The start is promising. The bat of shortstop Lee Jae-hyun, the first overall draft pick of the Samsung Lions in the Korea Professional Baseball league, has been heating up since the early part of the season.

As of the 31st, he has a batting average of .391 (23 at-bats, 9 hits), 2 home runs, 8 RBIs, 11 runs scored, and an OPS of 1.327. Lee Jae-hyun is tied for the league lead in walks with 9, alongside Patrick Wisdom (Kia Tigers) and Mel Rojas Jr. (KT Wiz), and he is in second place in runs scored, following senior teammate Kim Ji-chan (12 runs).

Not only is he outstanding in vision and accuracy, but his ability to be a clutch player also stands out. On the 25th against NC in Daegu, he drove in a three-run homer in the second inning while tied 2-2, leading to a 14-5 victory. On the 30th against Doosan in Jamsil, he also came through with a key hit in the third inning with no outs and runners on second and third, helping to secure the winning series.

When asked about the reason for the increase in walks compared to last year, Lee Jae-hyun said, “Nothing has really changed. I just try not to swing at bad pitches and with more foul balls in favorable counts, naturally, the at-bats have become longer.”

Lee Jae-hyun, who has showcased fierce hitting from the beginning, shook his head, saying, “I haven’t fully got my feel back yet. I’m not at a perfect level.” He added, “I focus on hitting with accuracy and power during training. I don’t feel completely in sync yet. I think I’ll fully find my feel by mid-season.”

On the 25th against NC in Daegu, 'Captain' Koo Ja-wook achieved his personal milestone of 1,500 hits, recording 2 hits (1 home run), 4 RBIs, and 2 runs in 2 at-bats, and he praised Lee Jae-hyun highly.

Koo Ja-wook said, “I think Jae-hyun really worked hard through the winter, and I want to praise him for getting such good results today. I believe he will become an even better player in the future.”

Above all, Koo Ja-wook highly praised Lee Jae-hyun for not resting on his current achievements and striving for higher goals. He commented, “He has such great talent and always tries to do better, which I really appreciate. As a starting player, he could become lax, but he always quietly gives his best. He leads the defense well as a shortstop. He is one of the most hard-working players on the team.”

In response, Lee Jae-hyun said, “I’m always grateful to Hyung Jae-wook for his kind words and support,” adding, “It’s natural not to be satisfied with the current state as a player and to keep striving. Even if I record 9 hits in 10 at-bats, I always feel a sense of regret. That’s why I can never be fully satisfied. I want to improve every year.”

Lee Jae-hyun, who said, “I want to improve in all aspects such as offense, defense, and base running,” noted, “I really hate making errors as a shortstop. I also desire to hit well in critical moments. I still remember the moments I couldn’t hit well during last autumn’s stage.”

Meanwhile, Manager Park Jin-man commented on Lee Jae-hyun, saying, “He seems to have composure at the plate. He has gained a lot of experience and has been able to identify the types of pitchers he has faced, improving his adaptability. He has his own strike zone.” He welcomed Lee Jae-hyun's steady growth.

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