Jung Hoo Lee -- General News
General News sources for Jung Hoo Lee of the San Francisco Giants
Jung Hoo Lee finished the San Francisco Giants' spring training on Saturday with a solo home run off a 93.3 mph fastball to right-center field. In eight spring training games, Lee batted leadoff, went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, finishing with a .455/.500/.727 slash line. Lee had missed part of spring training while playing for Team Korea in the World Baseball Classic, where Korea reached the quarterfinals before losing to the Dominican Republic.
This represents a critical season for Lee, who signed a six-year deal before the 2024 season. In his first two seasons with the Giants across 187 games, he has slashed .265/.324/.391 with 10 home runs and 63 RBI, but has been a defensive liability in center field with minus-20 defensive runs saved. The Giants addressed this concern by signing former Gold Glove winner Harrison Bader in the offseason and moving him to center field as the starter, shifting Lee to right field to keep his bat in the lineup while improving overall outfield defense.
The Giants will play an exhibition game against their Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento on Sunday, followed by two games against Sultanes on Monday and Tuesday. Opening day against the New York Yankees is Wednesday and will be streamed on Netflix. Harrison Bader left Friday's game with hamstring tightness, making his status uncertain heading into the regular season.
Jung Hoo Lee, the San Francisco Giants' Korean outfielder, has accepted a positional shift to right field entering the 2026 season. Free agent Gold Glove winner Harrison Bader will assume Lee's role as starting center fielder. Lee, 27, is entering his third MLB season after a challenging 2025 marked by struggles in both defense and hitting. Lee attributed his difficulties to cultural adjustment factors including time zone differences, language barriers, and the demands of a 162-game schedule, which led to weight loss and diminished performance.
Lee expressed comfort with the move, describing his conversation with Giants executive Buster Posey as smooth. He noted that Bader's addition strengthens the outfield and acknowledged that had he performed better in center field, the organization would have retained him there. Lee previously played 275 games in right field for the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korean Baseball Organization before gaining fame for his defensive style in center field, where he earned five consecutive Gold Gloves.
The positional change presents learning challenges for Lee, particularly regarding Oracle Park's right field wall characteristics. Lee indicated he will contact former Giants player Mike Yastrzemski, known for skillfully navigating that wall, to seek guidance. Lee demonstrated encouraging signs during spring training, hitting a hard single off pitcher Hayden Birdsong, prompting Birdsong's assessment that "Jung Hoo, he can just hit." The outfield adjustment comes as part of the Giants' effort to improve what was a weak performing group in 2025.
Jung Hoo Lee, age 24, has agreed to a six-year contract with the San Francisco Giants after establishing himself as one of Korea's premier hitters. Since his 2017 debut at age 18, Lee has maintained a career .340 batting average with a .407 on-base percentage and .491 slugging percentage, never dropping below .318 in any season. His hallmark skill is exceptional contact ability, particularly against off-speed pitches—a trait compared to Vladimir Guerrero Sr.'s ability to make contact on difficult pitches. His best season came in 2022 with 23 home runs, 10 triples, and a .996 OPS, demonstrating that power can translate to his overall game.
Lee impressed scouts at the 2023 World Baseball Classic despite Korea's third-place finish, posting a .429/.571 line with 5 RBIs. He is considered an above-average defensive center fielder, providing value beyond offensive production. A fractured ankle ended his 2023 KBO season early, but did not deter his move to MLB. Lee's pedigree includes his father, Jong Beom Lee, a legendary KBO shortstop nicknamed "Son of the Wind" who hit .297 with 194 home runs and 200 steals over 16 seasons. The Giants' confidence in Lee's transition was bolstered by the recent success of his former Kiwoom Heroes teammate Ha-Seong Kim in Major League Baseball.