Seoul: After spending the past two and a half weeks in the minor league, LG Twins outfielder Lee Jae-won marked his return to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on Wednesday with a long-awaited home run. Lee drilled a two-run home run off Doosan Bears starter Choi Seung-yong to help the Twins to a 6-1 victory at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee had gone 1-for-16 in a dozen games before Wednesday night, a slump that prompted the Twins to demote him to their Futures League affiliate on April 20. Lee swung a much hotter bat in the minors, going 14-for-32 with three doubles and eight RBIs, although home runs remained elusive.
When two players went down with injuries Tuesday, the Twins called up Lee before Wednesday's game. Lee made a significant impact in his first at-bat. After an 11-pitch at-bat against Choi, Lee sent a line drive shot toward center field for his first home run in the KBO since Oct. 14, 2023.
The player known as the "Big Boy of Jamsil" has not quite lived up to the promise he flashed in 2022, when he hit 13 home runs in 85 games. Due to his defensive limitations and lack of contact ability, Lee needed to keep hitting home runs to play consistently. However, he only managed four homers in 57 games during 2023.
Lee completed his mandatory military service from 2024 to 2025. Now at age 26, Lee is at a career crossroads where performance is crucial to avoid fading into obscurity. Wednesday's home run could be a turning point for Lee.
The ball left his bat at 184.2 kilometers per hour with a launch angle of 20.1 degrees. Few players in the KBO possess the strength to hit such a powerful shot to the deepest part of Jamsil, the biggest stadium in the league.
"I just tried to take the same approach that I've had all year, including my time in the minors," Lee said. "Things haven't really changed much. I tried not to think too much out there and I think it led to good results at the plate today."
Although this was his first KBO home run in two and a half years, Lee did not ascribe much significance to it, saying, "I've hit a few homers in batting practices anyway, so the homer didn't really feel special."
As for his goals for the rest of the year, Lee said, "I don't know if I will be able to do this, but I would love to help our team win a championship."