I Will Restore My Fame, Says Lee Seung-yeop

On December 26, your correspondent met Lee Seung-yeop, (30, Yomiuri Giants) who was working very hard at a fitness club in Jisan-dong, Daegu. Lee Seung-yeop caught his breath 20 minutes after lifting weights. His forehead was covered with sweat.

After stretching, he was lifting weights of various kinds according to directions from gym boss Oh Chang-hun.

Worst-ever pain–

Near his left thumb was a red surgery scar from a ligament reconstruction operation in October. The surgery was well done and he has no difficulty in weight training. Now he only has a rigid feeling around the scar.

He said, “From the season’s first game, the pain was so severe that my friends took off my glove from my left hand after I hit the ball. I had trembling fingers.”

Because of the pain, he voluntarily went to the minor league in early July. Even after he came back to the major league, his pain continued. He used painkillers to finish the season. He said his performance left a lot to be desired.

He said, “Because I had worked too hard without rest for the four years since I came to Japan, I hurt myself. I rested enough to see my waist girth get bigger by 4 inches to 39.”

Restoring his fame in 2008-

After getting rid of the cast on his left hand, his weight was reduced to 96kg by running and lifting weights mildly. From next April, he plans to hone his defensive skills while swinging the bat as well. He still has three years left on his contract with the Yomiuri Giants, but he regards 2008 as his last year with the team. He asked the Yomiuri Giants to cut his pay because he felt responsibility as the team’s fourth batter.

He has not set his homerun goal for the next season yet. “I have jinxed it where if I have certain expectations, I can’t achieve them. Last year I wanted to hit 45 home runs, but I had only 30. My goal for 2008 is to participate in all of my team’s games without injury.”

Participating in second preliminary match for the 2008 Olympics-

Regarding Daniel Rios (formerly Doosan) and Lim Chang-yong (formerly Samsung) joining the Tokyo Yakult Swallows next year, Lee said, “I will not be lonely if I meet them in a Japanese ballpark next year.”

Watching the Korean Olympic team lose to Japan in a preliminary match, he has made up his mind to participate in the second preliminary match next March for the 2008 Olympics.

He said, “Because of a minor mistake, we lost. As a Korean national, I will take part in the preliminary match next March and contribute to our victory.”

He still has a dream of joining America’s Major League (MLB). He wants to leave Japan on a high note, and to join MLB as either a player or a coach.

beetlez@donga.com