in the form of a transfer fee. In the past, the club with the highest posting fee negotiated with the player alone. According to the Korea-US player contract agreement revised in 2018, the current posting fee is determined according to the size of the contract. If the guaranteed amount offered to the player by the MLB club is less than $ 25 million (32.6 billion won), 20% of the amount is the posting fee. If the total coverage contract is between $25 million and $50 million (32.6 billion won to 65.2 billion won), 20% of $25 million ($5 million, 6.52 billion won) and 17.5% for amounts over $25 million are added. 20% of $25 million ($5 million) if the total insured amount exceeds $50 million, 17.5% of $25 million to $50 million ($4.375 million, 5.72 billion won) 15% of the amount over $50 million Add all of them to calculate the posting amount. Kim Ha-seong, who signed a guaranteed contract with San Diego for $28 million (36.6 billion won), posted $5.525 million (7.22 billion won). 메이저놀이터

Coincidentally, the transfer market for MLB players is booming. Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Masataka Yoshida (29), who knocked on the big league door with the posting system on the 8th, signed a five-year contract with the Boston Red Sox for a total of 90 million dollars (117.7 billion won). Following the transfer, Orix Buffaloes, the original team, received a posting fee of 15.375 million dollars (20.1 billion won).

Lee Jung-hoo’s departure is a big negative for the team’s strength. However, as the will to challenge overseas is strong, it is said that the posting system is a realistic alternative. Heroes, who do not have enough money to live on, have used most of the posting fees for club management. Kiwoom plans to make a decision on whether or not to post Lee Jung-hoo as quickly as possible.