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San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee arrived in North America with the nickname “Grandson of the Wind.”
Except during his first two MLB seasons, Lee often looked like he was running against the wind. After registering just 12 stolen bases duing his first two seasons with the franchise, he failed to steal a base through 56 appearances this season.
With meandering outfield metrics, Lee, before recently launching a career-best hitting streak, was not considered a big trade deadline candidate, despite the Giants (26-39) suffering a poor start and falling out of playoff contention early.
Most opposing scouts assigned to cover the Giants generally focused on free-agents-to-be Luis Arraez or Robbie Ray. The two were general manager Zack Minasian's top assets until recent developments.
Now, with Lee joining franchise icons for amassing a bulk amount of hits, Minasian could find a bidder for the former KBO star. Lee, who collected 11 hits in 15 at-bats during last weekend's series at the Colorado Rockies, extended his hitting streak to a personal best 14 games during Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He went 2-for-4.
Opposing executives are noticing that Lee posted 19 multi-hit games, including four outings with at least four hits.
Is Giants' Jung Hoo Lee hitting way to being traded?
Lee entered Saturday with the second-most hits (22) during any nine-game span in franchise history. Lee was sandwiched between Hall of Famer Willie May's 23 hits during a stretch in 1958 and 21 also in '58. Orlando Cepeda (1963), Bengie Molina (2008) and Buster Posey (2014) and Omar Vizquel (2006) also collected 21 hits during nine-game spans.
The Giants dropped to 15.5 games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers after Saturday's loss. With a run differential of minus-49, the Giants likely will attempt to stockpile prospects at the trade deadline.
A contact-oriented hitter, Lee could offer a contender outfield depth and team control through 2027. Lee signed the six-year, $113 million contract before the 2024 season. The contract includes a player opt-out option after Year 4. He will not be a free agent until 2030.
As recently as two weeks ago, Kim mostly failed to play up to the two-way potential he demonstrated overseas.
But if the "Grandson of the Wind" continues to hit with average and display stolen-base ability, Lee, near the trade deadline, likely will be gone with the wind.
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