Giants introduce Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee, sign six-year, $113M contract
The San Francisco Giants made a big splash in the offseason by signing Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee to a six-year, $113 million contract. The 25-year-old, who previously played for the Kiwoom Heroes in the KBO, was introduced to the media at Oracle Park on Friday.
Lee is a former KBO MVP and has won five consecutive Golden Glove Awards. President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi revealed during the press conference that the current plan is for Lee to be the everyday center fielder in 2024 and to start on Opening Day.
While Lee’s elite defensive skills are unquestionable, there are concerns about how his hitting abilities will translate to the major leagues. However, the Giants are confident that Lee’s rare contact ability and impressive strikeout rate will make a smooth transition.
The FanGraphs and Steamer models project Lee to have a strong rookie season in 2024, with an impressive slash line of .291/.353/.430 and a low strikeout rate of 9.3 percent. In his MVP-winning 2022 season, Lee batted .349/.421/.575 with 23 home runs and only 32 strikeouts in 627 plate appearances.
With the addition of Lee in center field, the Giants will move Mike Yastrzemski to right field, with veterans Michael Conforto and Mitch Haniger splitting time in left field and at designated hitter. The team is excited about the addition of Lee and believes he will quickly become a fan favorite with his unique skill set.
The Giants’ offseason moves have brought excitement to fans, and the addition of Lee is expected to bring even more anticipation for the upcoming season.