It's Lee Junghoo's syndrome! Media suspicions → Expectations change quickly. Changing the mode of praise

Mar 12, 2025

San Francisco Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee arrives for a spring training baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

San Francisco Giants' Jung Hoo Lee, left, of South Korea, pauses after striking out as San Diego Padres catcher Martin Maldonado holds the ball during the first inning of a spring training baseball game, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo quelled concerns with his skills.

The U.S. media's attention was cold around Lee Jung-hoo, who is returning from injury. Lee Jung-hoo changed the question mark to an exclamation mark by swinging a fire bat in the exhibition game.

Lee Jung-hoo scored one hit and one point in three at-bats against the Oakland Athletics in the 2025 Major League Baseball exhibition game held in Scottsdale, Arizona on the 12th (Korea time).

Lee Jung-hoo showed off his 'power' by hitting a double in his first at-bat. With two strikes and two balls, left-hander Jeffrey Springs' fastball to the body exceeded the center fielder's height.

Lee Jung-hoo is showing off his impressive batting performance in the exhibition game.

Lee Jung-hoo went 9 for 27 in 11 games, two homers and two doubles. He hit a batting average of 0.333 / on-base percentage of 0.438 / slugging percentage of 0.630. The on-base plus slugging ratio (OPS) is 1.068.

The OPS is the highest among San Francisco hitters who have played more than 10 games.

The U.S. media outlet 「Sports Illustrated」 admired that the San Francisco Giants are considered the most versatile team in the spring camp, with Lee Jung-hoo at the center.

Even just before the spring camp, Lee Jung-hoo's eyes were stinging.

Lee Jung-hoo was injured early last season, so he couldn't even show anything properly. Lee Jung-hoo recorded 38 hits in 145 at-bats for 158 at-bats in 37 games and a batting average of 0.262 / on-base percentage of 0.310 / slugging percentage of 0.331.

San Francisco Giants' Jung Hoo Lee rounds third base to score on a two-run double by Luis Matos against the Seattle Mariners during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

San Francisco Giants' Jung Hoo Lee, left, of South Korea, hands over his batting helmet to Giants third base coach Matt Williams (9) after the final out for the Giants during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the San Diego Padres Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

The Athletic, a U.S. sports media outlet, said 'How valuable is it if extreme contact hitters in baseball today can't compensate for their long-shot power? Can he turn into a productive hitter? More importantly, will he be able to stay in the stadium?' made a cold diagnosis of reality.

MLB.com added 'Lee Jung-hoo was San Francisco's biggest FA recruit last offseason. However, he injured his shoulder in May last year and played only 37 games. In order for San Francisco to remain competitive in 2025, Lee Jung-hoo must rebound, he analyzed.

It's still an exhibition game, but Lee Jung-hoo definitely came back.

SI is 'Lee Jung-hoo got off to a very promising start. Lee Jung-hoo's success is one of San Francisco's most important developments this offseason. His batting last year did not meet expectations'I expected this season to be different.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.