Reevaluating the SF Giants Jung Hoo Lee signing a year later

The SF Giants signed the young outfielder Jung Hoo Lee to a six-year $113 million contract in December of last year. Now, a full year later it is fitting that we reevaluate the move and ponder whether it will have been a good move in the long run.

When the Lee signing was made last year, there was a lot of excitement amongst the fanbase. Fans felt they were getting a fast, exciting player who would put the ball in play a lot and be a great table-setter for the lineup. It also seemed like the Giants would be getting a solid defender in center field which was a key need after 2023.

Of course, it is tough to fully evaluate the deal because of Lee's season-ending shoulder injury in May. He crashed into the wall in center field trying to make a catch and separated his shoulder in the process.

The jury is still out on the SF Giants Jung Hoo Lee signing

At the time of his injury, Lee was slashing .262/.310/.331 with 2 home runs and 8 RBI in 145 at-bats across 37 games. He stole two bases on five attempts and had 10 walks compared to 13 strikeouts. Plus, in a small sample size, Lee was roughly average defensively among center fielders according to Outs Above Average.

In many ways, Lee was a bit of a disappointment for the Giants if one had high expectations. However, when one considers that he was transitioning to a new league, new ballpark, new language, and new country, Lee's performance is to be expected. He was very much learning the ropes in his 2024 rookie campaign and it is a shame that he got hurt so early in the year because it robbed him of some much-needed development time.

2025 will essentially be a continuation of Lee's rookie season. Thus, expectations will not be especially high considering shoulder injuries can be tough for hitters to come back from. The good news is that by all accounts Lee is progressing nicely and is on track to be ready for Opening Day. The one bright side to his injury occurring early in the season is that he will be back on the field sooner.

It is too early to deem the Lee signing a bust, but 2025 will be an important year for him. In the best case scenario, Lee picks up where he left off last season and continues to learn and adjust to MLB pitching. If he can do that, then Giants fans may feel a little better about the nearly $23 million he is set to make in 2026.