Was it real? I checked the SF lineup and it's not a leadoff. Lee Jung-hoo, the third batter, starts an exhibition game in center field

Feb 22, 2025

Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants poses with a bat brandishing for the photo day on the 21st (Korea time). AFP Yonhap News

Lee Jung-hoo, who entered the batter's box at an exhibition game in March 2024, a year ago. Sports Chosun DB

As San Francisco Giants coach Bob Melvin predicted, Lee Jung-hoo will start the exhibition game as the third batter.

Coach Melvin interviewed local media in Scottsdale, Arizona, where spring training is taking place on the 22nd (Korea time) and unveiled the lineup for the opening game of the exhibition game against the Texas Rangers the next day.

San Francisco will start its spring training game against Texas at 5:05 a.m. on the 23rd at Surprise Stadium.

Lee Jung-hoo was listed as the third center fielder. The leadoff was taken by first baseman Lamont Wade Jr.

Coach Melvin said on the 15th, `When Wade gets on base, someone has to hit him in the third position. Given the left and right order, I think Lee Jung-hoo will probably fit in No. 3"Willie Adames seems to be a good fit for the second batter, and Matt Chapman is a good fit for the fourth batter. Next up is Eliot Ramos. Let me take a look at the situation. Lee Jung-hoo was not solidified by the leadoff.

He suggested changing Lee Jung-hoo's batting order from No. 1 to No. 3.

Lee Jung-hoo is changing his helmet during the live batting on the 18th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News

According to the lineup against Texas on the 23rd, posted by Maria Guadardo, a reporter in charge of MLB.com San Francisco, it was organized in the order of designated hitter Wade, left fielder Marco Luciano, center fielder Lee Jung-hoo, right fielder Luis Matos, first baseman Jake Lamb, catcher Sam Huff, third baseman Casey Schmidt, second baseman Brett Weisley and shortstop O'Slaybis Basabe. The starting pitcher is Landon Loop.

Reporter Guadardo said that `Ramont Wade Jr. and Lee Jung-hoo will take the leadoff and third batter, respectively.'

Regarding his batting order, Lee Jung-hoo said, `It doesn't matter where the batting order is. You can hit number 8, and number 9 is fine. If the coach puts me in the lineup, I just have to run. You just have to do your best for the team and I'll prepare for the team. "When I was in Korea, I hit the third batter. It's a place where you can say you're confident. Every batting order has its own role. If my seat is there, I can do it."

Since his Major League debut last year, Lee Jung-hoo has a batting average of 0.262 (38 hits in 145 at-bats), two homers, eight RBIs, 15 points, two steals, 10 walks, 173 strikeouts and an OPS of 0.641 in 37 games. In a home game against the Cincinnati Reds on May 13, he injured his left shoulder in the top of the first inning when he hit the fence while trying to catch an opponent's deep right-center hit, ending the season and undergoing surgery.

He started 31 games as a leadoff and 5 games as a second batter, respectively. So, it's been 286 days since the Major League game. However, his last appearance was against the Colorado Rockies on May 9 last year, and it was his first appearance in 290 days.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.