Lee Jeong-hoo (26, San Francisco Giants) expressed satisfaction after hitting a hit in his first at-bat before debuting in a Major League Baseball (MLB) exhibition game.
Lee Jeong-hoo recorded 1 hit in 3 at-bats, 1 run, and 1 strikeout in the 2024 Major League exhibition game against the Seattle Mariners held at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA on the 28th (Korean time), then said, “(After left ankle injury) 7.” “It was my first game in six months, but (overall) it wasn’t bad,” he said.
Lee Jeong-hoo, who signed a large contract with San Francisco through a posting system (private competitive bidding) in December last year for a six-year contract period and a total of $113 million (approximately KRW 150.5 billion), performed his first demonstration today after receiving treatment due to mild side pain. I went to the game.
Lee Jeong-hoo, who played center field as the number one hitter, showed off his good batting skills from his first at-bat. As he stood at the plate as the lead hitter in the bottom of the first inning, he met opposing ace George Kirby and was forced into a no-ball and two strikes, but he hit three balls and produced a right-handed hit that missed the first baseman.
In an interview with local media, Lee Jeong-hoo said about his first hit, “Kirby is a very good pitcher. He explained, “He swung the bat with the idea of hitting lightly with 2 strikes, and it got good results.”
Lee Jeong-hoo, who got on base with a hit, immediately attempted to steal second base when Tyro Estrada was at bat. As the opposing shortstop failed to properly handle Estrada’s ground ball, both the runner and the batter survived.
Although it was not officially recorded as a stolen base, it was the base running that started the San Francisco attack. Afterwards, San Francisco scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to Lamonte Wade Jr.’s RBI single and Patrick Bailey’s grand slam.
San Francisco’s head coach was pleased with Lee Jung-hoo’s performance. “His debut was delayed due to mild side pain, but he looked good, hitting a single and scoring a run in his first at-bat,” manager Bob Melvin said.
He continued, “Lee Jeong-hoo definitely has good speed. Last year, he suffered an ankle injury and was cautious about base running. “We will see what he can do in the future,” he added.
Lee Jung-hoo, who finished his first game after advancing to the major leagues, cited the pitcher’s velocity when asked to compare it to the KBO league. He said, “The speed of the fastball and the breaking ball were definitely different.”
Meanwhile, Lee Jung-hoo is scheduled to skip the game against the Oakland Athletics on the 29th and play against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 1st. 온라인섯다