Lee Jung-hoo (25, San Francisco Giants), the “grandchild of the wind,” returned with a $113 million (about 147.7 billion won) contract. Lee returned to Korea via Incheon International Airport on Wednesday afternoon. Appearing in a hoodie wearing a baseball cap upside down, Lee smiled brightly at the welcoming crowd. He also received a bouquet of flowers from a staff member.

Numerous reporters, baseball fans, and ordinary citizens flocked to the Incheon International Airport to see Lee Jung-hoo, who achieved his dream of entering the Major League Baseball (MLB). On the 13th, Lee Jung-hoo signed a six-year contract with the prestigious MLB team San Francisco on the condition of $113 million (average of $18.83 million per year). 에볼루션 바카라사이트

This is a new record that exceeds the highest contract record for posting system (closed competitive bidding) of Ryu Hyun-jin (36), who signed a six-year, 36-million-dollar contract with the LA Dodgers in 2013. In addition, it exceeded the record of the average annual guaranteed amount of Kim Ha-sung (28), who stamped with the San Diego Padres for four years and 28 million dollars (annual average of 7 million dollars) in 2021. In an interview with Lee Jung-hoo in his return to Korea, he said, “I think I’m more nervous now than at a press conference.”

“I dreamed of playing in the Major League since I was an elementary school student, and I gave up for a while, and now I have this dream again after the Olympics,” Lee said. “It is an honor to go to a prestigious team called San Francisco.” “When I received an offer of 100 million dollars, my legs relaxed. Negotiations ended early, but I think I had mixed feelings,” Lee said.

“I remember what my agent told me after hearing the terms of the contract,” Lee said. “This is what you’ve been rewarded for playing baseball so far. That’s why I have high expectations rather than burden.”

Lee Jung-hoo, who had a joining ceremony and a press conference at Oracle Park, San Francisco’s home stadium, said, “I’ve been on a field trip before, but it was my first time visiting the inside of the stadium, and I was so surprised and happy,” adding, “It’s the most beautiful stadium in the United States, and that’s what I thought.”

Lee’s every move became a hot topic of conversation there. After the joining ceremony, he watched the Golden State Warriors game of the San Francisco-based National Basketball Association (NBA). At the time, home fans cheered loudly when Lee’s face was seen on the electronic display.

“The basketball game made room for me,” Lee said. “I wanted to work out before the joining ceremony, so the team helped me to work out. The team helped me a lot as I wanted.”

He also said, “They recognized me more than I thought. At first, I didn’t know it was me (when I appeared on the screen), but I was surprised that many people cheered and welcomed me.”

Lee Jung-hoo, who introduced himself in English prepared in advance at the joining ceremony, said, “When I was in Korean professional baseball, I wanted to show myself speaking English because it was cool to see foreign players try to speak Korean even if they were not good at it,” and was embarrassed after saying, “It didn’t go as well as I thought.”

He didn’t seem to care much about adaptation. “I have to get used to it now. I don’t think food will be a problem at all,” Lee said. “I think I need to prepare well for baseball.”