
San Francisco Giants v New York Yankees | Jim McIsaac/GettyImages
While the SF Giants pitching staff is probably happy to leave Yankee Stadium and the short porch in right field, Jung Hoo Lee would like to see more games against the New York Yankees. He blasted three home runs to help the Giants secure their first series victory at Yankee Stadium.
It is a big deal when you have a performance like this against any major league team, but games against the Yankees get a little extra coverage. His first home run came in a rain-shortened game on Friday night.
The Giants convincingly won that, scoring five runs in the first inning against Marcus Stroman and never looking back. They knocked him out of the game before he could even get through the first inning. Lee’s three-run shot was the big hit in that inning.
By the way, if you want to smile, you will want to hear Lee’s home run call on the Korean broadcast. You could just feel the pure excitement from the announcers to see Lee have a big hit. His success is not just a big deal for Giants fans, but he has a huge following in Korea as well.
The offensive outburst continued on Sunday, as Lee got the Giants on the board with a solo shot to right field in the fourth inning. The Giants played from behind for the first part of the game, and the lineup did not show signs of life against Carlos Rodón. Of course, Lee was the exception to this.
Christian Koss and Willy Adames reached base in the sixth inning. Lee stepped to the plate with one out and lifted a hanging 1-2 curveball from Rodón just over the right-field fence. Perhaps, Lee benefited from the short porch in right field, but Rodón did hang the pitch, too.
The Giants squeaked by with a win against the Yankees on Sunday. And, Lee played a huge part in that victory.
The Giants have gotten surprising contributions from Wilmer Flores and Mike Yastrzemski in the early going, but Lee has looked like the breakout star on the roster. He is slashing .352/.426/.704 (214 wRC+) with three home runs, 11 RBI, and 16 runs in 61 plate appearances. He has also swiped three bases in three opportunities.
Plus, the speedy outfielder has flashed some good defense in center field. It is way too early to talk about who might be on the All-Star team, and that process is a bit subjective in the first place. However, Lee looks like he could be the young position player star that has been absent for Giants fans since Buster Posey debuted.