(LEAD) Leading MVP candidate tops KBO in 5 major hitting categories

All News 10:33 October 12, 2022

(ATTN: ADDS player's comments in paras 8-11, 14-15)
By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Yonhap) -- Kiwoom Heroes outfielder Lee Jung-hoo has bolstered his already strong MVP case by leading the top South Korean baseball league in five major offensive categories.

The 2022 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular season drew to a conclusion Tuesday night with a makeup game between the KT Wiz and the LG Twins. Lee and the Heroes had finished their campaign Saturday, and the 24-year-old outfielder had locked down some individual trophies before the last game of the season.

Lee won his second straight batting title with a .349 average and also led the league in RBIs (113), falling one category, home runs, shy of a batting Triple Crown.

In this file photo from Sept. 30, 2022, Lee Jung-hoo of the Kiwoom Heroes smiles after scoring a run against the SSG Landers during the top of the 10th inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Incheon SSG Landers Field in Incheon, some 30 kilometers west of Seoul. (Yonhap)

Lee led everyone in the two other triple slash categories, with a .421 on-base percentage and a .575 slugging percentage. He edged out Jose Pirela of the Samsung Lions by one for the lead in hits, 193-192.

At the end of each season, the KBO hands out trophies to leaders of eight hitting categories: batting average, home runs, RBIs, runs, hits, steals, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Lee is the first KBO hitter in 12 years to lead the league in at least five of those categories.

And the apple hasn't fallen too far from the tree: Lee's legendary father, Lee Jong-beom, also led the league in five categories at age 24 in 1994. He batted .393 with 196 hits, 113 runs, 84 steals and a .452 on-base percentage.

The senior Lee won the MVP that season, and his son will likely bring the second MVP trophy to the family this year.

In a statement released by the Heroes on Wednesday, Lee Jung-hoo said he feels he can finally move out of his father's shadow after this season.

"I think I can now be Lee Jung-hoo, the baseball player, and not just the son of Lee Jong-beom," the junior Lee said. "My father gave me a pat on the back and told me I had a great season. I also want to thank my mother for her support throughout the season. I couldn't have done this without her."

Lee added that capturing his second straight batting title meant the most to him.

"After winning the batting title last year, I was really determined to defend it this year. It was the one goal I wanted to accomplish the most," Lee said. "Leading the way in RBIs also means a great deal. I set a new career high there, and I feel like I had some positive influence on the team that way."

In this file photo from Sept. 30, 2022, An Woo-jin of the Kiwoom Heroes pitches against the SSG Landers during the bottom of the first inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Incheon SSG Landers Field in Incheon, some 30 kilometers west of Seoul. (Yonhap)

A soon-to-be member of the extended Lee family led the KBO in saves this year. LG Twins closer Go Woo-suk, who will marry Lee Jung-hoo's younger sister in January, recorded a career-high 42 saves to lead all relievers.

Pirela was first in runs with 102, but he finished in second place in six other categories. He was behind Lee in batting average (.342), RBIs (109), on-base percentage (.411), slugging percentage (.565) and hits (192), and ranked second to Park Byung-ho of the KT Wiz in home runs, 35 to 28.

Lee Jung-hoo thanked Pirela for pushing him until the final stretch.

"I was able to win those five categories because I had such a great rival in Pirela. I'd like to congratulate him on a great season," Lee said. "Also, our pitchers did well against Pirela, and they helped me get those five titles. I am really grateful."

Park, who was once on pace for 50 home runs before cooling off in the second half and missing nearly a month with an injury, captured his sixth career home run title -- breaking a tie with Lee Seung-yuop for most home run crowns in KBO history.

Kia Tigers shortstop Park Chan-ho swiped 42 bags for his first steals title since 2019.

In this file photo from Sept. 1, 2022, Jose Pirela of the Samsung Lions hits an RBI double against the Kia Tigers during the top of the eighth inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, some 270 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)

On the pitching side, the KBO has trophies for wins, ERA, strikeouts, saves, holds and winning percentage.

Heroes ace An Woo-jin came up one category short of a Triple Crown, as he led everyone with a 2.11 ERA and 224 strikeouts -- the second-most strikeouts in a season in KBO history, after 225 recorded by Ariel Miranda of the Doosan Bears last year.

Casey Kelly of the Twins was the leader with 16 wins, one ahead of his teammate, Adam Plutko, and An.

Another Twins pitcher, Jung Woo-young, was tops with a career-best 35 holds.

By going 11-2, KT Wiz right-hander Um Sang-back finished with the highest winning percentage among all qualified pitchers with .846.