Lee Hyun-seung (baseball)

2.1.1. Childhood and High School

Lee Hyun-seung was born on October 11, 1983, in Incheon, South Korea. As a junior at Dongsan High School in Incheon, he was selected by the Hyundai Unicorns with the 26th pick in the 2nd round (34th overall) of the 2002 KBO Draft. Despite being drafted, he chose to enter Inha University instead of immediately turning professional.

2.1.2. University and Amateur Baseball

Upon graduation from Dongsan High School, Lee Hyun-seung enrolled in Inha University's Physical Education Department as part of the 2002 batch. As a freshman at Inha University in 2002, he made his first appearance for the South Korea national baseball team at the 2002 Intercontinental Cup. As the youngest player on the roster, he helped his team claim the silver medal, coming on in relief as a left-handed specialist and pitching four scoreless innings in the tournament. In 2004, as a junior, Lee competed for the South Korea national baseball team in the 2nd World University Baseball Championship in Tainan City, Taiwan. There, he led his team to a bronze medal alongside fellow pitchers Oh Seung-Hwan and Jang Won-Sam.

2.1.3. Amateur International Appearances

Lee Hyun-seung's notable international appearances as an amateur include:

Year	Host Country	Tournament	Result
2002	Cuba	Intercontinental Cup
2004	Chinese Taipei	World University Championship
2005	Japan	Asian Championship	4th

2.2.1. Hyundai Unicorns

Lee Hyun-seung was signed by the Hyundai Unicorns in 2006, joining the team after graduating from university, alongside Jang Won-Sam. He had a successful rookie season as a setup man and left-handed specialist, appearing in 70 games. He recorded a 3.79 ERA, 2 wins, and 19 holds, placing him 3rd in the KBO League in holds. However, in the 2007 season, he experienced a "sophomore jinx," with his performance declining significantly. He slipped to a 1-2 record with a 7.15 ERA in 22.2 innings pitched and earned only 5 holds in 45 games, spending most of the season in the Unicorns' reserve team. The Hyundai Unicorns team was dissolved after the 2007 season.

2.2.2. Woori Heroes / Nexen Heroes

Following the dissolution of the Hyundai Unicorns, Lee Hyun-seung's contract was transferred to the newly formed Woori Heroes (later Nexen Heroes). In 2008, he transitioned to a starting pitcher role. In his first year as a full-time starter, he completed the season with a record of 6 wins and 8 losses, a 4.58 ERA, and pitched 120 innings, showcasing his potential in the new role. The 2009 season marked his best professional year. As a full-time starter, he was the sole bright spot in a struggling pitching staff, achieving his first double-digit wins with a 13-10 record and a 4.18 ERA. He ranked 4th in wins (13), 5th in innings pitched (170.0), 10th in strikeouts (120), and 11th in ERA (4.18), all of which were career bests, establishing himself as the team's de facto ace.

However, on December 30, 2009, Lee Hyun-seung was involved in a blockbuster trade as part of the Heroes' postseason fire sales. He was traded to the Doosan Bears in exchange for pitcher Keum Min-Chul and 1.00 B KRW. This trade was initiated by the Doosan Bears, who needed a strong left-handed starter due to weaknesses in their starting rotation.

2.2.3. Military Service

Lee Hyun-seung enlisted for his mandatory military service at the end of 2011 and played for the Sangmu Baseball Team from 2012 to September 2013. During his time with Sangmu, he suffered an elbow injury five months before his discharge. This injury limited him to only one appearance in a second-team game in 2013. He underwent elbow surgery in April 2013 and spent the remainder of his service rehabilitating.

