S. Korean slugger signs with Japanese club

By Kim Boram
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean slugger Lee Bum-ho said Thursday he has
signed with the Softbank Hawks to play for the Japanese club from next year.
"I signed a three-year contract with the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) team
for 500 million yen (US$5.6 million), including salary and bonus," the
28-year-old infielder said.
Lee was declared a free agent at the end of the 2009 season after playing for the
Daejeon-based Hanhwa Eagles for nine years.
He batted .284 this season with 25 homeruns and 79 RBIs. He registered .400 with
three homers and seven RBIs in the World Baseball Classic in March.
Lee will become the 12th South Korean baseballer to play in the NPB, following
his former teammate Kim Taek-kyun, who signed with NPB's Lotte Marines last week.
The Fukuoka-based Softbank Hawks finished second in the Pacific League this year.
brk@yna.co.kr
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