In an away game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2024 Major League Baseball exhibition game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona on the 1st (Korea time), Lee started as center fielder and recorded two hits (one homer) and one RBI and one run from three times at bat. The team lost 1-2.
As a result, Lee Jung-hoo's batting average in exhibition games rose to 0.500.
Lee displayed good batting performance from his first at bat on the day. As a leadoff hitter in the top of the first inning, he pulled a low curveball towards the body of Arizona's right-hander Ryan Nelson three times, and hit a double over the right-winger's height. However, he failed to score a point due to the silence of subsequent hitters.
Making his start fresh, Lee hit his first homerun in an exhibition game at the second batter's box in the top of the third inning when his team was trailing 0-2. This time, he targeted Nelson's fastball. Lee hit a 94.7-mile fastball in the middle with a ball count 2-1, and hit a solo shot over the right fence.
Lee, who displayed good batting performance, grounded out to the third base at the last batter's box. Lee finished the game by replacing Otto López ahead of his defense in the bottom of the sixth inning.
"Lee was known as a batter with accuracy rather than strength," the official major league website MLB.com said after the game. "But the 25-year-old center fielder showed an impressive shot."
According to Statcast, the Major League's official statistical system, Lee hit a home run at 109.7 mph on the day. The shooting angle is 18 degrees and the flying distance is 418 feet (about 127 meters). It was a hit that would have been a homer in all stadiums except for Oracle Park, the home stadium of San Francisco.
Despite the huge hit, however, Lee rushed to the first base right after hitting the homer. Afterwards, he slowly moved around the base after confirming that it was the homer. MLB.com also noted Lee's fast speed.
Lastly, there were many doubts about how Lee Jung-hoo, who played in the KBO League for seven seasons, will turn out in the Major League. However, Lee has been cruising so far," he said in positive comments.
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