‘An annual salary cut of 100 million + U.S. camp failed’ Lee Yong-gyu dreams of another revival

 Lee Yong-gyu (38) of Kiwoom Heroes is preparing for the season with great pride.

Lee Yong-kyu is one of the leadoffs representing the KBO League. In 1911 career games, he batted 2.9 6s (2040 hits in 6882 at-bats) with 26 home runs, 547 RBIs, 1160 runs scored, and 392 stolen bases for a .747 OPS. He suffered a crisis after being released from Hanwha after the 2020 season, but succeeded in rebounding at Kiwoom.

Lee Yong-gyu, who signed a contract with Kiwoom for an annual salary of 100 million won (up to 150 million won including options) in November 2020, batted 2.996 in 133 games in the 2021 season (136 hits in 459 at-bats), 1 home run, 43 RBIs, 88 points, 17 stolen bases OPS. 765 and was very successful. After the season, his performance was recognized and his annual salary was significantly increased from 100 million won to 400 million won.

The 2022 season greeted in great anticipation. Kiwoom advanced to the Korean Series and won the third runner-up in his career. The team performed well, but Lee Yong-kyu could not smile. He struggled with injuries and slumps and finished with a .547 OPS of . It is the first time since 2004 (8 hits in 62 at-bats), his debut season, that Lee Yong-gyu failed to exceed 20% in batting average. 토토사이트

Lee Yong-kyu, who had his worst season, was forced to take a salary cut this season. In the end, his annual salary was cut by 100 million won from 400 million won to 300 million won. The reduction rate reached -25%. As the team performed well, most of the players’ salaries increased, and the highest reduction rate was recorded, so the pain was greater.

Lee Yong-gyu, who is aiming for a rebound this season, was included in the roster for the Kaohsiung camp in Taiwan, not the Arizona camp in the US where key players participate. For Lee Yong-gyu, the most senior member of the team, this situation can be disappointing.

However, Koh Hyung-wook, general manager of Kiwoom, said, “The United States and Taiwan are not divided into 1st and 2nd groups. In Taiwan, we plan to hold more than 10 practice matches with Taiwanese professional teams. I made a list of Taiwanese camps mainly for players who need real matches.” In fact, the Taiwan camp included a number of players who should be active in the first team this year, such as Choi Won-tae, Song Seong-moon, Jeon Byung-woo, and Kim Jun-wan.

For Lee Yong-gyu, who had a bad start last season, it is not bad to quickly pick up the pace by playing a lot of actual matches in Taiwan. As he handed over to Lee Jung-hoo as the captain of the team, he was able to focus on baseball this year. Attention is focusing on what Lee Yong-gyu, who dreams of reviving once again, will show this season.