Speedy SF Giants center fielder has surprisingly strong Steamer projection for 2025

Will speedy SF Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee be an All-Star in 2025? The 2025 Steamer projections are out and Lee is seen as an All-Star caliber outfielder based on this model.

Speedy SF Giants center fielder has surprisingly strong Steamer projection for 2025

I always caution against putting too much weight into projections, especially this early into the offseason. They are based on a model that attempts to emulate reality but they are just one data point in terms of outcomes. Front offices used projections and models to estimate a player's performance for the upcoming year or to identify where a team might need some extra help.

They have value in the baseball community. Though, projections can often be wrong. At the end of the day, they are fun discussion points.

The Giants signed Lee to a six-year, $113 million pact last winter. They hoped that he would sit atop the lineup for years to come. He quickly endeared himself to the Giants fanbase with his joyful personality.

The Giants knew that there would be an adjustment curve for Lee after playing in seven seasons in the KBO. He had demonstrated good speed, excellent contact skills, and quality defense with the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO. Those traits translated during his brief time with San Francisco in 2024.

The left-handed bat slashed .262/.310/.331 (83 wRC+) with two home runs, eight RBI, and 15 runs in 158 plate appearances. This included a 6.3 percent walk rate, 8.2 percent strikeout rate, and .069 ISO. Unfortunately, Lee sustained a dislocated shoulder after colliding against the wall in center field at Oracle Park, ending his season prematurely.

The good news is that Lee appears to be on track for Opening Day. That was always the plan but general manager Zack Minasian recently confirmed that Lee will have a normal offseason.

The Giants hope that he can be a boost to the lineup in 2025. The latest Steamer projections see him as having a surprisingly strong season next year. He is projected to post a .294/.351/.438 line (121 wRC+) with 14 home runs, 16 RBI, and 88 runs in 660 plate appearances. This includes a 7.6 percent walk rate, 9.7 percent strikeout rate, and .144 ISO while being worth 3.9 fWAR.

The 121 wRC+ is projected to be the highest mark in the Giants lineup and the 3.9 fWAR would put him in the conversation to be an All-Star. The offseason has just begun, so it is hard to know what the rest of the team will look like once spring training starts. The projections paint Lee along with Matt Chapman and Patrick Bailey as the only Giants position players with an fWAR above three. Depth is an issue.

The Giants hope they can add one or two more quality players to the mix. However, the best hitter in the lineup could already be on the team according to one data point.