If Lee Jung-hoo is sick, SF will be over. How can you compare it to an important block in Jenga? First of all, he is scheduled to return to the CLE match on the 22nd

Mar 20, 2025

Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants hands his helmet to third base coach Matt Williams after his fourth attack against the San Diego Padres on the 5th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News

MRI examination revealed that there was no problem with Lee Jung-hoo's back. AP Yonhap News

San Francisco Giants Lee Jung-hoo is scheduled to return to the exhibition game soon, drawing attention with an article highlighting Lee Jung-hoo's health issues.

The Athletic said on the 20th (Korea time) 'The MRI results after Lee Jung-hoo are encouraging, but emphasize that the Giants' postseason hopes are at stake. If Lee Jung-hoo is not healthy, the Giants' chances of the postseason are greatly reduced.

Reporter Grant Briceby, who wrote the article, 'MRI put Giants fans in a small panic that could develop into a big scare, but it turned out well. At the moment, no one can touch the 26-man roster. Lee Jung-hoo, whose MRI results are positive, will not be excluded from the opening roster.

However, he pointed out that Lee Jung-hoo's back injury could control San Francisco's power in the future.

After Lee Jung-hoo, he is expected to return to the exhibition game on the weekend. AP Yonhap News

Reporter Briceby says, "'Lee Jung-hoo's back problem highlights something under the surface of the Giants in 2025. (Overstated) There are about six players on this team who are told that if Lee is not good, the Giants will be in trouble. In the Major League, 27 to 28 teams feel this way about some players. However, the Giants' postseason hopes should be thought of as a collapsing Jenga tower. If Lee Jeong-hoo's back had been shown to be a much more serious injury, he would have become a shaky block to pull out of the very bottom of the Jenga tower.

In other words, since Lee Jung-hoo plays an important role (No. 3 center fielder) as the team's flagship player in offense and defense, it will inevitably be a big loss to his power if he leaves due to injury.

Of course, San Francisco does not lack a backup outfielder to support Lee Jung-hoo. Grant McCray, who is showing growth over offense and defense in the exhibition game, Wade McCler, who has excellent guessing ability, and Luis Matos are considered alternatives to Lee Jung-hoo.

San Francisco Giants Lee Jung-hoo. AP Yonhap News

Reporter Briceby said 'That's not to say the Giants don't have an extra outfielder. Nor is he unprepared for Lee Jung-hoo's serious injury. The club does not have to bring in absurd players from the minor leagues and do what they are destined to fail. But if the Giants are paving the way for the postseason, it is based on the condition that the highly anticipated players meet their expectations, acknowledging that Lee Jung-hoo holds the key key to advancing to the postseason.

Then 'If Lee Jung-hoo is sick, the Giants' chances of the postseason will decrease. In particular, it should be considered that it belongs to the most competitive division in the Major League. In the end, it can be said that Lee Jung-hoo emphasized the need to play the full season in good health.

Lee Jung-hoo is taking a rest due to back pain after the game against the Texas Rangers on the 14th. Fortunately, MRI examination revealed no structural abnormalities. Coach Bob Melvin expects Lee Jung-hoo to be able to play against the Cleveland Guardians on the 22nd. If the pain continues, it will not be a problem if it plays two consecutive games against the Detroit Tigers at Oracle Park on the 25th and 26th, the last exhibition game.

Lee Jung-hoo hit .300 (9 hits in 30 at-bats) with two home runs, five RBIs, nine runs, four walks, seven strikeouts and an OPS of 0.967 in 12 spring training games.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.