Which San Francisco team did Lee sign?

‘Grandson of the Wind’ Lee Jung-hoo has decided to join the San Francisco Giants of the National League West in Major League Baseball (MLB).

MLB.com, the New York Post, and The Athletic reported on the 13th (Korean time) that “Lee signed a six-year, $113 million contract with San Francisco. The contract includes an opt-out clause after four years.”

San Francisco is one of MLB’s most prestigious franchises. With eight World Series (WS) championships, the fifth most of any of MLB’s 30 teams, the Giants are a traditional powerhouse with 20 WS appearances.

They have a fierce rivalry with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who hold the record for most WS appearances.

In the 2010s, the Giants made a tradition of winning in even-numbered years, reaching the podium every two years (2010, 2012, 2014). It was also the home of Barry Bonds, who hit the most home runs in MLB history (762) and in a single season (73).

San Francisco was embarrassed to miss the postseason last year and this year, finishing third and fourth in the district, respectively. This season, the team is 79-83 (.488 winning percentage) and hasn’t even won five games.

They ranked last in team batting average (0.235) and 14th in team on-base percentage (0.312) out of 15 teams in the National League in 2023.

Desperate to bolster their lineup, San Francisco prioritized adding a quality center fielder and moved aggressively after the season, most notably pursuing the best hitter in the KBO, Lee Jung-hoo.

They were so interested that general manager Pete Putilla traveled to Seoul’s Gocheok SkyDome in October to see Lee in person.

The Giants, who made a splash by acquiring infielder Hwang Jae-gyun (KT) in January 2017, continued their relationship with a Korean player by acquiring Lee again, more than seven years later.

San Francisco’s home ballpark, Oracle Park, is known to favor left-handed hitters due to its close proximity to the right field fence. Bonds, who spent his prime in San Francisco, benefited the most from this. 랭크카지노

However, Oracle Park is also a pitcher-friendly ballpark that doesn’t produce many home runs. Instead, the wide right-center field outfield produces a lot of triples. This could be an advantage for Lee, who has decent long ball power with precise contact and quick feet.