By Yoon Chul
Korea Times Intern
Lee Seung-yeop must prove himself with the Yomiuri Giants during the next 10 days or he will be sent to Japan's lower-tier baseball league.
Giants manager Tatsunori Hara said Thursday he would make roster changes when pitcher Adrian Burnside returns to the team early next month. If Lee is not productive, the South Korean slugger could be sent down to a lower-tier league.
``Lefty pitcher Adrian Burnside is going to come back against the Yakult Swallows Sept. 7,'' Hara said. ``Lee needs to show his ability until then. A bet for Lee means a bet for the team to win.''
Lee, who has spent time with the Giants and in the lower league this season, joined Yomiuri's first team Thursday, batting sixth and playing first base in the team's 7-1 win against the Yokohama BayStars at the Tokyo Dome.
Lee went hitless in the game, but reached base by getting hit with a pitch and recorded his first stolen base of the season.
``Though I did go 0-for-3 today, I'm fine,'' said Lee, who helped South Korea's national team win the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. ``I hope to contribute to my team more.''
The 32-year-old Lee was once considered one of the best power hitters in Asia. He set an Asian record by hitting 56 home runs during the 2003 season while playing for the Samsung Lions in the Korean league. He hit 30 or more home runs in Japan's top league in each of the last three seasons.
But Lee has struggled this year. He's batting .134 and spent much of the season in the lower-tier league.