Gangneung High School won an 8-1 cold game in the seventh inning in the quarterfinal match against Bibongo, the 78th National High School Baseball Championship and the Weekend League match, held at Mokdong Baseball Stadium on Sunday. Lee Yul-ye, who played as the third batter’s catcher on the day, had no hit, two walks and one RBI in one at bat. He showed off his outstanding initiative. Lee’s presence shined even more when he was wearing a catcher’s mask. He proved why he is considered the biggest catcher in high school.메이저놀이터
“The quarterfinal match was very important. I’m happy to win. I’m not satisfied with the result right now, and I think I should try to do better in the semifinal match against Daegu Sangwon High School,” Lee said after the match.
Whenever she enters the batter’s box, she takes a big breath. When she raises the count of outs with the throw, she raises her fist and roars. “When you bat, you put a lot of pressure on it. Breathe and relax your body. I feel like I’m roaring without realizing it. I feel like I’m expressing my sincere heart through the ceremony,” Lee said about her behavior in the game.
Lee Yul-ye received attention early on. He has already been recognized as the best catcher for high schools since last year and was selected for the Korean national team for the 2023 WBSC World Under-18 Youth Baseball Championship. Lee is evaluated as having all the virtues that a catcher must possess. Amid evaluations that Lee has excellent capabilities for leading, blocking, framing, and stopping stolen bases, scouts from the KBO League are drawing attention.
Lee Yul-ye, who was evaluated as a perfect defense player, has seen his batting performance improve this year. In 2023, when he was a sophomore, he recorded 327 runs, 15 RBIs, 22 runs and a batting average of 0.327 (32 hits in 98 times at bat), and in 2024, when he became a junior, he recorded 13 games, two homers, 11 RBIs, 19 runs and a batting average of 0.450 (18 hits in 40 times at bat). “Lee Yul-ye is talented, but he is a player who strives to improve himself,” Gangneung High School coach Jaeho Choi said.
“Before then, I had heard a lot about how well I was a catcher who was good at defense. I gained weight and exercised weight training to strengthen my body. I think my batting has improved thanks to my stronger strength. When I hit, I focus on contact, and I naturally produce high-quality hits,” Lee said.
Why did he choose catcher? Lee said, “I loved the position of catcher. The equipment is heavy, but he looks cool when worn. That’s why I became a catcher. Of course, there are times when I have a hard time, but it’s so much fun and fun to play.”
Lee Yul-ye is displaying the Korean national flag on her catcher’s equipment. She is using the same national flag as she received when she was selected for the national team last year. To Lee, the national flag is both a pride and a driving force to play baseball harder. “I am very proud of myself. I want to be selected for the youth team again this year. I have the ambition to be selected as a member of the national team and compete in international competitions even when I become an adult,” Lee said.
His role model is Kang Min-ho of the Samsung Lions. Lee Yul-ye said, “Kang Min-ho is really an iron man. While playing as a catcher, he has been playing baseball for a long time without any injuries. He still plays as a catcher. I want to imitate that.” Kang is the record holder for most games played in the KBO league.
First of all, Lee’s goal is to win the Golden Lion title. He said he will also conduct night training on the day after the quarterfinal match. “Gangneung High School has a lot of training. Still, I will try harder because the results of my training come out intact in the competition. I am sure you will be rewarded for your hard work,” he declared.