Jung Hoo Lee made history, fueling All-Star buzz and proving his contract was a masterstroke for the San Francisco Giants’ surging offense.
San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee continues rewarding the organization’s investment after arriving from the Korean Baseball Organization ahead of the 2024 season.
The 27-year-old extended his strong run at the plate Wednesday afternoon against the Washington Nationals, collecting a single to right field and pushing his current hitting streak to 18 games.
Lee’s continued production coincided with one of San Francisco’s most dramatic wins of the season.
The Giants rallied for an 11-10 walkoff victory despite starter Robbie Ray allowing five earned runs in 5.2 innings.
San Francisco’s offense received major contributions throughout the game. Matt Chapman hit two home runs, Rafael Devers added another, and the defining moment came in the bottom of the ninth inning when rookie Bryce Eldridge launched a grand slam to secure the comeback victory and send the crowd home celebrating.
Lee contributed in multiple ways during the win, finishing 2-for-4 with a walk, a steal and scoring twice.
Lee is batting .338 with an .829 OPS, three home runs and 24 RBIs in 61 games this season.
The bigger headline, however, remains the streak.
Lee’s 18-game hitting streak is the longest by a Giants player since Angel Pagan reached 19 games in 2016, and the longest by a Korean player in history.
As his consistency continues, Lee has quietly entered the All-Star conversation. Reports indicate his voting support has increased during this stretch, and his recent surge has drawn additional attention because he currently leads Major League Baseball in four-hit games.
His performance is becoming increasingly difficult to overlook.
Before arriving in Major League Baseball, Lee had already established himself as one of the most accomplished players in the KBO.
Across seven seasons with the Kiwoom Heroes, he posted a .340 batting average with 65 home runs and 515 RBIs in 884 games. During that run, he earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2017, won two batting titles, captured five Gold Gloves, and was named league MVP in 2022.
When San Francisco signed Lee in December 2023 to a six-year, $113 million contract, the organization also paid an $18.825 million posting fee to acquire his rights.
At the time, there were legitimate questions about whether his game would translate successfully to Major League Baseball.
Lee has steadily answered those doubts.
His first two seasons in San Francisco were productive but did not fully match expectations tied to his arrival. This season, however, appears to represent a different level of comfort and confidence.
As his production continues climbing, both inside and outside the organization are taking notice, and fans have increasingly embraced what he is becoming.
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