Lee Jeong-hoo is cruising toward his debut season with a batting average above .300 after swinging a bat for 3 hits.
On the 24th (Korea time), Lee Jeong-hoo started as the third center fielder in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, and recorded 3 hits in 4 at-bats with 1 run scored.
In his first at-bat with two outs in the bottom of the first inning against right-handed starter Freddy Peralta, Lee Jeong-hoo hit a 93.9 mph (151.1 km/h) four-seam fastball for a hit. In the fourth inning, he led off with a hit on a 80.3 mph (129.2 km/h) curveball that bounced into the zone after connecting technically, but the ball was hit weakly and caught as a pop-up by the third baseman.
In the sixth inning, with no outs and a runner on first base, Lee Jeong-hoo hit a first-pitch 88.5 mph (142.4 km/h) changeup from Peralta for a clean hit. The ball was struck well with a speed of 102.5 mph (165.0 km/h). After Lee Jeong-hoo consolidated the scoring opportunity with a hit, subsequent batters contributed, and the Giants scored 4 runs in just that inning. Lee Jeong-hoo also scored a run. In his last at-bat in the seventh inning, with one out, he made contact with a 76.2 mph (122.6 km/h) sweeper from right-handed reliever Craig Yoh. The mis-hit rolled weakly beside the pitcher but took a precise path, resulting in an infield hit. Thanks to Lee Jeong-hoo's performance, San Francisco won 4-2.
This season, Lee Jeong-hoo has been showcasing remarkable batting skills. Having played 24 games, he has recorded a .333 batting average (31 hits in 93 at-bats), 3 home runs, 15 RBIs, 21 runs scored, 3 stolen bases, and an OPS of .969, ranking 5th in batting average, 6th in runs scored, 8th in OPS, and 2nd in doubles (10) in the National League.
Major League Baseball's official media, MLB.com, also noted Lee Jeong-hoo's outstanding batting skills. On the 23rd, when selecting 6 candidates who could achieve a .300 batting average this year, Lee Jeong-hoo was among those candidates.
MLB.com stated, “Only 7 players surpassed a .300 batting average last year. There were 14 in 2021, 11 in 2022, and 9 in 2023. Therefore, a .300 batting average is becoming increasingly rare.” It added, “The pitches from pitchers have become harder to hit than ever, and a revolution in analysis has occurred, recognizing that General Directors understand there are other statistical indicators that accurately measure a batter's offensive contributions.”
Lee Jeong-hoo has been named a candidate alongside Aaron Judge, Paul Goldschmidt (both of the Yankees), Jacob Wilson (Athletics), Trevor Story (Boston), and Steven Kwan (Cleveland) for surpassing a .300 batting average. MLB.com remarked, “When the Giants acquired the KBO League MVP last year, it was thought that they had brought in a switch hitter to excel in stolen bases and base running. However, Lee Jeong-hoo failed to steal in 3 out of 5 attempts, and his batting average stood at .262. Additionally, he was out for the season due to a shoulder injury after just 37 games. It was not an ideal performance in Major League Baseball.”
“For this reason, most experts have forgotten Lee Jeong-hoo's name. Therefore, it is very interesting that Lee Jeong-hoo has emerged in one of the most surprising teams this year,” MLB.com remarked, expressing admiration for Lee Jeong-hoo's performance this year. “Up to now, the most interesting aspect of Lee Jeong-hoo's games is that he is not only hitting for a high average but also displaying power. He shows speed, contact, and more power than people expected. It is no surprise that this player won MVP in Korea. Lee Jeong-hoo's hitting feel can continue. He has also hit .360 in the KBO League.”
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