SAN FRANCISCO — The source of Jung Hoo Lee’s hot start cannot be found in film or stats .
Visually, his mechanics are the same as when he arrived from Korea. Statistically, his identity as a ball player remains the same: a low-walk, low-strikeout, contact-oriented hitter with elite bat-to-ball skills. For Lee, the key to his hot start lies in a luxury only afforded by time.
“It’s all about the comfort level here in the clubhouse and on the field,” Lee told this news organization through team interpreter Justin Han. “I got to know all the guys and I’m close to everybody. It just makes everything easier. I know what to expect, and that’s the biggest difference.”
Lee, who’s hitting .315 with an MLB-leading 10 doubles, didn’t consider his first year with the Giants to be overwhelming, though he did joke that “it’s hard to drive over here in the city” because of San Francisco’s numerous one-way roads.
That said, Lee effectively uprooted his life after he signed a six-year, $113 million deal with the Giants. New team and teammates. New manager and coaches. New country and new culture. New language and customs. And before playing a game, he became a face of the franchise.
“If I ever had to go to Japan or go play winter ball — you realize what they have to go through,” said manager Bob Melvin. “Teams do the best they can to get guys to acclimate, but easier said than done. Especially the guys that come over from Asia. It’s a completely different lifestyle.”
Lee’s rookie season ended after 37 games due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder, but his first year with the Giants allowed him to learn the ebbs and flows of a major-league season in America. Once Lee was out of his sling, Lee and Han were constant presences in the dugout at home and on the road . To Melvin, that was time well spent.
“His first year, learning not only a new league but living in a (new) country and learning a language, there’s so much thrown at these guys. He was way more comfortable this year from the start of spring training just being in the States and being with his team,” Melvin said.
“He saw enough last year to kind of know what to expect,” said hitting coach Pat Burrell. “I couldn’t agree more with Bob. Missing that much time, of course there’s a concern, but he’s such an amazing athlete, he just bounces right back after that surgery and doesn’t miss a beat. Actually, I think he looks better than he did in terms of the freedom of his swing. I think he looks more comfortable in the box in general. It’s fun to watch. I think he’s opening some eyes out there.”
Roughly a month into his sophomore season, the 26-year-old has opened plenty of eyes.
Entering Wednesday, Lee’s 1.3 wins above replacement (per FanGraphs) ranks ninth in all of baseball. He hit three homers in three games against the Yankees, two of which were against Carlos Rodón in the last game of the series. Less than 25 games into the season, he has already eclipsed last year’s totals in runs (20), doubles (10), triples (two), home runs (three), RBIs (15) and steals (three).
“It’s hand-eye coordination. I think he sees the ball extremely well,” Burrell said. “He makes unbelievable decisions. His takes are under control. He’s not in a hurry. I think deep down, he really believes in himself. I think that’s a big one.”
The early success is all the more impressive given his first season was over before the end of May. As Justin Verlander can attest, returning from a season-ending injury requires fending off doubt.
“You just have to fight it,” said Verlander, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020 and missed all of 2021. “You have to trust the process. In my case, the rehab was going really well and there would be some small things that would creep up. You just got to remind yourself, ‘This is normal and not every day is going to be a great day.’ The only thing that really puts your mind at ease is performing — going out there and trusting it and letting it happen. Then, once that happens, you forget about it.”
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If Lee has any lingering concern, he’s certainly not showing it.
Lee, by far, garners the most media attention of any Giant when accounting for both American and Korean outlets, no surprise given he owns the largest deal ever signed by a Korean free agent. Along with the Jung Hoo Crew, a creation of the Giants themselves, an independent group called the “Hoo Lee Gans” made an appearance during the last homestand. Every time Lee steps to the plate, he’s showered with chants of “Jung! Hoo! Lee!” For all his popularity, Lee says he doesn’t feel pressure.
“It’s a responsibility that I show the results given the money I got from the team. I also feel if I leave a good impression here, it can give more chances to players back in the KBO to come over and play,” Lee said.
