3 biggest SF Giants surprises through the first 40 games of the 2025 season

The biggest surprise from the SF Giants' 2025 season so far might be the 24-16 record they have put up. In terms of individual performances, Jung Hoo Lee, Mike Yastrzemski, and Randy Rodríguez rank among the biggest surprises for the club so far.

3 biggest SF Giants surprises through the first 40 games of the 2025 season

1. Jung Hoo Lee

The Giants made a sizable six-year, $113 million commitment to Jung Hoo Lee out of the KBO. With that comes lofty expectations. The Giants knew there would be an adjustment curve in his first season stateside.

However, that first season was cut short after sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury in May. Lee posted a .641 OPS with two home runs and eight RBI in 158 plate appearances before the injury. He did show a knack for grinding out at-bats and putting the ball in play, even if the topline numbers were not all that strong.

The left-handed bat has carried those contact skills into the 2025 season while spraying line drives all over the field. There were some questions about why Bob Melvin was batting him third in the lineup, but that is a move that has paid dividends. Lee does a nice job of keeping the line moving. In a lot of ways, he has become a catalyst for the offense.

On the year, he is slashing .287/.337/.467 (125 wRC+) with four home runs, 23 RBI, and 27 runs in 163 plate appearances. He has done a nice job in center field, too. It might be too soon to talk about the All-Star game, but Lee has positioned himself for a potential All-Star nod in the early going.

2. Mike Yastrzemski

Despite putting together a really nice career, Mike Yastrzemski has become somewhat of a polarizing player among the fanbase. He hits, fields, and runs the bases well, but he is without a standout tool. That does limit his overall ceiling, but the team's roster issues in recent seasons extend far beyond Yastrzemski.

There were some questions about what the Giants might do with Yastrzemski when the offseason began. However, they quickly put those questions to bed, agreeing to a $9.25 million salary for 2025 in his final year of arbitration. There is a chance that this could be the veteran outfielder's final season with San Francisco, as they look to get younger and more athletic.

That said, the left-handed bat is proving that he has plenty left in the tank. He has registered a .262/.366/.443 line (130 wRC+) with five home runs, 17 RBI, and 18 runs in 142 plate appearances. The at-bat quality has been excellent this season, as he has often hit atop the Giants lineup. He is taking pitches and not chasing often, leading to a 13.4 percent walk rate.

3. Randy Rodríguez

While the Giants could be heading toward a closer controversy between Ryan Walker and Camilo Doval, Randy Rodríguez could become a dark horse candidate. More than likely, he could be closing out games for the Giants a year or two down the road.

The bullpen has been a strength this season, as they lead baseball with a 2.42 ERA. There have been a lot of contributors to that, including Rodríguez, Doval, Erik Miller, and Tyler Rogers. Rodríguez has been a nice surprise and he gives the Giants another potential leverage arm.

The Giants were patient with Rodríguez's development. He has occupied a spot on the 40-man roster since 2022, but did not debut with the club until the middle of last season. He had only reached San Jose by the time he had been added to the 40-man roster, so there was a lot of development left to realize. Plus, the Giants tried to stretch him out as a starter, likely slowing down the development curve.

In the early going, the hard-throwing righty has emerged as one of the better relievers in baseball. He has a 1.08 ERA with 24 strikeouts against two walks in 16.2 innings this season. Rodríguez had always flashed good stuff, but the control was a work in progress. He has made some nice strides in that area this season.