Jung Hoo Lee is the perfect representative of this new-look San Francisco Giants team. He puts the ball in play and then runs the bases well. There are no surprises, then, that he leads the team in runs and is second in RBI. Add in his steady defense, and he is on track to break seven WAR in his first full season. Safe to say, he’s well-loved among the Giants faithful.
Jung Hoo Lee Represents Everything Good About the Giants
How Did We Get Here?
When he signed a six-year, $113 million contract ahead of last season, many felt the Giants had reached. A team desperate for a star hedged their bets on an injured 25-year-old from South Korea, albeit one who had a career .340 average and multiple gold gloves. From his first interview, though, the city of San Francisco took him in as their own. He very early on showed the league his capabilities. The results may not have been exceptional, but he was hitting the ball hard and proving a hard man to strike out.
Injury unfortunately stopped him in his tracks after crashing into the wall in right-center field. It was a huge blow for the Giants, not only for his impressive bat, but his dynamic defense. It was clear to those who had watched a lot of Lee that 2025 could be his year. Thus far, they have a point.
What Has He Done?
Lee’s bat has lived up to what people felt it could. Striking out just 13% of the time is a good start, especially when combined with a 96th percentile Whiff% and a 94th percentile Squared-up%. His .316 average is a testament to that, but it’s far from all he is as a player. Despite not hitting the ball hard, his ability to combine an ideal launch angle and sweet spot 37.7% of the time has helped produce extra bases. 11 doubles, two triples, and four home runs are impressive totals one month in, particularly for a guy who had doubters about his ability to hit five to ten home runs a year. While he has outperformed his expected statistics marginally, an xwOBA of .351 still ranks comfortably above average.
Grandson of the Wind in the Windy City!
Jung Hoo Lee clobbers his 4th home run of the year. pic.twitter.com/F5f6t7S98V
— MLB (@MLB) May 7, 2025
This type of production is good, but what makes him great is how well-rounded he is. For a start, his value baserunning is 13th in MLB, the highest of any player with under five steals. His defense, too, is valuable, particularly to a team with no other center fielder. He ranks in the 89th percentile for defensive value and is above average for a center fielder. No mean feet in today’s game. His arm is exceptional, and as he learns the tricky Oracle Park more, expect his numbers to increase.
A contribution not so easily shown is vibes. Lee’s youth and enthusiasm shine through more than his talent. Groups can already be spotted in center field, be it the ‘Jung Hoo Crew’ or the ‘Hoo Lee Gans’. Giants fans now have a star to root for, a star they needed for a while. Don’t underestimate the amazing support abroad for Lee either. It’s safe to say the Koreans have loved his success thus far. Any Giants highlights are flooded with new fans supporting their superstar. It is safe to say the Giants will be playing in Korea sooner rather than later.
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