In a major baseball move, the San Francisco Giants have successfully inked a six-year contract worth $113 million with outfielder Jung Hoo Lee, as reported by The Associated Press on Tuesday.
This significant deal offers the South Korean outfielder a unique provision he holds the option to terminate his contract and explore free agency after four years, a decision that would net him $72 million.
Lee, who showcased his prowess in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) with the Kiwoom Heroes, demonstrated his batting finesse in the last season, boasting a .318 average along with 48 RBI’s and six home runs. Unfortunately, a broken ankle in July curtailed his season.
His remarkable track record includes being named the Rookie of the Year in 2017 and clinching the league MVP award in 2022, achieving an impressive 113 RBIs, 23 home runs, and a .349 batting average across 142 games.
The Giants’ successful acquisition of Lee comes as a triumphant moment for the organization, having missed out on securing star players like Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Carlos Correa in the preceding off-seasons.
Lee’s journey to the MLB began on December 4 when he was posted by the Kiwoom Heroes. Notably, if the 25-year-old outfielder decides to fulfill the entirety of his MLB contract, the Giants will owe the Heroes a posting fee of nearly $19 million. However, should Lee opt out after four years, this amount would decrease to $12,675,000, with the provision of an additional 15% for earned bonuses or escalators.
Adding to the intrigue, Lee is the son of the 1994 KBO MVP Jong Beom Lee, a distinguished player for the Haitai Tigers in the KBO and the Chunichi Dragons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). The elder Lee, known as “Son of the Wind,” bestowed upon his son the moniker “Grandson of the Wind.”
