Giants Sign OF Jung Hoo Lee to 6-Year, $113M Deal
The San Francisco Giants have landed center fielder Jung Hoo Lee on a six-year, $113 million contract, making it the largest deal for an Asian-born hitter in MLB history.
Background and Contract Details
Jung Hoo Lee, a star in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), has agreed to a six-year, $113 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. This signing is significant as it marks the largest contract for an Asian-born hitter coming to MLB.
Lee's father, Jong Beom Lee, was considered the best all-around player in the KBO during the 1990s. Known as the "Grandson of the Wind," Lee's guarantee surpasses the $90 million contract given to Masataka Yoshida by the Boston Red Sox last year. It also includes an opt-out clause after the fourth season.
The New York Post broke the news of Lee's agreement with the Giants.
Giants Outbid Padres for Lee
Lee was initially linked to the San Diego Padres, where his friend Ha-Seong Kim plays. However, the Giants, who were considered unlikely to sign Shohei Ohtani, intensified their pursuit of Lee following Ohtani's signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In the past two years, the Giants' attempts to sign significant free agents were met with disappointment. They were either rejected, as in the case of Aaron Judge, or had deals fall apart due to failed physicals, like Carlos Correa's 13-year agreement.
While not as highly regarded as players like Ohtani, Judge, or Correa, Lee has consistently batted over .300 in the KBO. He holds a lifetime batting average of .340, with his highest mark being .360 in 2021. In the 2023 season, Lee's campaign was cut short due to a fractured left ankle, but he still managed to hit .318 with six home runs and 45 RBIs in 86 games.
Lee's Skillset and Potential Impact
Lee's exceptional contact ability has impressed scouts, as he struck out just 5.4% of the time in the past two seasons, compared to the KBO average of 18.2% and the MLB average of 22.7% in 2023.
While some evaluators believe Lee has the speed and defensive prowess to excel as a center fielder, others project him as a right fielder. His lack of power this year was accompanied by a ground ball rate of around 60%, which is higher than most MLB regulars in 2023. However, the Giants see Lee as a potential All-Star-caliber player who, at 25 years old, is entering his prime.
In an ideal scenario, Lee becomes a top-of-the-order hitter for the Giants, batting close to .300 with an above-average on-base percentage. The team hopes that Lee can avoid the struggles faced by Kim, the last Korean star to transition to MLB. Kim struggled in his first season with the Padres but has shown improvements in subsequent years.
