He’s Back
By Yoon Chul
Korea Times Intern
Lee Seung-yeop of the Yomiuri Giants hit a solo home run in his first at-bat since returning to the first team to help the Giants beat the Yakult Swallows 3-2 Sunday at the Tokyo Dome.
The Korean slugger, who joined Yomiuri's first team after spending 10 days in a lower league, batted sixth and played first base.
Lee led off of the second inning by hitting Sato Yoshinori's first pitch over the left-field fence for his first home run since he went deep 50 days earlier in a July 27 game against the Swallows.
``I'd like to show my existence,'' Lee said to Japanese newspaper Sport Hochi. ``I could do my best swing.''
Lee, who went hitless in three other at-bats in the game, is batting .205 with eight RBIs and eight runs in 26 games with the first-team this season.
Lee, who batted .316 with four RBIs during his recent stint in the lower-tier league, is trying to regain the form that made him one of the most feared power hitters in Asia. He was also a star for Korea in the Beijing Olympics, hitting homers against Japan in the semifinals and Cuba in the final.
The Giants trail the Hanshin Tigers by four games in the Central League standings.
Yomiuri, which started a three-game series against the Yokohama Baystars Monday, will play the league-leading Tigers Friday.