Injury Thwarts Lee’s Bid for HR Title

Lee Seung-yeop (30, Yomiuri Giants) may give up on the home run race this season. The South Korean slugger, whose home run streak recently slowed due to pain in his left knee, is scheduled to have surgery on October 13.

Nikkan Sports reported on its website Saturday that Yomiuri accepted Lee’s request for an early surgery and an early end to his season. Lee’s last game of the season will be the October 10 home game against Junichi Dragons at Tokyo Dome. Yomiuri’s last seasonal match takes place at Tokyo Meiji Jingu Stadium on October 15 versus Yakult.

According to Nikkan Sports, Lee wanted an earlier date for his surgery after two games against Hansin on October 7 or 8, but Yomiuri wanted him to play through the season, and they met in the middle ground and agreed on October 13. A full recovery may not come early and Lee is now all the more likely to remain with Yomiuri for next season.

Lee’s home run record of 41 is second to 44 of Tyrone Woods of Junichi in the Central League home run race. With one more game to play, Lee is unlikely to catch up. At the away game against Hansin Saturday, he recorded a single and a walk in three at-bats, with a seasonal batting average of .323. Woods on the other hand tallied his 44th homer of the season at the fourth inning against Hiroshima.

Meanwhile, Sports Hochi carried an article saying the Chiba Lotte Marines will seek to sign Lee Byung-kyu of LG Twins. Lotte embarked on laying the groundwork for getting Lee signed, who will be on free agent list after the season, and coach Bobby Valentine came to Korea to watch the game against SK on October 2. But the prospect of Lee signing with Lotte remains to be seen as the LG Twins, who finished the season at the bottom for the first time, are determined to retain its star lead hitter.

why@donga.com