SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — There’s never an great moment to sustain an injury, but in Jung Hoo Lee’s case, the timing is especially unideal.
The Giants are less than a week from Opening Day, and Lee hasn’t played in over a week due to a nagging back ailment. Lee, though, believes it’s “realistic” that he will be ready for San Francisco’s first game of the season.
“I want to look at the season as a long season,” Lee said through team interpreter Justin Han. “Of course, Opening Day is very important. If I’m ready to play for Opening Day, of course I’m going to be on the field. I do want to mention that Opening Day is just one game out of 162 games. I’m looking at this as a long run. If I’m ready, I’ll be there. If not, if there’s more time for me to (recover), I would like to use that time, for sure.”
Lee won’t be in the lineup for the Giants’ final two Cactus League games on Friday and Saturday, but he hopes to play in Sunday’s exhibition against the River Cats in Sacramento. The 26-year-old outfielder is scheduled to perform baseball activities — playing catch, taking swings — on Saturday. Lee, whose recent MRI revealed no structural damage, said he has not heard about the possibility of starting the season on the injured list.
Manager Bob Melvin said on Wednesday that he would be most comfortable if Lee was able to play three games prior to Opening Day. Once the Giants wrap up Cactus League play, they will have three games, exactly, before traveling to Cincinnati: Sunday’s exhibition against the River Cats and two exhibitions at Oracle Park against the Detroit Tigers on Monday and Tuesday. Melvin said the Giants will determine whether Lee plays against Detroit following the game against Sacramento, pointing out that the team has an off day on Wednesday before Opening Day on Thursday.
“I’m okay with three games for him,” Melvin said.
Lee’s injury, officially categorized as mid-back tightness, derived from him sleeping on it wrong. He was scratched from the Giants’ game on March 15 and hasn’t appeared since. Lee said he’s woke up with occasional back cramps in the past just like any other person, but he’s never experienced one that’s lingered this long.
“Not even (just) for sports players, I feel like normal people when they wake up sometimes, they’re in a bad position for the whole day,” Lee said. “They might wake up with a cramp. I’ve had that before, but it’s never been (as bad) as this. I’ve never had this feeling.”
Related Articles
SF Giants’ new fan food: What’s hot, what’s filling, what’s fun — and which favorites are coming back
SF Giants’ 2025 Opening Day roster projection 2.0: Who gets final rotation spot?
Which players are leading SF Giants’ key positional battles?
No more blackouts: SF Giants games now available on MLB.TV
Joel Peguero wins SF Giants’ 2025 Barney Nugent Award
Lee, who will likely see more time batting third than leadoff, didn’t miss a beat this spring despite playing only 37 games last season due to a season-ending left shoulder injury. Over 12 games, Lee has a .300 batting average and .967 OPS with two homers and five RBIs. Lee said at the beginning of spring that he was not yet back to 100 percent confidence, but his results this spring have helped in that department.
“This offseason back in Korea, there was stuff I really wanted to work on,” said Lee, who signed a six-year, $113 million deal last spring. “When you put a lot of time in during the offseason, come in for spring training, then use that during the game, that’s when you find your confidence. So, I hope to feel this confidence during the season.”
Beck, Mecker among latest wave of cuts
The Giants announced their latest wave of cuts prior to Friday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians, optioning right-hander Tristan Beck and outfielder Wade Meckler and re-assigning infielder Jake Lamb, catcher Logan Porter and left-hander Enny Romero to minor league camp.
Beck, 28, was diagnosed with an aneurysm last spring training that forced him to miss most of last season, but the right-hander has enjoyed a healthy spring this year. He’s appeared in five games, allowing four earned runs over 7 2/3 innings (4.70 ERA) with four strikeouts, three walks and a home run allowed.
“Tristan’s 100 percent now and kind of doing his thing is great based on what he went through last year,” Melvin said. “Unfortunately, there’s some guys ahead of him right now. But, as we’ve seen in the past, his versatility is going to play for him at some point, whether it’s starting, whether it’s long relief, whether it’s short relief. He’s one of the guys that creates some versatility for us. Just not some room right now.”
Meckler, like Beck, was behind other outfielders on the Giants’ depth chart. The 24-year-old sustained a mild neck strain after diving for a ball in early March but appeared in 19 Cactus League games, hitting .250 with a .650 OPS.
“He had a good spring,” Melvin said. “Kind of what we’re targeting around here: the tenacious type of player, gets on base, can run a little bit. He’s played way better in the outfield this spring. He’s got a lot to feel good about. Just some guys ahead of him right now too.”
