SACRAMENTO — After struggling a again damage final week in Scottsdale, Jung Hoo Lee returned to the San Francisco Giants’ lineup on Sunday in an exhibition sport towards the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats.
The 26-year-old outfielder was scratched from a spring coaching sport on March 15 and had not performed since. Lee’s damage was characterised as again tightness from sleeping mistaken.
On Sunday, Lee batted third within the lineup and went 1 for two with an RBI double and was walked as soon as in a 4-3 loss to the River Cats at Sutter Well being Park.
He knocked in Heliot Ramos from first base in his first at-bat, swinging on the second pitch he noticed and doubling on a success to proper middle subject.
“Playing in today’s game was really important for playing on Opening Day,” Lee mentioned by an interpreter earlier than Sunday’s sport. “I wasn’t really worried because I knew that I was preferred to play in today’s game.”
In response to Lee, there have been no discussions of being the Giants’ designated hitter to ease him again into the lineup.
Giants supervisor Bob Melvin mentioned that if Lee appears wholesome over a trio of exhibition video games — together with Monday and Tuesday at Oracle Park towards the Detroit Tigers — there’s an excellent probability he’ll begin within the season opener at Cincinnati on Thursday.
“I just want to get him out there and get some at-bats and make sure he’s healthy,” Melvin mentioned. “He was having a good spring up to that point and looked really healthy. … If we can get him three games here in the next three days, I think we’ll be in good shape for him to start the season with us.”
San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) connects for an RBI double within the first inning of their exhibition sport at Sutter Well being Park in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
A season-ending shoulder damage stored Lee to only 37 video games performed final season. Lee informed the Bay Space Information Group on Friday that he’s by no means skilled again cramps fairly like those he had earlier this month.
“Not even (just) for sports players, I feel like normal people when they wake up sometimes, they’re in a bad position for the whole day,” Lee mentioned. “They might wake up with a cramp. I’ve had that before, but it’s never been (as bad) as this. I’ve never had this feeling.”
There’ll nonetheless be an adjustment interval for Lee within the coming days. Within the fourth inning, he dropped a run-saving catch when he tried to slip and decide the ball from a low angle.
When requested if he must hit any private markers within the subsequent three video games, Lee mentioned, “I just want to be as fit as possible and be 100% conditioning-wise. That’s my personal goal going into today’s game.”
Lee signed a six-year, $113 million deal final offseason, becoming a member of the Giants from Korea.
San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) sits within the dugout earlier than their exhibition sport at Sutter Well being Park in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Competitors for last rotation spot heats up
The battle for the ultimate spot within the pitching rotation has gotten a lot nearer after Sunday night time. Whereas Hayden Birdsong got here in as the favourite to change into the Giants’ fifth beginning pitcher, Landen Roupp definitely made issues extra fascinating simply 4 days out from San Francisco’s season opener.
Roupp struck out eight, walked three and gave up only one earned run and a success in 5 innings. Birdsong gave up three hits and three runs, recording only one out after relieving Roupp to start out the sixth inning.
“I would just sum up (the spring) by being confident,” Roupp mentioned. “I’m confident in my ability to perform and just keep the ball rolling. Whatever happens, happens and I’m looking forward to the outcome.”
The 26-year-old right-hander alum gave up 5 runs in his final spring coaching begin, however hadn’t allowed an earned run as much as that time. With Kyle Harrison being optioned to Sacramento to start out the yr, the race for the fifth spot within the rotation shall be between Roupp and Birdsong.
“It’s tough,” Melvin mentioned. “We got a lot of good young pitching here, so it’s a little bit difficult. We haven’t completely made up our mind on what the roster is going to look like, but I think one of the strengths of the organization right now is the young pitching depth we do have.”
Earlier than Sunday’s sport, the Giants additionally optioned RHP Sean Hjelle, probably opening a spot within the crew’s bullpen. Roupp mentioned whereas his desire is to be a starter, he wouldn’t thoughts sliding again right into a reliever position.
“I want to be a starter, but I’m just going to go out there and compete either way,” Roupp mentioned.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp (65) pitches towards the Sacramento River Cats within the third inning of their exhibition sport at Sutter Well being Park in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Jerar Encarnacion replace
Outfielder Jerar Encarnacion underwent surgical procedure in Los Angeles to restore his fractured left hand, San Francisco introduced on Sunday. A timetable for his return shall be decided following tomorrow’s surgical procedure.
Encarnacion hit .302 and had two dwelling runs in 53 spring coaching at-bats.
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Do the A’s play right here?
The Athletics will make their debut in Sacramento in eight days, however one wouldn’t know when strolling across the concourse at Sutter Well being Park.
There have been no banners, posters or bulletins selling the crew previously from Oakland wherever on the sphere or all through the concourse.
The one A’s brand discovered wherever within the stadium was on a twin schedule poster within the restrooms with the dates of each River Cats and A’s dwelling video games all through the season.
The Sacramento River Cats play the San Francisco Giants within the sixth inning of their exhibition sport at Sutter Well being Park in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
San Francisco Giants supervisor Bob Melvin (6) stands within the dugout whereas taking part in the Sacramento River Cats within the third inning of their exhibition sport at Sutter Well being Park in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Baseball followers watch because the San Francisco Giants play the Sacramento River Cats throughout their exhibition sport at Sutter Well being Park in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
The San Francisco Giants put together to take the sphere to play the Sacramento River Cats throughout their exhibition sport at Sutter Well being Park in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
San Francisco Giants supervisor Bob Melvin (6) chats with San Francisco Giants first base coach Mark Hallberg (91) within the dugout earlier than their exhibition sport at Sutter Well being Park in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Followers wait in line to buy meals in the course of the Sacramento River Cats exhibition sport at Sutter Well being Park in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Sacramento River Cats mascot Dinger hi-fives baseball followers throughout their exhibition sport towards the San Francisco Giants at Sutter Well being Park in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
San Francisco Giants’ President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey peeks out the centerfield wall whereas attending their exhibition sport at Sutter Well being Park in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Baseball followers sit in the best subject grass space whereas watching the San Francisco Giants play the Sacramento River Cats throughout their exhibition sport at Sutter Well being Park in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
