Praise from local media for 'The Son of the Wind' Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants outfielder) continues.

The American sports media Sports Illustrated, on the 7th (Korean time), published an article titled 'The All-Purpose Impact Key of the San Francisco Giants Outfielder,' praising Lee Jung-hoo's balanced skills in offense, defense, and base running.

After graduating from Whimoon High School, Lee Jung-hoo was selected first overall in 2017 and wore the Nexen Heroes uniform. In 884 career games in the KBO League, he recorded a batting average of .304 (1,181 hits in 3,476 at-bats), 65 home runs, 515 RBIs, and 69 stolen bases.

In 2022, he achieved a career-high season with a batting average of .349 (193 hits in 553 at-bats), 23 home runs, 113 RBIs, 85 runs scored, and 5 stolen bases, earning his first MVP award.

Lee Jung-hoo signed a contract with San Francisco for six years and $130 million in December 2023. He is expected to be a key player in bringing a new wind to San Francisco.

"Lee Jung-hoo is leading the team's momentum, showcasing his versatility on the field," the media noted. "San Francisco attracted significant attention by signing Korean outfielder Lee Jung-hoo in December 2023. He was a fantastic player in the KBO League, winning the MVP award in 2022 and securing the Golden Glove for five consecutive years since 2018."

With abilities in offense, defense, and base running, Lee Jung-hoo is expected to greatly aid San Francisco's lineup. However, he suffered a left shoulder injury during a home game against the Cincinnati Reds on May 13, ending his season. In his debut year, he recorded a batting average of .262 (38 hits in 145 at-bats), 2 home runs, 8 RBIs, 15 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases with an OPS of .641.

The media stated, "Lee Jung-hoo needed time to recover after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder, which was a significant blow for the team. This raised many questions about whether he could exert the expected influence on the team." It continued, "Lee Jung-hoo quickly proved that the concerns surrounding him were unfounded."

As of the 7th, Lee Jung-hoo has recorded 11 hits in 32 at-bats, 3 RBIs, 10 runs scored, 3 stolen bases, and an OPS of .931. The media noted, "Lee Jung-hoo is exerting the expected influence in all institutional sectors of the team."

Despite suffering a major injury that required shoulder surgery last year, his hustle play remains unchanged. The media evaluated, "He suffered a shoulder injury during defense last year but continues to show aggressive play." Lee Jung-hoo also expressed confidence, saying, "There is no fear of injury."

Sports Illustrated reported, "Lee Jung-hoo, who enjoyed explosive popularity in Korea, will also be greatly loved by San Francisco fans due to his playing style," adding, "With his rising popularity, there are already fans in the outfield honoring him."

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