By Yoon Chul
Korean baseball hero Lee Seung-yeop will return to the Korean league next season.
The slugger revealed his decision to the media, saying that he was waiting for the decision of his current team, the Orix Buffaloes.
“Looking back on my eight years in Japan, I think it’s time to return,” Lee told reporters.
The 36-year-old left-handed batsman reportedly decided to return because he felt tired after a long stay in Japan, and missed Korea.
Lee made his professional debut with the Samsung Lions in 1995 without entering university. In nine seasons with the club he had a .305 batting average with 324 home runs and 948 RBIs.
In 2003, he hit 56 homers — the highest number in a single season in a professional Asian league. He also had 144 RBIs which attracted the attention of the Chiba Lotte Marines, who persuaded Lee to cross the East Sea that year.
In his first year in the Japanese professional league, he helped the Marines win the Japan Series hitting 30 home runs. In 2006 Lee moved to the Yomiuri Giants and hit 41 homers.
But following thumb surgery at the end of the 2007 season, Lee struggled to repeat his earlier form. Only recently has he showed some of his past strength, managing five homers and 23 hits in September.
During his eight years in Japan he has recorded a .257 batting average with 159 home runs and 439 RBIs.
Lee notified his team Monday, a day before the last regular season game, that he would give up next season’s salary and go back to Korea.
The Buffaloes are expected to accept Lee’s decision and are now looking at alternatives.
Last December Lee agreed on a two-year, 150 million yen (about 2.2 billion won) deal to move to the Buffaloes from the Giants.
With Lee’s return expected, the focus is on which of the eight Korean teams he will sign with and his former team, the Lions, among the favorites..
“Definitely I want to back to the Lions, but it’s not up to me,” Lee said.
According to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) rules, Lee is now a free agent. But if he signs for anyone other than the Lions, the new team must pay 300 percent of his last salary with the Samsung side, plus a player. The team giving up a player can protect up to 18 from being selected. If they do not want to lose one of their roster the club can instead pay 450 percent of his last Lion’s salary.
This means the Lions could receive about 2.8 billion won if Lee signs with a different team.
The batter also dismissed an earlier statement on retirement.
“A long time ago I said I would retire at 36. It was a very stupid idea. If I can be competitive against young pitchers I will stay on the diamond.” Lee said
“My goal is to play longer than Yang Joon-hyuk, who played until he was 41.”