KBO star Jung Hoo Lee has been one of many extra intriguing potential free brokers of the upcoming offseason ever since experiences again in January indicated that he can be posted by his KBO membership, the Kiwoom Heroes. A wrench was thrown in that plan when he just lately required ankle surgical procedure, although Jon Morosi of MLB.com experiences as we speak that Lee remains to be anticipated to signal with a serious league membership this winter.
Lee, 24, already has a powerful résumé in his quick profession. He gained Rookie of the Yr within the KBO in 2017 by hitting .324/.395/.417 when he was simply 18 years outdated for many of the season. He continued to take steps ahead within the years to come back, particularly in 2022. He launched 23 house runs and completed with a batting line of .349/.421/.575 for a wRC+ of 175. He struck out in 5.1% of his plate appearances whereas strolling in 10.5% of them. He stole 5 bases and gained a fifth straight Gold Glove, with all of these attributes resulting in a Most Precious Participant award.
This 12 months gained’t be the right platform season for him, as he’s been a notch beneath that MVP kind. His stroll price went as much as 12.7% however he hit simply six house runs, resulting in a .319/.407/.456 batting line. His 142 wRC+ signifies he’s nonetheless been properly above league common however not fairly as outrageously as he was final 12 months. To high issues off, he’s now lacking the ultimate months of the season on account of his aforementioned ankle surgical procedure.
Maybe he or the Heroes would have given some second thought to his posting, possibly delaying it by a 12 months, although it appears the plan has but to be altered. Morosi relays that neither celebration has given any indication that the trail ahead has modified.
Lee will turns 25 years outdated later this month and can now not be thought of an “novice” by MLB guidelines and gained’t be topic to the bonus pool system. He’ll due to this fact be free to signal a contract of any size or greenback quantity, with the signing membership additionally answerable for paying a posting price to the Heroes. That’s tied to the dimensions of the contract itself, with the MLB staff owing the KBO membership 20 % of the contract’s first $25MM, 17.5 % of the following $25MM and 15 % of any {dollars} thereafter. That price is on high of any {dollars} assured to the participant himself, and subsequent incomes (e.g. efficiency incentives, contract choices) are additionally topic to the posting system as soon as they change into assured to the participant.
This winter’s free agent class is headlined by beginning pitchers, with only a few influence bats anticipated to be accessible. Assuming Lee’s ankle heals up within the months to come back and he’s posted as anticipated, he figures to nonetheless draw loads of curiosity.
