Jung Hoo Lee Completes 2026 Season with San Francisco Giants
The outfielder recorded a .276 batting average and 10 home runs during his campaign in San Francisco.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Baseball
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Jung Hoo Lee finished his 2026 season with the San Francisco Giants, marking the conclusion of a year where he hit .276 with 10 home runs and 57 RBIs. The outfielder, who is under a six-year, $113 million contract, played 88 games in the first half of the season.
Why it matters
The Giants are evaluating their outfield depth following a season where they carried 10 players on their depth chart. With Lee slated to earn approximately $23 million in 2027, the team could potentially trade players from their current surplus to address other roster needs.
Lee recorded a 105 OPS+ and finished the season with 12 stolen bases, while posting -4 outs above average in right field. His performance split featured a .302 batting average in the first half versus .236 over his final 55 games.
The players
Jung Hoo Lee
He is an outfielder for the San Francisco Giants who previously played in the KBO League.
Harrison Bader
He is a Gold Glove Award-winning outfielder who joined the Giants to anchor their defensive alignment.
Justin Han
He serves as the primary interpreter to assist Jung Hoo Lee with media communication.
The details
Moving from center field to right field to accommodate Gold Glove winner Harrison Bader, Lee navigated his second season with the assistance of interpreter Justin Han. Lee has stated his intention to improve his consistency heading into the 2027 season.
Timeline
December 2023: Jung Hoo Lee signed a six-year contract.
2026: Jung Hoo Lee played his third season.
September 2026: Jung Hoo Lee commented on his season performance.
2027: Jung Hoo Lee is owed $23 million.
Season Trajectory
The Giants must decide how to balance their outfield depth chart against the constraints of the MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement roster size regulations. This surplus forces the organization to weigh trade options against maintaining defensive stability in the coming seasons.
Lee is guaranteed $23 million for the 2027 season, a significant portion of the team's payroll that limits financial flexibility for other acquisitions. His defensive metrics of -4 outs above average suggest he may remain a primary trade candidate if the team seeks to upgrade the outfield defense.
The takeaway
Lee enters the offseason with a clear mandate to improve his consistency following a significant second-half batting decline. Fans should watch for potential trades involving the team's outfield surplus as the front office looks to rebalance the roster.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster moves, visit the San Francisco Baseball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MLB.
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