I can't guarantee you until we know the results of the MRI Growing anxiety, Lee Jung-hoo's first back injury to SF director who has already prepared an alternative

Mar 18, 2025

Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants will receive an MRI examination on his back and hear the results on the 19th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News

After Lee Jung-woo, he said he had back pain because he couldn't sleep well. AP Yonhap News

San Francisco Giants' Lee Jung-hoo suffered a back injury, making it uncertain to play in the opening game, and manager Bob Melvin's batting plan was also disrupted.

MLB.com reported on the 18th (Korea time) 'Middle-aged Lee Jung-hoo underwent an MRI on his back, which continues to show signs of stiffening this afternoon'The Giants expected Lee to be able to play within a few days, but as the pain was longer than expected, he was sent to Dr. Kenneth Akijuki, an orthopedic surgeon of the team, for a diagnosis'

The results of the examination are not expected until the morning of the 19th. Currently, it is difficult to rule out the possibility of starting the season on the injured list (IL).

Lee Jung-hoo also missed the away exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox on the same day and took a break for four consecutive games after playing against the Texas Rangers on the 14th.

Lee Jung-hoo tried to play against the Seattle Mariners on the 16th after missing the Milwaukee Brewers on the 15th for a break, but was quickly excluded from the lineup due to back pain. Lee Jung-hoo said that he felt pain because he did not sleep well at night.

San Francisco has seven games left, and the exhibition game will end with two consecutive games against the Detroit Tigers at Oracle Park on the 25th and 26th. If Lee Jung-hoo returns before the game against Detroit, he can be listed in the opening game against the Cincinnati Reds on the 28th.

Lee Jung-hoo never suffered a back injury in KBO. AP Yonhap News

"We don't know whether Lee Jung-hoo will play in the opening game until he receives the MRI results," Melvin said. "If he can return before the end of the trial game, he will have time to improve his condition. If we can play here (Arizona) or at home (Oracle Park), we are satisfied. Obviously the condition is going on longer than I thought, but we look forward to hearing the good news today. It's just that the condition is not noticeably improving.'

In other words, it does not mean that the pain worsens or there is no progress at all. It is read as an intention not to highlight the seriousness of the injury, which has not been revealed yet.

However, Melvin has a plan to prepare for Lee Jung-hoo's injury. Grant McCray, a 24-year-old right-lefty outfielder, is an alternative. He is a center fielder with a style similar to Lee Jung-hoo.

McCray has a batting average of 0.297 (11 hits in 37 at-bats), one home run, four RBIs, 10 runs scored, and an OPS of 0.921, in 21 games in this spring training. Since his Major League debut last year, he has a batting average of 0.202 (25 hits in 124 at-bats), five homers, and an OPS of 0.617 in 37 games.

San Francisco Giants Lee Jung-hoo hands his helmet to third base coach Matt Williams. AP Yonhap News

In an interview right after the opening of the spring training, Melvin said, `I didn't expect McCray to make it to the big leagues last year at all. He was really getting better at the time. He hits home runs, defends well, and throws are good. There were a lot of strikeouts, but I'm fixing them in this camp. have power"I gave a positive assessment.

In other words, if Lee Jung-hoo fails to play in the opening game, McCray will be the main center fielder, which is not the best scenario originally planned.

Coach Melvin plans to use Lee Jung-hoo, who underwent shoulder surgery last year and fully performed his rehabilitation, as the third hitter this season. I'm testing Lee Jung-hoo 3 times through an exhibition game, and I was satisfied before my back pain. Lee Jung-hoo played in 12 games in the spring training and was smoothly improving his condition by batting 0.300 (9 hits in 30 at-bats), two homers, five RBIs, nine runs, four walks, seven strikeouts and an OPS of 0.967.

Lamont Wade Jr., who has a good on-base percentage, was selected for the leadoff that Lee Jung-hoo was in charge of. The plan is to maximize scoring power with top hit lines 1 to 4 leading to Wade Jr., Willie Adames, Lee Jung-hoo, and Matt Chapman.

In other words, Lee Jung-hoo is the `key' of the revival of the San Francisco lineup, which had a low offensive power last year. But now I can't be relieved.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.