Aside from the Yomiuri Giants' hunt for the Central League pennant, South Korean slugger Lee Seung Yeop is desperate to regain the reliability and pride he once had.

Much was expected of Lee entering the 2008 pennant race, but the 32-year-old fell into a serious slump and was sent down to the farm team in mid-April.

Lee was called up to the top team in late July, but had to leave the Giants to play in the Beijing Olympics as his nation's cleanup hitter throughout August.