In his first start of the 2024 season, Hanwha Eagles infielder Do-yoon Lee had a breakout game to lead the team to its seventh straight win. He was the difference maker in every game.
Hanwha defeated the KT Wiz 14-3 in the third game of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on May 31. It swept the weekend’s home-opening three-game series and extended the Pajuk’s winning streak to seven games. The team improved to 7-1 on the season and remained in sole possession of first place, one game ahead of the second-place KIA Tigers (5-1).
Hanwha was led by Lee Do-yoon, who started the game as the No. 9 hitter and shortstop. Lee went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored, and the offense exploded off the KT mound.
Lee Do-yoon swung the bat hard from his first at-bat. With the score tied at 0-0 in the bottom of the second inning, he lined a single up the middle against KT starter Benjamin. On a full count, he took Benjamin’s six-pitch, 128-mph slider perfectly. He scooped up the low, outside pitch and sent a sharp shot that landed next to the right-field fence.
After a leadoff double by Lee Do-yoon, Hanwha pushed the score to 7-0 in the bottom of the second inning with a two-run double by Moon Hyun-bin, an RBI single by Chae Eun-sung, and a three-run homer by Noh Si-hwan. They took full control of the game early on.
Lee Do-yoon continued her focus in her second at-bat of the inning. With Hanwha leading 7-0, he lined a triple over the center field fence with two outs. In a one-ball, one-strike at-bat, he lined a 143-kilometer fastball from Benjamin in the middle of the strike zone.
Lee then crossed home plate on the next batter’s single up the middle to score Moon Hyun-bin’s second run of the game. In his first start since opening day, the 2024 Season Masu-girl not only picked up a hit, but also drove in the winning run, making for a pleasant Sunday afternoon.
“It was my first start of the season and I’m so happy that the team continued its winning streak,” Lee said after the game. “My coaches always told me to be prepared, so I was working hard, and it feels good to get a good result.”
“In my first at-bat in the second inning, Benjamin’s pitches were really good, so I tried to stay close to home plate to take advantage of them. I wasn’t afraid to go for it, and I made good contact,” he reflected.
His third-inning triple was the result of advice from Kim Kang-min, the “Beast” of the presidential team. “If you enter the batter’s box with an aiming pitch, you should swing the bat without hesitation,” Lee said.
“He told me to swing the bat without hesitation if I was aiming for a fastball during the game,” Lee said. “I ask him a lot of questions every game, and my performance is improving thanks to 토토사이트 him. He has a lot of good things to say,” he emphasized.
Lee is the quintessential ‘wait-and-see’ player. In his ninth year after being drafted in the third round, 24th overall, in the 2015 rookie draft, Lee played in more than 100 games (106) for the first time in his career last year, batting .252 (78-for-309) with one home run, 13 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.
His solid defense and quick feet have energized the Hanwha infield this season. It’s still early in the season, but he’s proven from his first start that he has the skills to compete favorably with starting shortstop Ha Joo-seok.
“I didn’t have much trouble maintaining my batting feel before I started,” Lee said. I went into the batting cage with the mindset of trying out what I had prepared in training,” he said, adding, “It was a little bit of pressure, but I’m glad I got a good result.”
“The team atmosphere is really good these days. Even if we give up a run, we come right back, and the extra runs come right back,” he said. “The seniors are really good at guiding the younger guys. The younger guys are trying to do better and we’re all having fun playing baseball together,” he added.