Lee Jung-hoo is completely crazy, defense consternation that will never be seen again, and center field is impossible to erase
Aug 18, 2025
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The San Francisco Giants admired Lee Jung-hoo's good defense on their official SNS account. The U.S. media is also appalled. On social media, Lee Jung-hoo catches a ball with both knees and handles it with a fly ball.
Lee Jung-hoo started as the first batter and center fielder in the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California on the 18th (Korea time).
In the top of the fourth inning, Tampa Bay's leadoff hitter Yandi Díaz's pitch rose high between center field and right field. Lee Jung-hoo followed the ball, but the wind was stronger than expected, so Lee Jung-hoo had no choice but to slide. Lee Jung-hoo struggled on his stomach as the ball bounced off his glove and led to a fatal long shot. He tried to catch the ball that bounced off his chest somehow, and he handled the ball that rolled to his knees with a fly ball that was stuck between his knees. Lee Jung-hoo got up with the ball on his knee, took it out and proved it to everyone in the stadium, saying, `I got it.'
The U.S. local broadcasters, who expected to miss the ball, exclaimed repeatedly. "I got you with my knees!It's a 10-year defense after shouting " "It's not just once a day, a week, a month, a season, it's a defense that can come out once every 10 years."
How on earth is the American sports media 'The Athletic'? Lee Jung-hoo snatched this ball with his knee and was surprised.
Susan Slusser of San Francisco's local media "San Francisco Clonicle"Lee Jung-hoo caught the ball with her knee. We need to talk about catching that ball all the way. Wow." he exclaimed.
MLB.com also drew laughter by labeling it 'KNEE' instead of 'LEE'.
In an interview with a local U.S. reporter after the game, Lee Jung-hoo said "The wind blew very hard and the ball extended a lot." So I had no choice but to slide. I caught the ball, but I could feel the ball rolling from the chest to my body. It was definitely a really funny port"He was also amazed.
MLB.com said 'Lee Jung-hoo, who stood up carefully, pulled the ball out of his knees and lifted it, confirming an amazing catch. Right fielder Drew Gilbert smiled admiringly.
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Gilbert, who watched the defense right next to him, noticed Lee Jung-hoo had snatched the ball with his knee, but most people in the stadium did not believe the scene until they saw the replay.
San Francisco coach Bob Melvin said "I thought Lee Jung-hoo was down. I was worried because I thought he hurt his ankle or somewhere. I wasn't sure because he had been down for a while. The replay took a while, but my team guys talked about the catch and noticed that he caught it with his knee. It was really nice. I've never seen a defense like that before."
Diaz, the biggest victim, said "I was sure it was a 200% double. But it was unfortunate that Lee Jung-hoo caught it. I think Lee Jung-hoo is the only player to play that defense. It was a really unusual play."
Just a week ago. Lee Jung-hoo was harshly criticized by The Athletic reporter Andrew Bagley. That we shouldn't make him play center field.
Baggley said on the 11th that "San Francisco's sloppy defense in the outfield is another factor. Lee Jung-hoo is returning all the value he created with his bat to the center field defense. Left fielder Heliot Ramos is statistically the worst major league outfielder. It is ideal to move Lee Jung-hoo to left field and recruit or nurture center field that can push him away."
Lee Jung-hoo erased the harsh criticism by playing defense that will remain in Major League history. San Francisco maintained a tight flow with Tampa Bay thanks to Lee Jung-hoo's good defense, but won 7-1 in the second half of the game by destroying the opponent's mound.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
