Since his debut, he started only one game in the first team, and was selected as a postseason entry early on. LG Twins catcher Lee Joo-heon (21), who played in three games including substitution, continues his fairy tale story. 스포츠토토

Lee Ju-heon, who joined the team in 2022, was called up for the first time since his debut in the first division entry on the 25th. As soon as he registered, he played as a substitute in the ninth inning against Hanwha in Jamsil on the 25th, and played only one inning of defense while wearing a catcher mask. He started as a catcher at the game against Kiwoom in Jamsil on the 26th and replaced at the game against Samsung in Daegu on the 28th, the final game of the season. However, manager Yeom Kyung-yeop said early on that he will include Lee Ju-heon as a backup catcher in the postseason entry. 

Lee Joo-heon played 3 hits (two doubles) in 4 at-bats against Kiwoom on the 26th. In the second inning, he entered his first at-bat with two outs and a third base, and hit a double on the left-handed side to score a first RBI. In the fifth inning, when the score is tied at 1-1, he hit a hit to the right, leading to chances on the first and third bases, providing a foothold for scoring. In the seventh inning, he hit a double on the left-handed side with one out and a third base to add an RBI. 

In the match against Samsung on Saturday, Park Dong-won, the main catcher, was taken out at the bottom of the fourth inning and played as a substitute. He had his first chance to hit with the bases loaded with one outs in the fifth inning, and posted an RBI by hitting an infield single to the shortstop. Due to the shortstop's mistake when throwing the ball to the second base, LG went 8-4. He struck out in the seventh inning and was replaced by pinch hitter Huh Do-hwan in the ninth inning.

As soon as Lee Joo-heon entered the first team at the end of the season, he played in three games and recorded four hits in six at-bats, two doubles and three RBIs. 

Lee Joo-heon was nominated by LG as the 27th ranking in the second and third round of the 2022 Rookie Draft. In his first year in the Futures League, he played 23 games and recorded a batting average of 7.3 (three hits in 41 at-bats) with one homer. After completing the 2022 season, he joined the military in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, and returned to the team after being discharged from the military in April. He played in 39 games in the second division this year, recording a batting average of 284 (23 hits in 81 at-bats), six homers, 21 RBIs, 19 runs and a slugging percentage of .556 and an OPS of .983. 

Lee has been praised for his good defense since high school. He also has good pitching capabilities at second base. His batting has improved beyond recognition since he was discharged from the military. 

Lee Ju-heon said, "My batting performance was so bad before I joined the military. I thought it would not be easy to come back (after being discharged) as I was in the military, so I tried not to let go of it by swinging and hitting my bat as much as I could when I was away from the military." He served on active duty, but he played tee batting during breaks with the permission of military officials and practiced hard in individual training.

His performance in the second division was good. The coaching staff in the second division recommended Yeom to watch Lee play. "There was a recommendation at a meeting between battery coaches and catchers that Lee would be the best backup catcher next year," Yeom said. 

He made only one start, and played 14 innings as a catcher in three games. "Lee Joo-heon will definitely join the postseason entry," Yeom said before the final game of the season against Samsung. He added up to three catchers, and was given a spot.