Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Jung-hoo Lee

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Jung-hoo Lee made an impact.

Jung-hoo Lee is a South Korean professional baseball outfielder currently playing for the San Francisco Giants in MLB. Prior to joining the Giants, he played in the KBO League for the Kiwoom Heroes. His career is marked by his transition from Korean baseball to Major League Baseball.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2016: U-18 Baseball World Cup Win

In 2016, Lee made his first appearance on the international stage at the U-18 Baseball World Cup, where South Korea won the tournament.

2016: Drafted into KBO League

In 2016, Lee was selected by the Nexen Heroes in the KBO League draft as an infielder, marking the beginning of his professional baseball career.

2017: Asia Professional Baseball Championship

In 2017, Lee represented the national team in the Asia Professional Baseball Championship, where South Korea placed 2nd overall.

2017: KBO Debut and Rookie of the Year

In 2017, Lee was included on the team's Opening Day roster at age 18 without going through the KBO Futures League, becoming the first rookie out of high school to appear in every game. He also won the KBO League Rookie of the Year Award.

2017: KBO League Rookie of the Year Award

In 2017, Lee won the KBO League Rookie of the Year Award, marking a significant achievement early in his career.

2018: 2018 Season Performance

In 2018, Lee demonstrated strong performance with a batting average of .355/.412/.477.

2018: Golden Glove Award

In 2018, Lee won the first of five consecutive Golden Glove Awards, showcasing his defensive excellence.

2018: Asian Games Winning RBI

In the 2018 Asian Games, Lee delivered the winning RBI against Taiwan.

2019: 2019 Season and Playoff MVP

In 2019, Lee continued to perform well with a batting average of .336/.386/.456 and won the series MVP in the playoffs. It marked the first time in KBO history that both father and son won a postseason MVP award.

2019: WBSC Premier12 Tournament

In 2019, Lee played for Team Korea at the WBSC Premier12 tournament, leading the tournament with five doubles.

2020: Summer Olympics

In 2020, Lee represented South Korea at the Summer Olympics.

2020: Golden Glove Award in 2020

In 2020, Lee won another Golden Glove Award. He had a batting line of .333, 15 home runs, 101 RBIs, and a career-high OPS of .921.

2021: 2021 Season and Hitting for the Cycle

In the 2021 season, Lee batted .360/.438/.522. On October 25, 2021, at Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park, Lee hit for the cycle against the Samsung Lions.

2022: KBO League Most Valuable Player Award

In 2022, Lee was honored with the KBO League Most Valuable Player Award, recognizing his outstanding performance throughout the season.

2022: 2022 Season and MVP Award

In the 2022 season, Lee played in 142 games, achieving a batting average of .349/.421/.575 with 23 home runs and 113 RBIs, leading to him winning the KBO League Most Valuable Player Award after the season.

July 25, 2023: Season-ending surgery announcement

On July 25, 2023, it was announced that Lee would undergo season–ending surgery after suffering a fractured ankle.

December 14, 2023: Signed with San Francisco Giants

On December 14, 2023, Lee signed a six-year, $113 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. The Giants also paid an additional posting fee of $18.825 million to the Heroes.