The San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB), who signed 'grandson of the wind' Lee Jung-hoo this winter, have been praised for their success in reinforcing the outfield.
MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball (MLB), took a look at the teams that succeeded in strengthening each position based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) from baseball statistics site FanGraphs on Wednesday (June 12).
In the outfield, three teams made the list, including San Francisco. After ranking 28th last year, the Giants jumped to 11th this year.
According to MLB.com, "The Giants didn't make as big of a splash in the offseason as they had hoped, but they did add South Korean center fielder Jung-Hoo Lee, dubbed the 'Grandson of the Wind.' Known for his impressive contact ability, he's expected to post a .354 on-base percentage and 116 wRC+ (adjusted run production) in his age-25 season, with similar strikeout and walk rates. He should have a successful transition to MLB."
"His projected WAR of 3.2 would be a significant jump from the 0.4 he produced last year when San Francisco carried 10 players, including right fielders Mike Yastrzemski and Luis Matos."
Lee joined the Nexen (now Kiwoom) Heroes as a first-round pick in 2017 and has been a consistent performer for seven years. Until last year, he had a batting average of more than 3 percent every year, and in 2022, he showed off his power by hitting 20 home runs for the first time in his career.
In December 2022, Lee announced to Kiwoom that he wanted to challenge the Major League Baseball through the posting system after the 2023 season, and after internal discussions, Kiwoom decided in early January to respect and support the player's will and desire, and to help and support where the club could. Lee's declaration of his desire to play overseas has attracted interest from the United States and Japan.
After the 2023 season, Lee signed a six-year, $113 million contract with San Francisco in December of last year through the posting system (a closed competitive bidding process). He was quickly stampeded less than two weeks after the posting, and returned to South Korea after completing his physical and introductory press conference.
The Giants have won eight World Series titles (1905, 1921, 1922, 1933, 1954, 2010, 2012, 2014), but have had their share of disappointments, failing to make the postseason in 2022 and 2023. Manager Gabe Kapler was fired in late September last year for poor performance, and Melvin, who managed San Diego in 2022 and 2023, will take over this season.
In need of offensive and defensive reinforcements, San Francisco has been pursuing the multi-talented Lee since early last year, eventually signing him to a six-year, $113 million deal. Paying over $100 million for a player with no big league experience is a sign of high expectations. Given the team's lack of depth, Lee is expected to take over the leadoff role from the start of the season. 카지노사이트777
"Our plan is for him to play center field every day from Opening Day (in 2024)," said San Francisco president Farhan Zaidi, who attended Lee's signing press conference. "We needed a player who can make contact on the offensive side of the ball. That's what the major leagues are looking for these days. He was the player we wanted to sign the most during the offseason."
In an appearance on a podcast in the United States last month, Melvin said, "After we signed him, we drew up a few lineups, and in every case, he was batting first. It's a comfortable batting order for him, and it's a spot he's hit before (in the KBO)," he said, expressing his intention to use Lee as the leadoff hitter.
In addition to the club, the U.S. public is also keeping a close eye on Lee's performance. MLB.com published a list of best-case scenarios for 30 teams on Jan. 1, and the reigning National League Rookie of the Year is on the top of San Francisco's wish list. "The Giants haven't had a Rookie of the Year since Buster Posey in 2010, but they're in a good position to end that drought soon," the outlet wrote, mentioning Lee's name.
"The Giants had 12 prospects reach the big leagues last season, many of whom are eligible for Rookie of the Year honors in 2024," the publication said. "If those young players develop well, the Giants could have multiple Rookie of the Year candidates, including center fielder Jung-Hoo Lee, left-hander Kyle Harrison and shortstop Marco Luciano."