Report: SF Giants general manager visits Korea to scout KBO star outfielder

The SF Giants sent general manager Pete Putila to Korea for a firsthand look at Kiwoom Heroes star outfielder Jung-hoo Lee.

The SF Giants’ season ended last weekend, but the offseason scouting has already begun, 5,600 miles from San Francisco. According to a report by Jae-Geun Jeong of Chosun Sports (Korean-language news agency), Giants general manager Pete Putila was spotted at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea to scout Kiwoom Heroes outfielder Jung-hoo Lee, who will be posted to MLB teams this offseason, who is back practicing with his team after suffering an ankle injury this summer. This is not the first time San Francisco has been tied to Lee. The Giants were seen scouting him earlier this year.

OF Jung-hoo Lee singles during the 2020 Olympic Summer Games. (2020) / Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

Nicknamed "Grandson of the Wind" because his father (KBO legend Jong-Beom Lee) was known as "Son of the Wind." Lee established himself as the best player in the KBO after winning the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2022. That season, he hit .349/.421/.575 with 36 doubles, 10 triples, 23 home runs, 66 walks, and just 32 strikeouts in 627 plate appearances. While Lee has never been a productive base stealer, he has good speed and has consistently played quality defense in center field. In fact, he has won five Gold Glove awards.

Lee’s production did take a step back this season and was limited to just 85 games because of his ankle injury. He still hit .319/.407/.456 with 23 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 49 walks, and 23 strikeouts in 386 plate appearances.

Lee fits the mold of the type of player the Giants have targeted under president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi. While there are concerns about his ability to impact the ball, given his limited power production in the hitter-friendly KBO, he has been an unparalleled contact hitter with incredible control of the strike zone. Given the Giants' struggles with contact throughout the 2023 season and a clear need to upgrade the outfield this offseason, especially if Michael Conforto opts out of his contract, Lee checks a lot of boxes.

It’s unclear exactly what kind of contract Lee will demand. His contact skills and defense are both exceptional. He also just turned 25. However, if his power production does not translate to the major leagues, there’s some risk he could be limited to a fourth-outfielder role. Nevertheless, it’s hard to envision him receiving less than $50 million, which will cost the team that signs him an additional $9.275 million plus 15% of the total guarantees in his contract above $50 million in a posting fee to the Heroes.

With an exceptionally weak offensive free-agent class, the SF Giants might have to look to new possible avenues to upgrade the lineup this offseason. It seems like that could lead the front office to pursue the international market with more aggressiveness, which could make center fielder Jung-hoo Lee the franchise’s first major signing out of the KBO in history.