SAN FRANCISCO — Jung Hoo Lee went greater than 300 days in between major-league video games after struggling a season-ending shoulder harm in early Could. It could’ve been affordable to imagine there was rust to be knocked off. However thus far, Lee hasn’t missed a beat.
Lee totaled three hits, scored two runs and swiped his third base of the season because the Giants beat the Seattle Mariners, 4-1, on Matt Chapman’s bobblehead evening, extending their successful streak to 6 video games and enhancing to 7-1 for the primary time since 2003. Lee, at the moment within the midst of a six-game hitting streak and batting .321, continued showcasing his defensive worth as nicely, monitoring down a deep drive to middle subject close to the warning monitor. The season stays in its infancy, however the pleasure surrounding Lee within the Giants’ clubhouse is palpable.
“I never had a doubt, personally,” stated Chapman, who totaled two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. “I know how hard it can be after missing a whole year. It is impressive that he’s so consistent right away. When you look at his swing and the way he works in the cage, his swing can handle big-league pitching.”
Lee, who’s within the second yr of a six-year, $113 million deal, doesn’t have the luxurious of historical past towards opposing pitchers. Together with right now, Lee has confronted 105 totally different pitchers since becoming a member of the Giants. Chapman, in contrast, has confronted 965 totally different pitchers in his major-league profession. Moreover, Lee hasn’t confronted a single MLB pitcher at the least 5 instances. Regardless of the shortage of an intensive rolodex, Lee has flashed glimpses of the participant who gained MVP within the KBO.
“I think it just goes to show you how well he’s able to prepare and how good of a player he is,” Chapman stated. His bat-to-ball expertise are actually good. I believe {that a} man like him that may put the bat on the ball is ready to make changes actually shortly.”
True to Chapman’s evaluation, Lee’s bat-to-ball expertise are already elite. Lee had a profession contact charge of 90.0% coming into play, sharing firm with the likes of Luis Arraez (93.1%) and Steven Kwan (91.5%). And whereas Lee makes contact at a barely decrease charge in comparison with Arraez and Kwan, he hits the ball practically three miles per hour tougher on common.
“On nights like today, it feels like he never missed a beat,” stated supervisor Bob Melvin. “Every game, he seems like his timing is that much better. He’s pulling balls. He’s hitting balls up the middle. He’s hitting them into the left-center field gap. Always balanced. There’s a reason we got him. There’s a reason he’s hitting in the three-hole.”
Added Robbie Ray, who pitched six innings of one-run ball: “We’re super glad to have him out there. He runs everything down. He plays hard, and that’s all he knows how to do. He’s a really special talent to have out there, and we’re very excited for that.”
Lee’s bat-to-ball expertise have been already established, however the 26-year-old has added a brand new wrinkle to his sport by being aggressive on the bases. Final season, Lee tried 5 steals in 37 video games and was profitable simply twice. With the primary residence stand not but full, Lee is already an ideal three-for-three on steals.
San Francisco has already amassed 11 steals due partially to Lee, one among seven groups to already crack double figures. During the last two mixed seasons, in contrast, the Giants have ranked useless final in steals and makes an attempt. Ought to Lee proceed this tempo, he might very nicely develop into the primary Large to steal at the least 30 bases in a single season since Dave Roberts in 2007.
“It’s something that we’ve tried to press a little bit,” Melvin stated. “Guys worked on it all spring, getting good jumps and working on backfields with timing and stuff like that. It’s been a key element for us here early in the season.”
Price noting
Supervisor Bob Melvin stated the Giants will begin treating Birdsong, who tossed two scoreless innings, like a reliever in the interim. The workforce hoped for Birdsong to piggyback after a starter throughout their current sequence in Houston, however the alternative by no means materialized. “I think we’re at the point now where to get him consistent work and keep him sharp, we’re just going to have to treat him as a reliever.”
Initially Revealed: April 5, 2025 at 8:32 PM PDT
