The San Francisco Giants sighed with relief thanks to Lee Jung-hoo (27). He reaffirmed his importance as an essential player for the team's success this season.

The U.S. publication The Athletic reported on the 20th (Korean time) that 'San Francisco announced on the 19th that there is no structural damage in Lee Jung-hoo's waist after an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) examination. The MRI results are encouraging, but they also indicate that San Francisco's postseason hopes remain uncertain.'

Lee Jung-hoo was scheduled to start in the exhibition game against the Seattle Mariners on the 16th, but he was removed from the lineup just before the game due to a waist strain. It is said that he strained his back from poor sleep, but when his condition did not improve the next day, the team decided to conduct an MRI.

Fortunately, the MRI results on the 19th revealed no structural damage, allowing San Francisco to breathe a sigh of relief. Lee Jung-hoo is expected to return to exhibition games as early as the 22nd in the game against the Cleveland Guardians. He is anticipated to play about three of the remaining five exhibition games before entering the season opener against the Cincinnati Reds on the 28th.

Although it is fortunate that his injury did not worsen into a major issue, Lee Jung-hoo's MRI examination revealed the vulnerabilities in the San Francisco team's strength. The Athletic noted that 'Giants fans were nearly in a small panic upon seeing the letters MRI. Fortunately, it was not a serious problem, but Lee Jung-hoo's history of injuries reflects the team's concerns for 2025,' pointing out that among the players in the lineup, six carry the belief that 'if this player goes down, the Giants will fail,' highlighting the shallow depth of the outfield.

Describing it as 'a swaying block pulled from the lowest tier of a Jenga tower' if Lee Jung-hoo's injury had been serious, The Athletic stated that 'San Francisco does not lack outfielders for contingency. Grant McCay can substitute for Lee Jung-hoo's speed and defensive capabilities if needed, and Wade Meckler can replace some of his batting skills. Luis Matos is expected to be versatile enough to contribute where the team needs him and has been polished,' explaining that there are alternatives when Lee Jung-hoo is absent.

However, The Athletic emphasized that for San Francisco to advance to the postseason, Lee Jung-hoo must remain healthy and the established lineup needs to operate consistently. The Athletic mentioned that 'Even if Lee Jung-hoo's MRI results had been poor, San Francisco would not have entered rebuilding mode. However, for them to be optimistic about postseason appearance, Lee Jung-hoo's help is critical. Without Lee Jung-hoo, the Jenga tower sways. The bad news is that every team suffers injuries at some point, but San Francisco is particularly frightening.'

Last year, Lee Jung-hoo's dream of making his Major League debut was cut short in just 37 games due to injury. He dislocated his left shoulder while playing defense in the first inning against Cincinnati on May 13 when he collided with the center field fence and underwent surgery to repair his labrum, ending his season. San Francisco, already lagging in the standings, finished fourth in the National League (NL) West with a record of 80 wins and 82 losses (winning percentage .494).

After eight months of rehabilitation, Lee Jung-hoo returned for this spring training and has been hitting well in the exhibition games, boasting a batting average of .300 (9 hits in 30 at-bats), with 2 home runs, 5 RBIs, 9 runs, 4 walks, and 7 strikeouts, along with an on-base percentage of .400, slugging percentage of .567, and OPS of .967. He is also expected to shift from the leadoff position to the third spot in the batting order to showcase his problem-solving ability in clutch situations.

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