Lee Dae-ho’s homer causes stir in Japan

By Cho Mu-hyun

Slugger Lee Dae-ho’s recent home run during training is causing a stir in Japan’s sports media outlets and among teams there.

The Korean “Big Boy” topped the headlines of Japan’s Sports news on the weekend for a 140-meter home run that went over the fence during the Orix Buffaloes’ preseason training camp at Miyakojima, Okinawa.

“It was powerful enough to break the windows of a parked car. It’s amazing that it was not his full swing,” wrote the Japanese daily Nikkan Sports. “It was the best hit of the day. We wonder how long this ball would go if he gave it 100 percent.”

Daily Sports also praised the 29-year-old, saying “The two time Triple Crown winning slugger’s engine is heating up.”

Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) is known for its meticulous observation of players before and throughout the season, and other professional teams are keeping a close eye on the 1.94-meter-tall giant.

“Compared to other foreigners who have played in Japan, his ability to hit the ball with the center of the bat is excellent,” said Sadaharu Sato, an analyst of last year’s Japan Series winner SoftBank Hawks. Orix is considered the top underdog for next season by the Hawks because of the new signee and Sato plans to stay until Wednesday to continue his study of the batter.

Hideki Kuriyama, manager of Nippon Ham Fighters, has put the batter as priority No. 1 to watch as well. “I studied Lee Dae-ho when I was a sports commentator. I really want to know what kind of player he is.”

An associate of Miyakojima City Hall revealed that they are planning to place a person behind the fences to “watch out for Lee Dae-ho’s home runs.”

But the person most surprised, and probably the happiest to witness the home run, was Orix manager Akinobu Okada.

“The Japanese can’t swing like that,” said the manager. “He overruns pitches that a Japanese player won’t be able to hit with his power. His (movement in the) arms, elbows, wrists are all smooth. He hits and it goes over (the fence).”

“I think he put in 50 to 60 percent. It was a hit that went up endlessly and never came down,” added the 54-year-old, unreserved in his praise for his new cleaner.

Lee is known to be preserving his strength and expressed his intentions to not show his full swing during the training camp, and will show his full power in the team’s practice match against the Hanshin Tigers on Feb. 18.

He is training with a bat that weighs one kilogram, heavier than the Japanese standard .92 kilograms he plans to use in it in all games, and will continue batting training till Wednesday.