What to do now? The news of 'the grandson of the wind', Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants), suffering from a severe hitting slump has spread to the Japanese archipelago.
On the 23rd, the Japanese media outlet 'Higashi Sports Web' reported that 'Korea's Ichiro has fallen into a slump', covering Lee Jung-hoo's struggles in an article.
Higashi Sports Web noted, 'The grandson of the wind, Lee Jung-hoo, who was highlighted as Korea's Ichiro, showed good form with a batting average of .324 in April, but has been on a downward trend since May, currently dropping to a batting average of .252. He has gone hitless in his last four games, and in June, his monthly batting average plummeted to the .100s. There are also no home runs.'
The harsh criticism aimed at Lee Jung-hoo did not end there. The media commented, 'Lee Jung-hoo has been demoted in the batting order, and the atmosphere surrounding his appearance in the All-Star Game is fading.' They added, 'Lee Jung-hoo has shouldered the team's expectations, but with Rafael Devers joining through a trade recently, he seems to have been liberated from pressure. There is interest in whether he can regain his previous form.'
According to the media's explanation, Lee Jung-hoo's season batting average has dropped from .255 to .252 after being hitless in his last four games. Amid a severe slump of going 0-for-14 in those four games, his monthly batting average for June also fell from .172 to .161. His last hit was on the 18th against the Cleveland Guardians, and his last multi-hit game was on the 5th against the San Diego Padres. Following a triple against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the 16th, he has not had an extra-base hit in five consecutive games.
Lee Jung-hoo seemed to meet the San Francisco Giants' trust when he swung a scorching monthly batting average of .324 in April, with the team investing a hefty $113 million. Taking charge of the team's heart of the lineup, he showcased his unique baseball sense and precise contact skills, receiving praise from several local media outlets as 'a player expected to appear in the All-Star Game in his second year.' However, due to an unexplained slump that began in May, he failed to enter the top 20 in the National League All-Star voting for outfielders.
Starting from the 25th, San Francisco will play a three-game series at home against the Miami Marlins. It remains to be seen whether the day off on the 24th served as a refreshing time for Lee Jung-hoo.
Korea, the United States, and even neighboring Japan are showing great interest in Lee Jung-hoo's batting. It seems necessary to create an opportunity for a rebound as soon as possible.
[OSEN]