2.2.4. Doosan Bears

• Initial Stint (2010-2011):**

After his trade to the Doosan Bears, Lee Hyun-seung's performance initially fell short of expectations, contrasting with Keum Min-Chul who found success as a starter with the Nexen Heroes. In 2010, he began the season as a starter but was demoted to the bullpen on June 1 due to finger injuries and ongoing command issues. He finished the season with a 4.75 ERA in 77.2 innings pitched and a 3-6 record. Despite his regular season struggles, he played a crucial role in the Bears' bullpen during the postseason, replacing the struggling Jeong Jae-hoon. He recorded a 1-0 record with a 0.96 ERA in 7 games, compiling 11 strikeouts in 9.1 innings pitched. In 2011, he spent the entire season in relief, compiling a 3-5 record with four saves, six holds, and a 4.82 ERA in 74.2 innings across 50 appearances.

• Return from Military Service (2014-2022):**

Upon his discharge from military service in September 2013, Lee Hyun-seung continued his rehabilitation from elbow surgery. He made his return to the Doosan Bears in 2014, appearing in 65 games and recording a 5.07 ERA, 3 wins, 3 losses, and 15 holds.

In mid-2015, he transitioned to the team's closer role. While manager Kim Tae-hyung initially planned to use him as a starter, the struggles of Yoon Myung-joon and Noh Kyung-eun in the closer position led to Lee being temporarily assigned the role. His stable performance as a closer eventually made the position permanent. He recorded 18 saves in 2015. His exceptional performance extended into the postseason, where he was named the MVP of the 2015 KBO League Semi-Playoff with 1 win, 2 saves, and a 0.00 ERA. He continued his stellar play through the Playoff and Korean Series, making 9 relief appearances across all three series. He pitched a total of 13 innings, allowing only 1 unearned run, and recorded 1 win, 1 loss, and 4 saves, with a 0.00 ERA, significantly contributing to the team's first championship in 14 years.

In 2016, he continued as the closer, recording 25 saves. After the season, he became a free agent and re-signed with the Doosan Bears on a three-year contract worth 2.70 B KRW. In 2017, his performance saw a decline, as he recorded a 3.98 ERA, 3 wins, 2 losses, 5 saves, and 9 holds in 57 appearances. In 2018, the closer role was shifted to Ham Deok-joo, and Lee did not record any saves. The 2019 season saw a significant reduction in his appearances, playing in a career-low 9 games with 2 holds and no wins, ending with his personal worst records. In an interview with former teammate Shingo Takatsu, Lee Hyun-seung discussed his impending retirement, stating he anticipated retiring within "two to three years." He also shared the immense pressure associated with being a closer, noting that "even if the team has been winning for over two hours, a closer can turn it into a losing game in just ten minutes."

He experienced a resurgence in 2020, earning his first win in two years and appearing in 62 games. In 2021, he had a strong season with a 1.93 ERA, 5 wins, 1 loss, and 7 holds in 38 appearances. However, in 2022, he struggled with a 6.23 ERA. He was removed from the active roster at the end of July and did not appear in any further second-team games. Lee Hyun-seung announced his retirement from professional baseball as a free agent at the end of the 2022 season, concluding a 15-season career.

2.3.1. 2006 Intercontinental Cup

After his successful rookie season in 2006, Lee Hyun-seung competed for the South Korea national baseball team in the 2006 Intercontinental Cup. In the round-robin stage, he earned a save by pitching two scoreless innings to secure a 5-1 victory over the Italy. However, in the 5th-8th classification game, he blew a save opportunity, allowing three runs in the 9th inning of an 8-3 loss, again against Italy. South Korea finished 7th in the tournament.

2.3.2. 2015 WBSC Premier12

Lee Hyun-seung was selected for the South Korea national baseball team for the inaugural 2015 WBSC Premier12 tournament in November 2015, marking his first appearance on the senior national team. He contributed to the team's historic championship victory. During the tournament, he recorded a 0-1 win-loss record and 1 save.

2.3.3. 2017 World Baseball Classic

Lee Hyun-seung was also selected to represent South Korea in the 2017 World Baseball Classic in March 2017. In the tournament, where South Korea finished 10th, he recorded a 0-1 win-loss record and 1 save.