Lee Hao-yu's 'Pitbull' resolve drove record-setting rookie season

Taipei, Oct. 12 (CNA) Even in the final plate appearance of his rookie Major League Baseball (MLB) season, Detroit Tigers infielder Lee Hao-yu (李灝宇) wanted one more hit.

When it did not come, he snapped his bat.

"By the time I came to my senses, the bat was already broken," Lee said at a news event in Taipei on Monday, before warning children not to imitate him.

Lee, who returned to Taiwan earlier in the day, said he had been chasing Shohei Ohtani's rookie-season hit total. He knew matching it in the final game was unlikely, but still wanted to push his own numbers higher.

The 23-year-old finished with 87 hits, six fewer than Ohtani collected in his 2018 debut season. He nonetheless set several Taiwanese single-season MLB records, including hits, home runs (10), RBIs (46) and games played (114).

"Each generation passes the torch to the next, just as Yu Chang passed it to me," Lee said. "I want to raise the bar, so Taiwanese players know we can achieve more and establish ourselves in the majors."

Yu Chang (張育成) remains Taiwan's career MLB home run leader with 20. His nine home runs in 2021 stood as the Taiwanese single-season record until Lee surpassed it this year.

Lee's season also brought periods of uncertainty, including a return to Triple-A and stretches when he struggled to find playing time.

He recalled spending two or three days in August arriving at the ballpark unhappy, barely speaking or smiling because he had been left out of the starting lineup. He talked with a counselor, teammates he trusted and coaches before deciding to focus on the opportunities he had.

"Everyone starts on the bench. I couldn't expect to be in the lineup right from the beginning," he said. "I only had a few opportunities, so I had to make the most of them."

"If I was only going to face left-handers, I would focus that week on the reports on their left-handers," Lee said, explaining that he studied them until he understood what each pitcher might throw in different situations.

That refusal to let an opportunity slip away was reflected in the nickname he chose for Players' Weekend: "Pitbull."

"When a pitbull bites onto its prey, it won't let go," Lee said. "It's like how I play. Once I get hold of that ball, I won't let go."

Lee said he enjoyed charged atmospheres, including run-ins with heckling fans, saying they helped him focus on the game.

"I like competing, and I like that feeling that things are about to turn into a fight," he said. "That's how I play."

Lee also shared lighter moments and keepsakes from his first season.

One treasured memory was playing in veteran pitcher Justin Verlander's final career start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sept. 26. Lee said helping give Verlander a memorable farewell made the season worthwhile, even though Detroit missed the postseason.

Lee kept his defensive positioning card from that game, got Verlander to sign it and had the souvenir authenticated.

Another memory involved an unintended international trip.

Driving back to Detroit after retrieving belongings he had left with his minor league team, Lee took a wrong turn toward Canada.

"I didn't know I'd actually reached Canada until I saw the flag," he said. "I thought, 'Oh no.'"

His phone had no internet connection, leaving him to explain the mistake to a border officer in English. The officer searched his name online to verify that he played baseball.

When the officer mentioned his two home runs, Lee promptly corrected him: he had three.

Now home, Lee said he was looking forward to beef noodles and more time with his family, alongside his offseason training.

He has not set specific statistical targets for next season. His first priority is earning a place on Detroit's opening day roster.

"Once I make it, my goal for next year is to play in the All-Star Game," he said.