Kiwoom Pitcher's Sister, last year's Pitcher Award → This year's Batter Award, "I'm sorry I can't come to the award ceremony."

Kiwoom Pitcher's Sister, last year's Pitcher Award → This year's Batter Award, "I'm sorry I can't come to the award ceremony."

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"My sister is better than I am at athleticism or naturalness."

It was a talent that his brother recognized. Lee Yerin (21) of Dankook University, younger sister of Lee Myung-jong (23) of the Kiwoom Heroes, dominated the college softball stage for the second consecutive year by displaying talent both as pitcher and batter.

Lee Yerin won the "2024 Korea Baseball Softball Association Awards" held at Yangjae Bride Valley in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 5th. KBSA held baseball and softball nights at the end of the year to wrap up the year and host awards by category, but the award ceremony was pushed to February due to the election of the 25th president of the association in January.

Lee Yerin, who also serves as a batter, recorded a batting average of 0.447 (17 hits in 38 times at bat) with two home runs and 12 RBIs in 14 games last year, sweeping away the honor of the Most Valuable Player of the Year, RBI, home run, and RBI. As a pitcher, he also conquered the college league stage by receiving the honor of Outstanding Pitcher of the Year with four wins and no losses in eight games with an ERA of 2.57 and seven walks and 11 strikeouts in 30 ⅔ innings.
Lee has won the honor for two consecutive years. Lee Yerin, who has always played in softball national teams by age group due to her athleticism, participated in nine matches (34 ⅔ innings) in 2023 when she was a freshman in college, and recorded seven wins, one loss and an ERA of 2.25 to receive the Outstanding Pitcher Award in softball university category. Lee Myung-jong, her brother and sister, also attended the ceremony with their younger brother, who was close to her, in a car, drawing keen attention.

However, Lee Myung-jong was not seen this year. He joined the Army's 12th Infantry Division in Inje, Gangwon Province, and began his military service after last season.

Speaking to Star News after the ceremony, Lee Yerin said, "I usually pitch as a fielder and a pitcher, but this year, I got a home run in every game and won the award as a batter. My brother wanted to come to the ceremony, but he couldn't come with me today (May 5) because he has a vacation next week. I also feel sad that I can't be with him."

Lee Myung-jong is a right-hander who joined Kiwoom in the second round of the 2022 KBO Rookie Draft after graduating from Seokgyo Elementary School, Segwang Middle School, and Sehwa High School. He took the mound for the first team in his debut season and listened to the Korean Series (KS) entry and marked a career-high nine wins, seven losses and five holds with an ERA of 5.57 in 82 games.

Lee Yerin said, "My brother had elbow surgery in December last year, and he took the dumbbells at home with him to rehabilitate and build up his body. I am also studying hard to become an assistant."

Lee Myung-jong was loved by his team members for his sad personality, as evidenced by his mention of him every once in a while and even foreign players such as Ariel Furado (Samsung Lions) welcomed him. The same was true at home. "My brother takes good care of my juniors. He grumbles with me but takes good care of me behind me," Lee said. "But (in front of me) I am a little shy. That's why I say that to my mom, she does not do well in front of me when she wants to compliment me. I heard that she brags about herself to her friends, too."

"I like him more because he and I are like friends. My friends around me say, 'I've never seen anyone close to me like you,'" he said, smiling. "But actually, I take care of him more. He doesn't take care of me. I just talk about it."

Player Lee Myung-jong, who is not his brother, deserves to be called a respectable role model for the same sportsman. Lee Myung-jong underwent MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) surgery, commonly called Tommy John Surgery, in 2019 when he was a second grader at Sebodeung High School, and OCD (Osteochondritis Dissecans) surgery, which cuts off bone fragments in his elbow or when a laughing bone stimulates nerves.

Afterwards, he spent 2019 undergoing surgery and rehabilitation, and went through a rough process to return to the second grade in 2020. Despite the difficult times for young players, he was eventually nominated as a pro due to his strong will. "Lee Myung-jong fully recovered his health around the third grade. He has good control and ability to run games, but he pitched breaking balls so well that he played a role of a game maker. He also had ample room for improvement in his muscle strength, which is expected in his pitching." 토토사이트

As she witnessed the whole process from the sidelines, Lee showed no hesitation in choosing her brother as her role model. "When my brother was young, he underwent Tommy John surgery and it hurt a lot," Lee said. Back then, some hospitals even told me that he couldn't use his shoulder. However, he didn't give up. While working out alone, I went as far as pro, and my role model was Lee Myung-jong. He is my brother, but he is amazing."

"My brother couldn't come this year, but I want to do well next year and come here with him again," he said.