Lee Ji-young (baseball)


Lee Ji-young is a South Korean catcher for the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization. He bats and throws right-handed.

Amateur career

After graduating from Jemulpo High School in Incheon, Lee entered Kyungsung University in Busan. As a sophomore in, Lee led his team to the collegiate championship twice alongside battery mate Jang Won-Sam. In August 2005, Lee was first called up to the South Korea national baseball team as an amateur player and participated in the Baseball World Cup held in the Netherlands where Team Korea eventually won the silver medal. At the World Cup, he appeared as a starting catcher in the preliminary game against Sweden.
As a senior in, Lee helped the team to win two collegiate championships as a captain and starting catcher of the team.

Notable international careers

Professional career

After graduation from college, Lee went undrafted in the KBO Entry Draft and signed as an original free agent with the Samsung Lions. He played no games his first year but made a positive impact next season, playing in 23 games as a backup catcher and driving in 4 runs out of 6 hits.
Lee joined the two-year military service after the season and was discharged in September. In October 2011, Lee was selected for the South Korean national baseball team for the 2011 Baseball World Cup. In the tourney, he batted.289 with 13 hits including a solo home run off of Eliecer Navarro of Panama appearing in all 12 games as a fixture at first base for Team Korea.
On December 7, 2018, he moved through a triangular trade between Kim Dong-yup, who was a member of the SK Wyverns, and Ko Jong-wook, who was a member of the Nexen Heroes.

Notable international careers