The idea was to play my baseball so that I didn't have any regrets."

For LG Twins catcher Lee Ju-heon, the year 2024 was an unforgettable year. He made his first debut in the first team since being discharged from the military. While playing in the postseason, he achieved some of his dream goals as a player.메이저사이트

Showing potential, Lee instantly rose from a promising player to a backup catcher. LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop plans to use Lee as the second catcher to support his mother Park Dong-won in the upcoming 2025 season.

Lee played in three regular-season games at the end of last season and posted a batting average of 0.667 (four hits in six at-bats) and a three-run OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). Despite a small sample, he proved his potential in offense and defense, capturing the hearts of coach Yeom and the coaching staff. Compared to Kim Bum-suk, who was considered one of the most promising players in the team, Lee has displayed stable defense capability as a catcher and highly evaluated.

Lee Joo-heon is constantly working hard because he knows the expectations he receives. He went to work at Jamsil Stadium and started a reinforcement exercise.

Lee Ju-heon, whom I recently met, said, "I am making up for my bad points and deficiencies and physical conditions after the end of the season. I am making up for my shortcomings to prepare perfectly for the next season. I can play baseball only when I am not sick, so I focus on building my body. I am also exercising by gradually revising my hitting and throwing."

Lee Ju-heon, who had an unforgettable 2024, recalled the last three games of the season that would be a turning point in his baseball life.

"I am satisfied that I spent a season without getting sick after being discharged from the military. It was also a dream time as I vaguely thought," he said. "I was preparing to show off my skills whenever I had the opportunity even before the first-team call-up. As the remaining games were getting smaller and smaller, I thought, 'I might not have the opportunity this year,' and when I tried to prepare harder for the next season, I heard the news about the call-up. I was thinking of playing my baseball so that I won't have any regrets, but I am puzzled as it turned out better than I thought."

This is Lee Joo-heon's baseball game that has begun in earnest. In this season, he should assist his mastermind Park Dong-won to lead LG's home turf. "I think this is the most important opportunity in my life. When I have a chance, I try to catch it all at once. I am practicing hard to show good performance in the next season," he said.

Lee Joo-heon plans to wear No. 26 instead of No. 63, which he chose last year. This is the number that LG's first-team battery coach and KBO League catcher legend Park Kyung-wan wore when he was active.

Lee Joo-heon, who received the meaningful number, said, "When I received the number 26, I remembered coach Park Kyung-wan. I really liked my coach when I was young, so I often visited the ballpark. By the way, I also caught the foul ball that the coach hit myself," and pledged to grow into a good catcher like coach Park Kyung-wan.

Finally, Lee said, "I don't want to go down to the Futures League and stick to the first team somehow. Second, I don't want to get hurt. Lastly, I hope this year will be a year where I learn a lot, make mistakes, and get criticized," adding, "I only played three games last year, but I will prepare to show better performances this year."