Lee Jeong-hoo, first joint training with San Francisco colleagues. All members of the 40-man roster will appear in sync with each other for the season opening match next month. Lee shows off his batting skills by hitting 4 balls over the fence. Coach Melvin says, “I have prepared well for my batting and defense.” He predicts that he will be entrusted with the number 1 hitter in the opening game.

Jeong-hoo Lee (San Francisco) is answering questions from reporters on the 15th, the first day of this year's team open training. Lee Jeong-hoo has been conducting personal training since the 1st after arriving at the team camp site, Scottsdale Stadium in Arizona, USA.

“This is the first time in my life that I am the leadoff hitter in the opening game. “It’s so amazing to meet Ha-seong (Kim) as the leadoff team for the opposing team.”

The voice of ‘Grandson of the Wind’ Lee Jeong-hoo (26, San Francisco) was full of excitement. He seemed to be picturing in his mind a historic scene to be created with Kim Ha-seong (29, San Diego), his close older brother and teammate during his days at Kiwoom, a Korean professional baseball league.

San Francisco will open the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) season with a visit to San Diego on the 29th of next month. If Lee Jeong-hoo and Kim Ha-seong step up as the top hitters for both teams on this day, it will be the first Korean number one hitter matchup in MLB history. Lee Jeong-hoo, who met with reporters on the 15th, the first day of the team's spring camp open training, said, "It was amazing to meet Ha-seong before the opening game, but it was also very meaningful to be the number one hitter together. Ha-seong is very good, so all I have to do is do well,” he said.

The San Francisco players held their first joint training today at the camp site, Scottsdale Stadium in Arizona, USA. The official convocation date for the field team is the 21st, but all players on the 40-man roster gathered together on the 15th. The only difference was that they wore training clothes instead of uniforms, but the program and training intensity were the same as spring camp.

Lee Jeong-hoo also had a tight schedule, starting with weight training, defense, and hitting training. Lee Jeong-hoo, who participated in outdoor batting training for the first time this year, showed good hitting skills by sending four batted balls over the fence. Lee Jeong-hoo joked, “I didn’t mean to hit it, but I passed it (because I was in good condition),” and then added, “There are only a few days left until the start of the exhibition game, so I’m trying to pull myself up quickly.” San Francisco will play its first exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs on the 25th.

San Francisco coach Bob Melvin also watched Lee Jeong-hoo's training with a satisfied expression. Coach Melvin said, “Lee Jeong-hoo has prepared well in both batting and defense,” and added, “It would be even more surprising if Lee Jeong-hoo does not play in the opening game.” He seemed to have announced that he would give Lee Jeong-hoo the position of first hitter in the opening game. Manager Melvin was the head coach of San Diego until last year and was the leader who entrusted Kim Ha-seong as the top hitter.

Lee Jeong-hoo arrived at the camp site on the 1st and began personal training. So far, there are no problems with adaptation. Lee Jeong-hoo said, “When I joined Kiwoom as a rookie in 2017, I was more nervous and nervous than I am now. “At that time, I couldn’t even breathe properly, but now I can rest to my heart’s content,” he joked, adding, “This time, I’m actually very excited and looking forward to it. “Just like I did in Korea, I will confidently face both right-handed and left-handed pitchers,” he said. He continued, “I haven’t played a single game in MLB yet, so I don’t know the pitchers very well. I think it's important to go to as many games as possible and be at bat often. “I plan to make it a priority to watch pitchers pitch starting from exhibition games,” he added.

Lee Jeong-hoo, who is already being treated as the team's biggest star, is quickly becoming friendly with his teammates. Some players who learned Korean greetings from Lee Jeong-hoo even said “Hello” in Korean to Korean reporters that day. Lee Jeong-hoo said, “I understand almost all the English the players use. “But I can’t speak well yet,” he said with a laugh. Coach Melvin said, “It’s really surprising that Lee Jeong-hoo adapted quickly, just like Kim Ha-seong did. Lee Jeong-hoo also jokes with the players in short English. “It seems like he has a personality that is easy for his colleagues to approach,” he said. 19가이드03