San Francisco Giants Lee Jung-hoo (27) continued his strong start to the season.

Lee Jung-hoo started in center field batting third in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, on the 22nd (Korea time), where he recorded 1 hit in 4 at-bats and 1 run batted in.

After going hitless in his first three at-bats, Lee Jung-hoo hit a 1-RBI triple to center-right off left-handed reliever Jared Kelnick's 2nd pitch, a 93.1 mph sinker, in the bottom of the 7th inning with 2 outs and a runner on first, when San Francisco was leading 3-2. The well-hit ball had an exit velocity of 102.2 mph (164.5 km) and traveled 333 feet (101 m). Thanks to Lee Jung-hoo's crucial 1-RBI triple, San Francisco extended their lead and won 5-2.

Having played 884 games in the KBO League with a batting average of .304 (3,476 at-bats, 1,181 hits), 65 home runs, 515 runs batted in, 581 runs scored, 69 stolen bases, and an OPS of .898, Lee Jung-hoo established himself as the best hitter in Korea. Last season, he signed a 6-year, $113 million contract (approximately 160.6 billion won) with San Francisco, successfully making the jump to Major League Baseball.

Lee Jung-hoo, who debuted in Major League Baseball with great expectations, suffered a shoulder injury during defense that required surgery, and ended up with a batting average of .262 (145 at-bats, 38 hits), 2 home runs, 8 runs batted in, 15 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases in 37 games. However, putting the disappointments of his debut season behind him, he has emerged as one of the hottest hitters in Major League Baseball, recording a batting average of .329 (85 at-bats, 28 hits), 3 home runs, 15 runs batted in, 19 runs scored, 3 stolen bases, and an OPS of .983 in 22 games. In this game, he broke free from a slump of 8 at-bats without a hit with an important triple.

The increasingly positive performance this season is attributed to Lee Jung-hoo, a left-handed hitter, performing even better against left-handed pitchers. Last season, he had a batting average of .227 (44 at-bats, 10 hits), 1 home run, and 3 runs batted in against left-handed pitchers in 26 games. However, this season, he has a batting average of .448 (29 at-bats, 13 hits), 2 home runs, and 8 runs batted in over 14 games, which is even better than his performance against right-handed pitchers.

Compared to other Major League Baseball hitters, Lee Jung-hoo's ability to respond to left-handed pitchers is among the best for left-handed hitters. Among left-handed hitters who have met the minimum plate appearances, he ranks 3rd in batting average against left-handed pitchers (.448), is tied for 1st in hits (13), and ranks 4th in OPS (1.241).

While achieving great results against left-handed pitchers, Lee Jung-hoo is sailing through the season at an excellent pace. Although he briefly slowed down with no hits in 5 at-bats on the 21st, he remains one of the best start hitters in the club's history. Since the San Francisco transfer to the West, only Willie Mays (1964, 1965), Bobby Bonilla (1971), and Barry Bonds (1993, 2004) have recorded a batting average over .300 and more than 15 extra-base hits in the first 22 games of a season.

It remains to be seen whether Lee Jung-hoo, who is continuing an amazing performance this year, can maintain his current pace and create a historic season.

[OSEN]