S. Korean slugger vows success in Japan

INCHEON, Jan. 30 (Yonhap) -- Lee Seung-yeop, a South Korean slugger with Japan's Yomiuri Giants, vowed Friday to shape up his performance next season amid intra-team competition for first base on the regular roster.

"I have exercised enough since I returned home last October. I will be in good
condition at the spring camp," said the 32-year-old first baseman as he headed to
Japan from Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. Lee plans to join his
club's pre-season training session from Sunday in Miyazaki.
"I'm concerned about the internal rivalry," Lee said, referring to his teammate
and third baseman Michihiro Ogasawara's reported move to first base after a young
star recently signed with the team. "I won't let anyone to take the position."
As he performed poorly last season, he decided to focus on training and will not
participate in the World Baseball Classic slated for March. Lee played a major
role in winning the gold medal in the Beijing Olympics, defeating world champion
Cuba in the final, and was expected to lead the team again in the upcoming
tournament.
He had a 0.248 batting average, eight homers and 27 RBIs in Japan last season,
compared to 0.323 batting average, 41 homers and 108 RBIs in 2007.
Lee took the Asian record of 56 home runs in one season when playing for Korea's
Samsung Lions in 2002. He played two seasons with Japan's Lotte Marines before
moving to the Giants in 2006.
brk@yna.co.kr
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