1st hitter against Seattle Recorded 1 hit and 1 run in 3 at-bats “Debut in exhibition game delayed due to side injury”
‘Grandson of the Wind’ Lee Jeong-hoo (San Francisco Giants) expressed his feelings about hitting a hit in his Major League Baseball (MLB) exhibition game debut.
Lee Jung-hoo started as the number one hitter and center fielder in the 2024 MLB exhibition game against the Seattle Mariners held at Sportsdale Stadium in Sportsdale, Arizona, USA on the 28th (Korean time) and recorded 1 hit and 1 run in 3 at-bats.
Lee Jeong-hoo, who signed a six-year contract with San Francisco for $113 million (approximately 148.4 billion won) in December last year, postponed his participation due to mild side pain and played in his first exhibition game today.
Lee Jeong-hoo, who was selected as the team’s top hitter this season, swung the bat sharply from his first at-bat.
Facing Seattle pitcher George Kirby, who was selected as an All-Star last year, Lee Jeong-hoo caught the ball near his body and hit a hit to right. The first baseman rushed to catch the ball, but the batted ball went into the outfield.
According to MLB.com, Lee Jung-hoo said after the game, “Kirby is a very famous pitcher. When he got two strikes, he thought, ‘Let’s just hit it.’ “Fortunately, it led to good results,” he said.
Regarding comparison with the KBO league, “There is a clear difference in the fastball. But the biggest difference is the speed of the breaking ball. “If you compare the KBO League and MLB, it is definitely different,” he said.
His participation in the exhibition game was delayed due to back pain, but his concerns were erased by showing hits and base running that day.
Lee Jeong-hoo, who hit a hit, quickly settled on second base when the opposing shortstop’s error coincided with a ground ball from follow-up hitter Tyro Estrada.
The head coach was also pleased with Lee Jeong-hoo’s performance.
Manager Melvin commented, “It was a long wait (due to delayed participation due to injury),” but added, “It looked good to see him hit a hit and score in his first at-bat.”
He praised Lee Jeong-hoo’s work ability and predicted active base running play.
Coach Melvin said, “Lee Jeong-hoo definitely has speed. “Last year, I had to pay more attention to my ankle injury,” he said. “From what we can see, he has good speed. “We’ll see what he can do.” 섯다