Jung Hoo Lee is doing things no San Francisco Giants player has done in over six decades. In just a handful of games, he’s entered conversations usually reserved for all-time greats. So what exactly has sparked this historic rise, and how high can he go?
Jung Hoo Lee Ranks Among MLB’s Top OPS Leaders
For the first time since Willie Mays in 1964, Lee has reached a batting average of .350 or better, along with 12 or more extra-base hits and at least three stolen bases in the opening 14 games of the season.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, “After missing most of last season with a torn labrum, Lee has been one of the best players in baseball this year for the 11-4 Giants.”
Passan further reported that Lee’s stats have him ranked among the best hitters in MLB. He currently ranks third in on-base plus slugging (OPS) at 1.130, just behind Aaron Judge (1.228) and Pete Alonso (1.143).
“A lot of these guys he’s never faced before, and he’s going to continue to face guys he’s never seen before. But that’s kind of where the bat-to-ball skills come into play. He feels like he can put anybody in play. When he’s seeing it good and he squares it up, those are the kind of results you’re going to get,” manager Bob Melvin stated via Giants beat writer Maria Guardado.
In May 2024, while playing against the Cincinnati Reds, Lee crashed into the center-field wall at Oracle Park while trying to snag a fly ball. This led to a dislocated left shoulder and a torn labrum, requiring surgery that ended his season.
When spring training began in 2025, he was back in action without any limitations and shared his confidence in his recovery. On April 13, Lee helped the Giants secure a 5–4 win against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium by hitting two home runs.
“All I care about is, we got a winning — we gotta win today in a winning series here at the Yankees stadium,” Lee said on his two-homer game.
“Everything I’m doing right now is all about just giving back to the Giants. Throughout my rehab, the team helped out so much and supported me in many ways. They took me to the road games. During rehab during the offseason, the team was great, so it’s all about giving it back to the team,” Lee added, speaking via interpreter Justin Han.
Lee made his MLB debut on March 28, 2024, at the age of 25, after a seven-year career with the Kiwoom Heroes in the KBO League in South Korea. The Giants signed him to a six-year, $113 million contract that includes a $5 million signing bonus and an opt-out clause available after the 2027 season.