Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Jung-hoo Lee

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 13, 2026

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

Jung-hoo Lee is a prominent South Korean professional baseball outfielder who made a significant transition to Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2024 by signing with the San Francisco Giants. Before moving to the United States, Lee was a superstar in the KBO League, where he played for the Kiwoom Heroes. Throughout his KBO career, he established himself as a premier contact hitter, earning multiple KBO League Golden Glove Awards and the 2022 KBO League MVP title. Known for his exceptional bat-to-ball skills, plate discipline, and defensive versatility, Lee is often referred to as the 'Grandson of the Wind,' a nod to his father, Lee Jong-beom, a legendary player in Korean baseball history. His successful transition to MLB highlights his status as one of the most elite international talents to emerge from the KBO, bringing high expectations to the American professional stage.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2016: 2016 U-18 Baseball World Cup Debut

In 2016, Jung Hoo Lee made his first appearance for the South Korea national baseball team during the 2016 U-18 Baseball World Cup, an event where the team successfully won the championship title.

2016: Selection in the 2017 KBO League Draft

In 2016, the Nexen Heroes selected Jung Hoo Lee in the first round of the 2017 KBO League draft, recruiting him as an infielder alongside Kim Hye-seong.

2017: 2017 Asia Professional Baseball Championship

During 2017, Lee represented the South Korea national baseball team in the Asia Professional Baseball Championship, contributing to the team's second-place finish overall in the tournament.

2017: Record-Breaking Rookie Season

During the 2017 season, Jung Hoo Lee became the first high school rookie to play in every game for a KBO team, recorded 179 hits—a new rookie record—and was honored with the KBO League Rookie of the Year Award.

2017: KBO League Rookie of the Year Award

In 2017, Jung Hoo Lee received the KBO League Rookie of the Year Award, marking a significant early career milestone in professional baseball.

2018: 2018 Season Performance and Injury

In 2018, Jung Hoo Lee navigated a six-week shoulder injury while managing to outperform his rookie statistics, finishing the season with a .355/.412/.477 slash line, six home runs, 57 RBI, and a third-place finish in the league's batting average rankings.

2018: Asian Games Winning Performance

On November 17, 2018, Jung Hoo Lee played a pivotal role in the Asian Games by delivering the winning RBI against Taiwan.

2018: Commencement of Golden Glove Streak

Starting in 2018, Jung Hoo Lee began a dominant five-year streak by winning his first of five consecutive Golden Glove Awards, which concluded in 2022.

2019: WBSC Premier12 Performance

During the 2019 WBSC Premier12 tournament, Jung Hoo Lee represented Team Korea and led all participants in the competition with five doubles.

2019: 2019 Season and Playoff MVP

During the 2019 season, Lee recorded a slash line of .336/.386/.456 with six home runs and 68 RBI, culminating in him being honored as the MVP of the 2019 playoffs for the first time.

2020: Golden Glove Award Win and Statistical Achievement

In 2020, Jung Hoo Lee achieved significant professional success by winning a Golden Glove Award while maintaining an impressive batting line of .333/.397/.524, contributing 15 home runs, 101 RBI, and an OPS of .921.

2020: Tokyo 2020 Olympics Participation

In 2020, Jung Hoo Lee represented South Korea as a member of the national baseball team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

2021: 2021 KBO League Performance and Cycle

During the 2021 season, Jung Hoo Lee demonstrated exceptional skill, leading the league with a .360 batting average and recording 7 home runs along with 84 RBIs. A significant highlight occurred on October 25, 2021, at Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park, where he successfully hit for the cycle against the Samsung Lions.

2022: KBO League MVP and Golden Glove

During the 2022 season, Jung Hoo Lee achieved dual recognition by winning the KBO League Most Valuable Player Award and securing his fifth consecutive Golden Glove Award.

2022: Exceptional 2022 KBO Season and MVP Achievement

During the 2022 season, Jung Hoo Lee had a standout performance, hitting .349 with 23 home runs and 113 RBI. In 2022, he also set a record as the youngest and fastest player in KBO history to reach 1,000 career hits, doing so in 747 games. Additionally, he was awarded the KBO League Most Valuable Player Award for his performance throughout 2022.

December 14, 2023: Signing with the San Francisco Giants

On December 14, 2023, Jung Hoo Lee officially signed a six-year, $113 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, which included a $18.825 million posting fee paid to his former team, the Heroes.

2023: World Baseball Classic Representation

During the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Jung Hoo Lee served as a representative for South Korea on the international stage.

2023: 2023 World Baseball Classic

In 2023, Jung Hoo Lee played for the South Korea national baseball team during the World Baseball Classic competition.

March 30, 2024: First MLB Career Home Run

On March 30, 2024, Jung Hoo Lee hit his first career home run in Major League Baseball during a game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, with his family present to witness the milestone.

2025: Jung Hoo Lee's 2025 MLB Season Performance

During the 2025 season with the San Francisco Giants, Jung Hoo Lee played 150 games, maintaining a slash line of .266/.327/.407 with eight home runs, 55 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. Notably, on September 26, 2025, he recorded his 12th triple, tying Ichiro Suzuki's record for the most triples by an Asian player in a single MLB season and ranking among the top triple-hitters in the league.

2026: World Baseball Classic Captaincy

In 2026, Jung Hoo Lee was appointed captain of Team South Korea for the World Baseball Classic, successfully leading the team to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in 17 years.