'The son of the wind' Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants) registered a solid double to continue the good momentum of the exhibition game.
Lee Jung-hoo took the starting position as the third center fielder in the exhibition game against the 2025 Major League Athletics held on the 12th (Korean time) at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona, recording 1 hit and 1 run in 3 at-bats.
With a score tied at 0-0, facing left-handed starter Jeffrey Springs in the bottom of the first inning with two outs and no runners on base, Lee Jung-hoo found himself in a disadvantageous count at 0B-2S as he stepped into the batter's box. However, he calmly selected two balls and connected with the fifth pitch, resulting in a double that cleared the center fielder's head. The ball bounced once before crossing the central fence, and a double was declared.
Lee Jung-hoo executed a powerful swing that nearly knocked off his helmet, producing the second double of the exhibition games. It was also a hit after three games since the match against the Chicago White Sox on the 7th. Lee rounded third base and scored the team's first run as he touched home on Matt Chapman’s single.
In the bottom of the third inning, leading 2-0, he faced a situation with one out and a runner on first base and made a groundout. The runner on first, Willy Adames, successfully stole second base, while Lee helped advance Adames to third base by hitting a ground ball to the third baseman against Springs.
The third at-bat was disappointing. In the bottom of the fifth inning, leading 3-1 with one out and runners on second base scoring opportunity, he faced the changed pitcher right-hander Justin Stearns and made another full swing that knocked his helmet off, but he retreated with a foul fly to left field.
Lee Jung-hoo handed the baton to defensive replacement Grant McCray in the top of the seventh inning, leading 3-1, and finished the game. His batting average for the exhibition games remained unchanged at .333.
San Francisco defeated the Athletics 5-3. Although they allowed two runs in the top of the eighth inning, tying the game at 3-3, in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jake Lamb hit a double, followed by Max Stassi hitting a game-winning two-run home run to right field. Veteran starting pitcher Justin Verlander, 42, displayed his prowess, pitching 5 innings, allowing 4 hits (1 home run), 1 walk, and striking out 4 while allowing just 1 run.
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