Lee Jung-hoo (25, Kiwoom Heroes), who hasn't even made it to Major League Baseball (ML yet, has been named the favorite for the 2024 Rookie of the Year by a local American media outlet.

On Thursday (June 14), CBS Sports in the U.S. revealed the candidates for the 2024 Rookie of the Year.

Three players were selected from each of the two major leagues, with two wild cards for players who have not yet decided their affiliation, one of which was Lee.

Today was the same day that the MLB office announced the winner of the 2023 Rookie of the Year award. Gunner Henderson (Baltimore Orioles) was unanimously named Rookie of the Year in the American League (AL) and Corbin Carroll (Arizona Diamondbacks) in the National League (NL).

According to CBS Sports, "Lee is a speedy center fielder with top-notch contact ability. In seven seasons in the KBO, he has a .340 batting average, .407 on-base percentage, and .491 slugging percentage."

Predicting that Lee's speed of adaptation will determine his success, the outlet also pointed to Kim Ha-seong, who played alongside Lee in Kiwoom before moving to MLB after the 2020 season and winning a Gold Glove this year in his third year in the big leagues, establishing himself as a starting center fielder.

CBS Sports said, "Lee's former teammate showed that hitters who play in the KBO can be above-average in MLB. He needed time to adjust, and the same will likely be true for Lee."

"If he can make a smooth transition to the MLB, he can compete for Rookie of the Year honors with his abundant skills."

Another player who, like Lee, is a wild card candidate for 2024 Rookie of the Year without having reached MLB yet is Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Orix Buffaloes).

"It's almost insulting to call him a 'rookie' because he's new to the MLB," the outlet said, adding, "He's unique in his delivery, velocity, and youth. "He'll have to adjust to the MLB ballpark and a more rigorous schedule, but we've seen Japanese pitchers make the adjustment without issue. He will be a strong Rookie of the Year candidate in any league."


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