Lee Jong-wook (baseball)

Lee Jong-wook
Lee Jong-wook in 2013
Outfielder
Born: (1980-06-18) June 18, 1980
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
KBO debut
February 2, 2003, for the Hyundai Unicorns
Last KBO appearance
2018, for the NC Dinos
KBO statistics
Batting average.291
Home runs41
Runs batted in543
Stolen bases340
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Olympics
2008 Beijing Team
World Baseball Classic
2009 Los Angeles Team
Lee Jong-wook
Hangul
이종욱
Hanja
李鐘旭
RRI Jonguk
MRI Chonguk

Lee Jong-wook (Korean이종욱; Hanja李鍾旭; born June 18, 1980) is a South Korean former professional baseball outfielder. He played in the KBO League for the Hyundai Unicorns, Doosan Bears, and NC Dinos from 2003 to 2018.

Professional career

In 2003, he joined the Hyundai Unicorns after graduating from Youngnam University in Daegu. However, he did not play any games since he joined the military service in December of that year.

In 2006, when he was discharged from the military, he joined the Doosan Bears as a trainee. At that time, he tried to practice and develop his skill. At last, The Doosan's Head coach Kim Kyung-Moon selected him and Lee tried to survive, not to lose the opportunity. As a result, he could settle down the major group of Bears.

In Summer Olympic Games 2008, Lee contributed to win the gold medal for his national team.[1] In the team's first game of round-robin play against the United States, he hit the game-winning sacrifice fly to score Lee Taek-Keun in the bottom of the 9th inning.

His biggest advantage was to run fast. Therefore, he made fifty-one steals in that season even though his team failed to join the post-season in 2006. Next year, he made forty-seven steals while he hit a homer and made a 0.316 hitting average. He can run to the third base if he hit a ball to the further course of a stadium. He can steal to the second or third base in any situation even a good pitcher marks tightly or a catcher throws a ball exactly. In addition, he can catch a flying ball which drops into the point in which any outfielder get hardly or miss.

He contributed and led the Bears to the Final round of 2007 and 2008 post-season. Especially he made 0.517 hitting average and three SBs in playoffs 2008. And won the Most Valuable Player straight two years in 2007 and 2008 playoff of two post-seasons.

Awards and honors

  • 2007 Golden Glove Award (Outfielder)
  • 2008 Golden Glove Award (Outfielder)
  • 2010 Golden Glove Award (Outfielder)

Achievements

  • 2006 Stolen Bases Title
  • 2008 Runs Leader

Career statistics

Year Age Team Lg Pos G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SB CS SH BB HBP K GIDP E AVG OBP SLG OPS
2006 26 Doosan KBO OF 120 388 76 110 14 6 1 32 139 51 7 12 40 7 60 1 6 .284 .351 .358 .709
2007 27 Doosan KBO OF 123 465 84 147 20 12 1 46 194 47 14 10 48 4 74 6 0 .316 .378 .417 .795
2008 28 Doosan KBO OF 122 458 98 138 14 5 0 28 162 47 8 8 52 4 53 4 2 .301 .372 .354 .726
Total KBO OF 365 1311 258 395 48 23 2 106 495 145 29 30 140 15 187 11 8 .301 .368 .378 .746

Bold = led KBO

References

  • Media related to Lee Jong-wook (baseball) at Wikimedia Commons