Giants’ Bob Melvin gives worrying Jung Hoo Lee injury update

The San Francisco Giants came away with a 6-5 win in 10 innings over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, but manager Bob Melvin said after the game that outfielder Jung Hoo Lee has a separated left shoulder and will be going for an MRI exam, according to Maria Guardado of MLB.com.

The signing of Jung Hoo Lee was one of the bigger moves of the offseason for the Giants, which featured the additions of Jorge Soler, Matt Chapman and Blake Snell. Lee was the earliest addition, and he profiled as a good defensive outfielder and contact hitter. He served as the Giants’ center fielder to start the year, and although he did not necessarily light it up offensively, there was reason for hope due to projections liking him.

Lee was also the team’s leadoff hitter. He was replaced by Tyler Fitzgerald in the lineup, who is a utility player who can play the infield and outfield. Hopefully for the Giants, the injury does not keep Lee out long, but shoulder injuries can be tricky, especially given the nature of swinging a bat.

It will be interesting to see how the Giants fill the leadoff spot during Lee’s absence. He is not the engine of the offense, but he is a key component as the table setter.

San Francisco moved to 19-23 on the season as a whole. It has been a bit of a sluggish start to the year, but it is still early in the season and there is time to climb out, but a stretch of good play likely has to come relatively soon for the Giants.

Jung Hoo Lee’s season and career expectations

As mentioned before, Lee profiles as a good defensive outfielder and contact hitter at the major league level. That was his calling card when playing in the KBO. Coming into Sunday, Lee hit for a .262 average with a .310 on-base percentage and two home runs, which is good for an 89 wRC+, according to FanGraphs.

Lee was a bit below average on the whole offensively, judging by his wRC+. It is a bit early in the season to evaluate defensive play, but Lee had -1 defensive runs saved and 0 outs above average. It will be interesting to see how he grades out as a centerfielder over the course of his career.

It is unfortunate that Lee suffered this injury so early into the season, because there is still so much to learn about him and his abilities at the major league level.

Now, the Giants will wait on the results from the MRI to determine the next steps and recovery timeline for Lee. It will be worth monitoring reports in the next day or so to find out, but the news of the initial injury certainly is not a positive one.