The hitting form of Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants remains subdued. However, he continues to showcase solid defense, laying the foundation for the team's victories.

On the 31st (Korean time), Lee Jung-hoo started as the No. 3 center fielder in a game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, recording 1 hit and 1 run in 5 at-bats. He ended a hitting drought with a hit after three games. However, it is clear that his overall hitting pace has declined.

Nevertheless, Lee Jung-hoo fulfilled his roles in defense and baserunning. He added his fourth stolen base of the season on this day. After reaching base with an infield hit in the 4th inning, he successfully stole second base during Matt Chapman's at-bat with one out and runners on first and second, marking his fourth theft of the season. This was his first stolen base in 55 days since the game against the Seattle Mariners on April 6.

He particularly prevented scoring threats with focused and agile movements in defense. This occurred at the bottom of the 4th inning when the team was ahead 2-0. The San Francisco Giants added a run in the top of the 4th inning with a solo homer by Matt Chapman, but failed to capitalize on a two-out, first and second base situation.

The defense in the bottom of the 4th was critical to the flow of the game. Initially, lead-off batter Eric Waguez hit a ball into right-center. It was quite deep, and Lee had to cover considerable ground to make the play. The ball was hit well enough to challenge for a double.

However, Lee Jung-hoo reacted quickly and chased after the ball. He blocked the ball from rolling to the fence. After catching the ball, he immediately turned around and threw to second base. Although shortstop Willy Adames couldn't catch the one-bounce throw, backup fielders were there, and it was significant that he prevented the runner from reaching second base.

The commentary team from NBC Sports Bay Area, which exclusively broadcasts San Francisco games, praised Lee Jung-hoo's defense. The local commentary team explained, "Lee Jung-hoo chased the ball well and made a great stop. He successfully turned and threw to keep the batter-runner at first base."

Following this, the local commentary team noted, "Lee Jung-hoo's footwork was truly impressive. While outfielders primarily catch fly balls, when ground balls come, they also need to perform like infielders from the outfield." They added, "If you watch closely, Lee caught the ball on the second bounce, spun 360 degrees, and threw it to the infield. Thanks to Lee Jung-hoo's play, he prevented the runner from advancing into scoring position. This kind of play made a difference in the game's flow."

San Francisco continued the fourth inning with one out and a runner on first base, not second base without outs. On the mound, Kyle Harrison struck out Auto Lopez, forced Dane Myers to fly out to center field, and struck out Connor Norby again, wrapping up the fourth inning without any issues. The team also played in their 12th consecutive game scoring less than four runs but managed to secure a 2-0 victory.

As praised by the local commentary team, Lee Jung-hoo's defensive prowess in center field is among the best in Major League Baseball. According to Baseball Savant, Lee has recorded a +2 in Fielding Run Value, indicating he contributes significantly to the team's defense, ranking in the top 21% of the league. He also has a +1 in Outs Above Average (OAA), and his throwing value is +2, placing him in the top 6% for data.

Even during this hitting slump, Lee Jung-hoo is quietly doing his part behind the scenes, contributing to the team with solid defense. He can be considered one of the players who laid the foundation for the victory on this day.

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