Along with Kelly deGrombuehler, Lee Jung-hoo is also an important factor in entering fall baseball, and will improve this year. He will return to Triple-A on the 24th
Mar 23, 2025
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MLB.com highlighted Lee Jung-hoo on the 23rd (Korea time) by referring to San Francisco for the fourth time in an article titled 「10 teams X Factor" that failed to advance to the playoffs last year.
Reporter Thomas Harrigan, who wrote the article, said 'The Giants lineup strengthened last winter by recruiting FA Willy Adames, but he can't lead the San Francisco offense to advance to the playoffs alone. Especially considering the uncertainty of the rest of the starters except for ace Logan Webb, the Giants will also rely on Lee Jung-hoo. Joining the club on a FA contract after the 2023 season, he said the Giants line-up is expected to give it a much-needed boost.
San Francisco recruited Adames, who was considered the biggest FA infielder last winter, for seven years and $182 million to strengthen both offense and defense. Adames is playing an exhibition game as the second batter. San Francisco is testing the top batting line in the order of leadoff Lamont Wade Jr., No. 2 Amames, No. 3 Lee Jung-hoo and No. 4 Matt Chapman. In other words, Adames alone cannot strengthen his offense. Among the rest of the players, Lee Jung-hoo's role, which has not yet been verified in the big league, is the most important.
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Lee Jung-hoo played as a leadoff center fielder in the Cincinnati Reds match at Oracle Park on May 13 last year, and jumped to catch Jaymer Candelario's deep right-center hit during defense in the top of the first inning and hit the fence and strengthened his left shoulder greatly. Lee Jung-hoo, who had surgery three weeks later due to a ruptured wasp, unfortunately had to give up the season.
Although he did not show a very satisfactory hit in the previous 37 games, expectations were growing as he steadily adapted.
In this exhibition game, Lee Jung-hoo is showing a sharper and more powerful hit, but he recently suffered back pain and decided for 10 days until this day. However, the MRI examination showed no special abnormalities, so he will play his return match against the Triple-A Rivercats in Sacramento on the 24th.
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Lee Jung-hoo responded, `I will play when I am ready for the opening game, but it is only one out of 162 games. If I need more recovery, I'll have time."
Meanwhile, reporters Harry Gunn cited Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bobby??, Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw, Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly, Seattle Mariners shortstop JP Crawford, Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, Cincinnati starting pitcher Nick Rodolo, Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Walker Buehler and Minnesota Twins outfielder Matt Wallner as X-factors for the other nine teams.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
