By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Lee Seung-yeop has returned to the Yomiuri Giants after spending more than three months in Japan's lower-tier league.
Kyoto News Agency reported Thursday that the left-handed slugger was called up by the Tokyo-based team, while the Giants demoted right-handed pitcher Seth Greisinger, an American, who is 10-6 and not scheduled to pitch any more in the first half of the season to meet the quota of four imported players on each team's roster in the Japan league.
``My conditioning has improved. I want to do whatever is assigned,'' Lee said.
Lee began the season in a slump with the Giants, recording a batting average of .135 with no home runs, before he was sent down to the lower-tier team on April 13.
However, in the lower-league the South Korean power hitter has found his old touch, compiling seven home runs and 22 RBIs with a batting average of .325 (38-for-117). The 31-year-old slugger recently hit two homers in consecutive at-bats.
Lee will patrol first base for the Giants and current first baseman Michihiro Ogasawara will move back to third base.
The Giants have four more games left before the season's intermission.
After playing those games, Lee will return to South Korea on July 30 to join the national team for the Beijing Olympics.