“Is it the Major League’s tough pitching or Lee Jung-hoo’s ability?” Korean media harshly criticize the slump of the Wind’s Son at bat.

Korean media outlet Sports Chosun reported today on San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo’s hitting slump since June, sharply criticizing with headlines like “Is this the Major League’s high wall, or Lee Jung-hoo’s true skill? Batting average at a precarious 0.24, becoming the main cause of the team’s collapse.”

This year marks 26-year-old Lee Jung-hoo’s second season challenging the Major Leagues. After the season started, his hitting was quite strong, with a batting average surpassing .340 in mid-April, ranking 5th in the National League batting leaderboard at one point. He maintained around a .300 average for a while, but from May onward, his average dropped below .300; by June, he fell into a slump, and as of July 1st, his batting average stood at .240 with 6 home runs and 34 RBIs, and his overall OPS dropped to 0.704.

In June, his batting average plummeted to under .200, specifically .148. Due to this slump, Lee Jung-hoo was removed from the starting lineup in today’s game against the Diamondbacks.

In his first Major League season, Lee Jung-hoo injured his left shoulder in the May 12th game and was sidelined for the rest of the season, appearing in only 37 games. Therefore, the 2025 season is effectively his first full season and the true test of his abilities.

“Ultimately, his current .240 batting average is better explained not as a slump but as a reflection of his true average ability. Conversely, the over .300 batting average early in the season should be seen as an abnormal short-term rebound.”

Local San Francisco media Star News also strongly criticized Lee Jung-hoo’s hitting slump: “Lee Jung-hoo’s slump seems endless. Especially his poor performance in June is very rare in the team’s history.” They added, “Considering he ranks third in team salary, his performance is indeed disappointing.”

Known as the Korean Ichiro, Lee Jung-hoo moved from the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes to the Major League’s San Francisco Giants after the 2023 season through the posting system. His contract is for six years worth $113 million, equivalent to 164.4 billion Korean won.

Korean media reported: “A slump like Lee Jung-hoo’s can no longer be called a ‘brief dip.’ When plate appearances exceed 300, the batting average should be regarded as the player’s true ability. This is a standard not only in the Major Leagues but also common knowledge in the KBO.” They delivered a sharp critique of his performance.