Center fielder Jung Hoo Lee has reached a significant agreement with the San Francisco Giants, inking a six-year, $113 million contract, according to sources from ESPN. This deal stands as the most substantial investment for an Asian-born hitter entering Major League Baseball, marking a pivotal signing for the Giants, who have faced challenges in recent years with free-agent pursuits.
Hailing from the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), Lee is a renowned figure, often considered royalty in the league. His father, Jong Beom Lee, was esteemed as the best all-around player in the KBO during the 1990s. Recognized as the “Grandson of the Wind” (his father being called the “Son of the Wind”), Lee’s guarantee surpasses the $90 million contract awarded to Masataka Yoshida by the Boston Red Sox last year and includes an opt-out after the fourth season.
The New York Post was the first to report this significant development. While Lee had previously been linked to the San Diego Padres, where his close friend Ha-Seong Kim plays infield, the Giants intensified their pursuit after Shohei Ohtani’s recent signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Despite previous challenges in securing major free agents, the Giants made a proactive move for Lee, who, though not in the same league as Ohtani, Judge, or Correa, brings a remarkable record from the KBO.
The left-handed-hitting outfielder boasts a consistent batting average above .300 each season in the KBO, with a lifetime average of .340, reaching a high of .360 in 2021. Unfortunately, Lee’s 2023 season was cut short after 86 games due to a fractured left ankle, but he managed a slash line of .318/.406/.455 with six home runs and 45 RBIs.
Debuting in 2017 at the age of 18 for the Nexen/Kiwoom Heroes, Lee swiftly transitioned from high school to win the league’s rookie of the year award. His standout season came in 2022, securing KBO MVP honors with a remarkable .349/.421/.575 performance, including a career-high 23 home runs in 142 games.
Lee’s elite contact ability, evident in his low strikeout rate of 5.4% over the past two seasons, distinguishes him from KBO and MLB averages. Some evaluators project him as a solid center fielder with his speed, provided he overcomes the ankle injury, while others envision him as a right fielder, emphasizing the importance of his bat.
Despite a lower power output in 2023 and a high ground ball rate, the Giants view Lee as a potential All-Star caliber player at 25 years old, entering his prime. In the best-case scenario, he could emerge as a top-of-the-order hitter, maintaining a close-to-.300 batting average with an above-average OBP.
The hope is to avoid the learning curve experienced by Kim, the last Korean star to transition to MLB, who initially struggled but showed improvement in subsequent seasons with the Padres.
