Back to full health, Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo hoping for injury-free 2nd season

Back To Full Health, Giants Outfielder Lee Jung Hoo Hoping For Injury Free 2nd Season

Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants speaks to reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Jan. 13, 2025, before departing for the U.S. Yonhap

Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants speaks to reporters at Incheon Worldwide Airport, west of Seoul, on Jan. 13, 2025, earlier than departing for the U.S. Yonhap

Getting into his second yr as outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, Lee Jung-hoo mentioned Monday he would love nothing greater than to remain wholesome in 2025.

Lee left for the U.S. on Monday to organize for his second season in Main League Baseball. Lee was restricted to only 37 video games as a rookie in 2024, as a consequence of a shoulder harm he suffered whereas making an attempt to make a leaping catch on the outfield wall at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Could 12.

Lee, who signed a six-year, $113 million contract with the Giants in December 2023, completed his rookie marketing campaign with a .262/.310/.331 batting line, two residence runs, eight RBIs and two steals.

Lee, the 2022 regular-season MVP within the Korea Baseball Group (KBO) for the Kiwoom Heroes, batted .340 in seven seasons in Korea, the very best lifetime batting common in KBO historical past amongst batters with at the very least 3,000 plate appearances.

Due to his season-ending harm, Lee did not have sufficient of a chance to reveal his bat-to-ball expertise in 2024. Now that he is again to full well being, Lee mentioned he needs to show he belongs within the majors.

„At the beginning, my objective is to play the complete season with out getting harm,“ Lee instructed reporters at Incheon Worldwide Airport, west of Seoul. „And hopefully, I can assist the crew get to the postseason, too.“

Lee mentioned the Giants despatched a crew coach to Korea to work with him and assist him observe the rehab schedule. Having executed loads of work within the health club, Lee mentioned he’s itching to get into some baseball motion on the sector.

„I’m so grateful for the best way the crew has taken care of me,“ Lee mentioned. „I need to return on the market and assist the crew the very best I can. I can let you know I’m one hundred pc wholesome now.“

Lee, who missed a giant chunk of the 2023 KBO season with a foot harm, mentioned he additionally needed to overcome the psychological block of spending a lot time on the sidelines.

„I believe I have been capable of mature exactly as a result of I’ve gone by means of such difficult instances,“ he mentioned. „I believe I’m in a extremely good place now. I really feel a bit extra composed than earlier than final season.“

And sustaining that composure will likely be key, mentioned Lee, who admitted he tried to do an excessive amount of at instances final season.

Lee mentioned he’s additionally not placing any strain on himself to ship on his sizable contract after lacking a lot time final yr.

„I believe skilled ball gamers need to show their value each season. It is the identical in Korea,“ Lee mentioned. „And I’m not feeling added strain due to that. I simply need to play in as many video games as attainable and assist the crew as a result of I did not play a lot final yr.“

San Francisco Giants' Lee Jung-hoo scores against the San Diego Padres during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, April 5, 2024. AP-Yonhap

San Francisco Giants‘ Lee Jung-hoo scores towards the San Diego Padres in the course of the first inning of a baseball sport in San Francisco, Friday, April 5, 2024. AP-Yonhap

Although the pattern measurement was admittedly small for Lee final yr, he didn’t drive the ball or get the ball within the air as a lot as anticipated. He mentioned he has recognized what triggered such a difficulty.

„I’m within the strategy of addressing that drawback, and if all of it goes properly, I ought to be capable of begin driving the ball higher,“ Lee mentioned. „Though I solely performed a bit of bit final yr, I nonetheless assume I confirmed one thing noteworthy. For now, I’m going to stay to what I have been doing all alongside.“

Lee mentioned he’s additionally wanting ahead to going up towards his former Heroes teammate and good pal Kim Hye-seong, who signed with the Giants‘ bitter Nationwide League West rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, on Jan. 3.

Lee and Kim have been each drafted by the Heroes in 2016 and spent seven seasons collectively. Lee had a much more illustrious profession within the KBO — he received the Rookie of the 12 months in 2017 whereas Kim solely performed 16 video games then.

Lee mentioned he had stayed in contact with Kim all through the negotiating course of and congratulated Kim on becoming a member of the 2024 World Sequence champions.

„We have been enjoying collectively for the reason that days of the youth nationwide crew. I’ve nothing however nice recollections of enjoying with him,“ Lee mentioned. „I’m so completely happy to see us each play within the U.S. on the similar time. It feels surreal.“

When their two groups collide, the 2 Korean gamers must put their friendships apart, given the longstanding animosity between the California golf equipment.

„Followers will boo gamers on the opposite crew throughout introduction,“ Lee mentioned. „Within the KBO, we normally have a number of followers for the visiting crew and the temper is pretty impartial. Within the majors, it is much more partisan, and I believe it may be enjoyable for Hye-seong.“

Final yr, Lee went head-to-head towards one other ex-Heroes teammate and shut pal, then San Diego Padres shortstop Kim Ha-seong.

Kim is a free agent now. Although the Giants have been linked to Kim early within the offseason, they ended up signing one other shortstop, Willy Adames, a transfer that appeared to have dominated out the opportunity of a Lee-Kim reunion by the bay.

„I simply hope he indicators contract and performs properly for his new crew, wherever he could go,“ Lee mentioned. „I hope to listen to some excellent news from his finish quickly.“ (Yonhap)

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