“My record has no meaning. As a baseball player, I am sorry to the fans.”
On the 20th, the semifinals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) between the United States and Cuba were held. When American Trey Turner hit multiple home runs and recorded his fourth home run of the tournament, the name of Doosan Bears coach Lee Seung-yeop was summoned on the TV screen.
In the subtitles displayed on the TV screen by the WBC broadcasters, the record for the most home runs in a single WBC tournament was listed. As coach Lee proudly put his name on the highest level, baseball fans once again recalled his achievements as a ‘national hitter’ during his active career.
Coach Lee hit 5 home runs in the 2006 WBC and led Korea to the semifinals. He hit two homers in the first round match against China and exploded a come-from-behind two-run home run in the top of the 8th inning against Japan, showing the appearance of a ‘national hitter’ without regret.
Coach Lee’s performance continued in the United States, where the second round was held. He defended his pride as the best hitter in Korea with a two-run preemptive final against Mexico and a solo home run in the preemptive final against the United States.
Coach Lee’s record of 5 homers in a single WBC tournament was untouched by anyone until the 2009, 2013, and 2017 tournaments. Turner added a home run in the final against Japan on the 22nd to tie the record with Lee, but failed to achieve a new record.
However, coach Lee was not very interested in his own WBC home run record. Prior to the exhibition game against KT Wiz on the 21st, after hearing about Turner’s WBC home run record from the reporters, he laughed and said, “What does that mean?” I failed in succession (advancing to the second round of the WBC), but that’s unfortunate, and as a baseball player, I feel sorry for the fans.” 메이저놀이터
Korea experienced the pain of being eliminated in the first round at the 2023 WBC, following the glory of the semifinals of the 2006 tournament and the semifinals of the 2009 tournament, followed by 2013 and 2017. In the first game, Australia was humiliated, as well as being beaten by rivals Japan 4-13.