Although the momentum of 'Son of the Wind' Lee Jung-hoo (27·San Francisco Giants) has diminished, optimism still emerges. It is assessed that one cannot continue to hit well throughout the long season, and that he is currently in an adaptation process.

The U.S. Sports Illustrated (SI) San Francisco page reported on the 23rd (Korean time) that 'Lee Jung-hoo has cooled off rapidly after a hot start,' adding that 'In the last month, Lee Jung-hoo, one of the most important players on the team, is faltering.'

Lee Jung-hoo batted .333 (31 hits in 93 at-bats) with 3 home runs and 15 RBIs, and an on-base percentage of .388, slugging percentage of .581, and OPS of .969 during the first 24 games of the season until the game against the Milwaukee Brewers on the 24th of last month. On the 14th of last month, he drew national attention by hitting consecutive home runs off Carlos Rodón at Yankee Stadium.

However, in the following 25 games, he batted .222 (22 hits in 99 at-bats) with 3 home runs and 16 RBIs, an on-base percentage of .257, slugging percentage of .354, and OPS of .611. His season statistics have now declined to a batting average of .276 (53 hits in 192 at-bats), 6 home runs, 31 RBIs, an on-base percentage of .322, slugging percentage of .464, and OPS of .786. While these are not bad results, there are some disappointing aspects compared to his early momentum.

The media stated that 'Lee Jung-hoo has emerged as the star of the most watched team. He has shown elite defense in the most challenging center field position, and he has become a player loved by fans for his strong impact at the plate.' The report added, 'In the past month, Lee Jung-hoo has continued to show good defensive skills, but he has returned to reality in his hitting performance.'

The media introduced Lee Jung-hoo's recent slash line as .204 for batting average, .232 for on-base percentage, and .388 for slugging percentage, pointing out that 'While it is not entirely catastrophic, there is a significant difference from the performance he showed during the first month of the season.'

It continued, 'The past month has also been a time for Lee Jung-hoo to feel how difficult it is to play every day in Major League Baseball. Last year, his debut season ended with an injury after just 37 games, and he may need time to adapt.'

Finally, the media concluded that 'His overall season performance is still at a decent level, and he needs to maintain good condition and be prepared to showcase his abilities at any time. If this young star maintains a humble attitude and does not beat himself up, the performance will follow.' They optimistically noted that Lee Jung-hoo will bounce back soon after this slump.

Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants, who took a day off on the 23rd, will begin a 9-game road trip starting on the 24th. They are scheduled to face the Washington Nationals, Detroit Tigers, and Miami Marlins in a three-game series. The starting pitcher for the 24th game against Washington is left-hander Mackenzie Gore.

Gore made his Major League Baseball debut with the San Diego Padres in 2022 and has been with Washington since 2023 through a trade. Over four seasons, he has appeared in 85 games (82 starts, 429 innings) and recorded 23 wins and 30 losses with an ERA of 4.13 and 488 strikeouts. Last year, he had a season with double-digit wins for the first time, going 10-12 with an ERA of 3.90 over 32 games (166⅓ innings) and 181 strikeouts. This season, he has pitched in 10 games (56⅓ innings), recording 2 wins and 4 losses with an ERA of 3.67 and 84 strikeouts. He has yet to face Lee Jung-hoo in a matchup.

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