Lee has been one of the best players in the KBO since bursting on to the scene with the then Nexen (currently Kiwoom) Heroes in 2017. He won the Rookie of the Year that season, after batting .324 and scoring 111 runs, third most in the league. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Korea Bizwire) – The San Francisco Giants officially announced the signing of Lee Jung-hoo, a star from the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), on December 15 (Korean time), marking the occasion with a unique welcome animation.
The animation begins with Lee, donned in the Heroes’ signature purple uniform, hitting a ball to the left side of the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. Then, in a creative twist, the scene shifts to Lee walking over the sea.
Transitioning to real-life footage, the video showcases Lee’s performance in the KBO League and on the national team, highlighting his skills in batting, fielding, and dynamic base running. A narrator describes him as “not only excellent in offense and defense but also one of the fastest outfielders.”
The animation then returns, showing Lee, now wearing the Giants’ number ’51′ white jersey, crossing San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge and entering Oracle Park, the Giants’ home stadium.
Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB) (Image courtesy of the San Francisco Travel Association)
The San Francisco Giants prepared the video to welcome Lee to the team, a testament to the effort and affection that has gone into his recruitment.
Additionally, the Giants celebrated Lee’s arrival with various posts on social media. They welcomed him in Korean, saying, “Lee Jung-hoo, welcome to the San Francisco Giants,” and introduced his KBO League records and career highlights with the caption, “Let’s meet the grandson of the wind.”
The Giants had been earnestly courting Lee for some time. In October, Giants’ General Manager Pete Putila visited Korea to witness Lee’s play firsthand, the only GM among MLB’s 30 teams to make the trip.
The Giants have even reserved Lee’s KBO League jersey number 51 for him, indicating their commitment to making him feel at home.
Lee is set to hold an official press conference at Oracle Park on December 16, where he will share his thoughts on joining MLB and being warmly welcomed by the San Francisco Giants.
Lina Jang (lina@koreabizwire.com)
