“I didn’t know it would be this bad.” Lee Jung-hoo, even after hitting his first home run, was in trouble because of ‘this’… Kim Ha-sung was right

Local U.S. reporters asked Lee Jung-hoo (26, San Francisco Giants) about his helmet after he made his debut in an exhibition game in the Major League on Sunday (Korea time). The question was about how his helmet, which had been removed four times in his debut game, never fell on the day.

"I pressed it a little bit hard today. I haven't received my custom-made helmet yet," Lee said. "I was conscious to fix it (so that it doesn't fall off) while running just in case I get hit by a ball."

In an exhibition game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2024 Major League Baseball at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona, Lee Jung-hoo started as the first batter to center field, hit a superior double from his first at-bat in the first inning, and reported his first home run as a solo shot to right-center wall in the third inning.

In the sixth inning, Lee was grounded out to the third base due to defensive shift, but displayed good batting performance in all three at-bats for a hard hit, and displayed impressive performance in two consecutive games following a game against the Seattle Mariners (one hit and one run from three at-bats) on April 28. He posted a batting average of .500 (three hits from six at-bats) in two exhibition games, one homer, one RBI and two runs scored.

Lee's helmet drew as much attention as his homerun. In the first game against Seattle, Lee's helmet was removed four times. Lee fouled the second pitch from his first at bat in the first inning, and his helmet came off. He then hit the third pitch to make a hit, and when he was running to the first base, his helmet fell on the ground again. He tried to grab the helmet with his left hand, but he missed it.

Lee, who had to change his helmet at the second base despite playing the base, also had his helmet removed in succession in the third at bat in the fourth inning. He swung and missed the fourth pitch, and his helmet fell below the home plate. Lee then had to return to the dugout after picking up the helmet that fell on the ground after hitting the fifth pitch.

His helmet came off four times in his debut match, and American reporters were amazed to see him. In an interview after the game, he also showed interest in Lee's helmet. "The helmet is too big. It keeps coming off like (Kim) Ha-sung. I ordered something in my brother's size. I decided to get a specially made one."

This happened to Kim Ha-sung (29) of the San Diego Padres who came to the Major League three years earlier than others. When asked about his helmet on the first day of the official spring training on April 17, Kim said, "I felt like Jeong-hoo was also on my path. If we are right-handed like him, I will give him one, so I think Jeong-hoo needs to get one as soon as possible."

The helmet that comes off is also Kim's trademark. Rawlings, a company that supplies goods for Major League players, manufactures helmets to suit the shape of the head of a Westerner. When Asian people with guillotine, wear these helmets, there is more space on the front and back for Asian people who wear them. Patches are put on in between, but they cannot be firmly fixed. Consequently, the helmet has no choice but to wear the largest size, but it becomes too loose and easily peeled off. Not only Korean players but also Japanese players such as Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers often see their helmets taken off.

In the case of Kim Ha-sung, who does not take care of himself every moment, the helmet came off particularly well. The Kim Ha-sung bubble head doll, which was presented by the San Diego club to 40,000 fans who visited Petco Park on August 23 last year, was specially made with a helmet detachable. It is fun to see it as a character, but in order to prevent injury, the San Diego club prepared a custom-made helmet for Kim Ha-sung at the end of August last year.

BY: 토토사이트링크