Will Lee Jung-hoo (26, San Francisco Giants) return as a leadoff in the opening game of the 2025 season.
In the top of the first inning of a home game against the Cincinnati Reds on May 13 (Korea time), Lee suffered joint and spinal damage when he stubbed his shoulder on the central fence while playing defense against Jamie Kendellario. He underwent surgery in early June and ended the season. He went on six-month rehabilitation.
Since late last month, Lee has been accompanying the San Francisco Giants for an away game and will undergo rehabilitation as well. It will also be a refreshment for Lee, who has been living a monotonous life in San Francisco. U.S. media outlets have predicted that Lee will normally participate in next year’s spring camp.
Blitzer Report predicted on Tuesday that 30 teams will start the opening lineup for the 2025 season. Coincidentally, the San Francisco Giants will start the season with an away game against the Cincinnati Reds on March 28 next year. They will take a day off on March 29, and hold three consecutive away games against the Cincinnati Reds from March 30-31. They will hold three consecutive away games against the Houston Astros soon after. The game against the Seattle Mariners will be held on April 5. 안전놀이터
Bleacher Report also expected Lee Jung-hoo to play in the opening game. Even the position is the same as that of the batting order. He is the first center fielder. Elliott Ramos, who gradually expanded his position in the team after Lee Jung-hoo was left out, is the third left fielder. Ramos’ brother is Henry Ramos, who was kicked out of the KBO League Doosan Bears in July due to a walk-esque issue.
The fourth batter is Matt Chapman, who beat Robbie Ray (five-year, 115 million dollars) to become the team’s highest contractor with a six-year, $151 million contract extension. As a third baseman, he is expected to start at No. 4. For reference, Lee Jung-hoo, who has a six-year, 113 million-dollar contract, is the third most valuable player in his team (second in field value) after Chapman and Ray.
In addition, Bleacher Report predicted that San Francisco will recruit J.D. Martinez, a designated hitter, and Gleyber Torres, a second baseman, in the offseason of 2024-2025. The two players are expected to enter the fifth and seventh batting order, respectively. The starting pitcher is Logan Webb.
It is a really important 2025 season for Lee Jung-hoo. Since the first season has been suspended after only 37 appearances, there is a task to prove its value in some way next year. Before the injury, he was gradually increasing his hitting sense, but too much time has already passed.
Coincidentally, Cincinnati will return to the mound as its last opponent last year. The Bleacher Report predicted that Cincinnati will have Hunter Green as its starting pitcher for the opening game. Kendellario, who made a hit at bat when Lee Jung-hoo was injured, will play as the third designated hitter, and monstrous shortstop Elie de la Cruz will play as the second shortstop.