Lee Seung-yuop, Samsung Lions’ veteran slugger, recorded his 2,500th hit, Thursday, setting a milestone in Korea’s baseball history.
During a Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League game against the NC Dinos, the 38-year-old clubbed a solo-homer against starter Lee Min-ho in the third inning. The hit, which flew 125 meter in the center of the field, marked Lee’s 110’s hit and 18th homerun in 91 games so far this season.
It was his 1,814th hit in his 13-season KBO career. Adding 686 hits he recorded during his eight-year stint at Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball from 2004, Lee became the Korean baseball player with the most hits in professional games, though the KBO does not officially recognize combining the two leagues’ record.
During his 20 and a half season professional career, he has hit more than 100 each year except for five seasons in Japan ― 80 hits in 2004 for Chiba Lotte Marines, 38 hits in 2008, 51 hits in 2009, 15 hits in 2010 for Yomiuri Giants and 79 hits in 2011 for Orix Buffaloes.
Including this ongoing season, Lee has launched three-digit hits for the 13th consecutive season. Only two other Samsung Lions men, now retired Yang Joon-hyuk and active Park Han-yi accomplished such a feat. Yang did so for 16 straight seasons, while Park for 14 straight seasons.
Lee, nicknamed “Lion King,” became the first hitter with 400 homers in the KBO during a game against Lotte Giants on June 3. Accomplishing one of his proclaimed career goals, Lee now focuses on his bid to become the sixth hitter to launch more than 2,000 hits in the KBO. So far, Yang, Jang Sung-ho of KT Wiz, Lee Byung-kyu of LG Twins (back number 9 among two Lee Byung-kyus in the club), NC Dinos coach Jeon Jun-ho and Hong Sung-heon of Doosan Bears hit more than 2,000 in KBO games.
In the KBO’s total hits standings, Lee sits on the 9th with 1,814 hits. Yang leads the table with 2,318 hits.