Giants Sign KBO Star Jung Hoo Lee to Six-Year Deal
Despite falling short in their pursuit of Shohei Ohtani, the San Francisco Giants shifted their attention to another international star on Tuesday, reportedly landing Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee in free agency.
According to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, the Giants signed Lee to a six-year, $113-million contract, which includes an opt-out clause after Year 4 of the deal. It becomes the richest posting deal signed by a Korean-born player, surpassing Hyun Jin Ryu’s six-year, $36-million contract.
Additionally, San Francisco will pay a posting fee of $18.8 million to Lee’s former KBO club, the Kiwoom Heroes, if he fulfils his entire six-year stint. But if he opts out after four seasons, the posting fee will reduce to $12.6 million.
The Heroes posted Lee on Dec. 4th, granting all 30 MLB clubs 30 days to negotiate with the 25-year-old outfielder. Beyond the Giants, the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres were each heavily involved in the process, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Lee, who won’t turn 26 until next August, spent seven seasons in the KBO – all with the Heroes – logging 1,181 hits and 65 home runs across 884 career games. He won Rookie of the Year in 2017, five straight Gold Gloves from 2018-22 and was named the league’s MVP in 2022.
The left-hander enjoyed the top statistical performance of his young career that season, registering career highs in home runs (23) and RBIs (113) while slashing .349/.421/.575 with an eye-popping 175 wRC+ over 142 games.
Regarded for his impeccable plate discipline, Lee has recorded more walks than strikeouts in five straight seasons since 2019, producing a double-digit walk rate in each of the previous three. He’s also known for his elite bat-to-ball skills, as evidenced by his career .340 batting average.
Season-ending ankle surgery limited Lee to just 86 contests in 2023, where he struggled offensively, at least by his standards, prior to going under the knife. He finished with just six home runs, 45 RBIs, a slash line of .318/.406/.455 and a 139 wRC+ – the lowest of his career since 2019.
San Francisco expects their newest addition to be fully recovered once spring training rolls around in a few months.
The former KBO MVP spent most of his time in centre field, a role he’s likely to maintain during his inaugural campaign in North America. Mike Yastrzemski, Michael Conforto and Mitch Haniger will likely split time in the corners, providing new skipper Bob Melvin plenty of outfield depth.
An adjustment period may be in the cards for Lee, just as it was for his former Heroes teammate Ha-Seong Kim, who struggled to a .202/.270/.352 line and 71 wRC+ in 117 games during his first season with the Padres in 2021. Since then, he’s emerged as an integral contributor – both offensively and defensively.
Acquiring Lee marks a critical milestone for the Giants, a franchise that’s worked tirelessly to sign a marquee free agent over the last few off-seasons, only to miss out on stars like Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Trea Turner, Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts, among others.
The organization’s latest acquisition is the son of 1994 KBO MVP Jong Beom Lee, who earned the nickname “Son of the Wind.” So, naturally, his offspring is referred to as “Grandson of the Wind.”
There’s still plenty of work ahead for Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, as the club must address holes at third base as well as in the starting rotation and bullpen this winter.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @ThomasHall85
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