San Francisco: Entering his second year as an outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, Lee Jung-hoo expressed his desire to stay healthy throughout the 2025 season. Lee embarked on his journey to the United States on Monday to gear up for his sophomore season in Major League Baseball. His rookie year in 2024 was curtailed to just 37 games due to a shoulder injury sustained while attempting a leaping catch at Oracle Park on May 12.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee, who secured a six-year, US$113 million deal with the Giants in December 2023, concluded his debut MLB season with a batting line of .262/.310/.331, alongside two home runs, eight RBIs, and two steals. The 2022 regular-season MVP of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) with the Kiwoom Heroes, Lee boasts a lifetime batting average of .340 in South Korea, the highest in KBO history for players with a minimum of 3,000 plate appearances.
The season-ending injury prevented Lee from fully showcasing his bat-to-ball skills in 2024. Now back to full health, Lee is eager to prove his worth in the major leagues. "First and foremost, my goal is to play the full season without getting hurt," Lee stated at Incheon International Airport. "And hopefully, I can help the team get to the postseason, too."
The Giants supported Lee's rehabilitation by dispatching a team trainer to South Korea to assist with his recovery schedule. Having dedicated substantial time to gym workouts, Lee is enthusiastic about returning to baseball action. "I am so grateful for the way the team has taken care of me," he expressed. "I want to go back out there and help the team the best I can. I can tell you I am 100 percent healthy now."
Overcoming the mental challenges of prolonged inactivity due to his injury, Lee believes he has grown from the experience. "I think I've been able to mature precisely because I've gone through such challenging times," he remarked. "I think I am in a really good place now. I feel a bit more composed than before last season."
Lee is also mindful of maintaining composure, acknowledging that he sometimes overexerted himself last season. He is not burdened by the pressure of his significant contract after missing much of last year. "I think professional ball players have to prove their worth every season. It's the same in South Korea," Lee noted. "And I am not feeling added pressure because of that. I just want to play in as many games as possible and help the team because I didn't play much last year."
Although Lee had limited opportunities last year, he identified areas for improvement, particularly in driving the ball. "I am in the process of addressing that problem, and if it all goes well, I should be able to start driving the ball better," he said. "Even though I only played a little bit last year, I still think I showed something noteworthy. For now, I am going to stick to what I've been doing all along."
Lee also anticipates facing his former Heroes teammate and friend Kim Hye-seong, now with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The two were drafted by the Heroes in 2016 and spent seven seasons together. Lee had a more distinguished KBO career, winning Rookie of the Year in 2017.
Despite their friendship, Lee acknowledges the rivalry between their teams. "Fans will boo players on the other team during introduction," Lee explained. "In the KBO, we usually have a lot of fans for the visiting team and the mood is fairly neutral. In the majors, it's a lot more partisan, and I think it's going to be fun for Hye-seong."
Last year, Lee faced another former teammate, Kim Ha-seong, who was with the San Diego Padres. Although the Giants were initially linked to Kim, they eventually signed another shortstop, Willy Adames. Lee hopes Kim secures a favorable contract with a new team. "I just hope he signs a good contract and plays well for his new team, wherever he may go," Lee added. "I hope to hear some good news from his end soon."