San Francisco – Jung Hoo Lee, aka “The Grandson of the Wind.” Made his home debut with a few ups and downs during the San Diego Padres series. He had a highlight catch at the wall in deep center field on Friday night and misjudged a pair of fly balls to center field. Lee then led off Sunday’s 3-2 win over the Padres with a leadoff single.
“The ball came out strong,” he explained through his translator. “It was just a good hit ball up there and I didn’t make the judgements on running through it, but it was just a good ball.”
“There are a lot of things that he [Lee] has to adjust to,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “He’s handled almost everything beautifully to this point.”
Despite the growing pains that Lee experienced during the home opening weekend, he’s happy about one thing: the wins.
“We started off this home series with a winning series, and that’s the biggest thing that I can have with the team,” Lee said through his translator.
At the plate, Lee did not have the best start, he’s hitting just .205 in 39 at-bats with four RBIs. Lee’s home run against San Diego on March 30, had a pop on his swing that he said that he’s working on.
“He’s gotten some hits, which we’re used to seeing, he gets hits every game, but (his cold spell) is going to happen over the course of the season, “said Melvin.”
“I know that there isn’t too much pop right now in my bat, but I’m putting a lot of effort in trying to work on that,” Lee said through his translator. “A lot of practice needs to be put into my adjustment right now and I’ve been talking to the coaches about it.”
Lee started every game this season, he’s hit in three-straight games to start the campaign but has gone hitless before grabbing his leadoff single in the first inning in Sunday’s game against the Padres.
Another person who Lee looks too for advice is his father, Korean baseball great Jong Beom Lee, aka “Son of the Wind.” Lee’s parents were present for opening weekend and the senior Lee was honored during Friday’s home opener during the eighth inning with a standing ovation. Lee was a Korean baseball icon, a 13-time All-Star during his 14 seasons in South Korea’s KBO League.
“Environmentally, mentally, I’m just happy that they’re around,” said the younger Lee. “I love having somebody to always talk to and it’s just a big happiness for me.”
Photo by SFGiants/Twiiter
