The San Francisco Giants signed South Korean baseball sensation Jung Hoo Lee to a six-year, $113 million contract. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan tweeted that the deal has an opt-out after four seasons. This addition will beef up San Francisco’s defense in the outfield.
The San Francisco Giants signed South Korean baseball sensation Jung Hoo Lee to a six-year, $113 million contract. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan tweeted that the deal has an opt-out after four seasons. This addition will beef up San Francisco’s defense in the outfield.
Lee has played for the Nexen/Kiwoom Heroes from 2017 to 2023. Throughout his tenure, he won the 2017 Korea Baseball Organization Rookie Year and the 2022 KBO Most Valuable Player award. He is also a five-time Golden Glove awardee from 2018 to 2022.
In his rookie season, Lee batted .324/.417/.812, compiling 179 hits and two home runs. During his MVP season, he had an impressive .349/.421/.575 with 193 hits, 113 runs batted in, and 193 hits. Lee also had 318 total bases and was intentionally walked 12 times.
After seven seasons with the Heroes, he batted .340 and has had 65 home runs.
He signed after the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to a ten-year, $700 million deal. The Giants reportedly made their pitch to the reigning American League Most Valuable Player. With Ohtani deferring $680 million of his earnings toward the contract’s latter part, it’s uncertain if Lee will follow suit regarding deferred payments.
Lee will join a Giants outfielder unit led by Mike Yastrzemski, Luis Matos, and Michael Confronto. Joc Pederson is their designated hitter, a position Jung Hoo Lee could also perform.
In seven seasons with Nexen/Kiwoom, Lee batted .340/.407/.491 with 1,181s and 45 RBIs.
-Lance Fernandez