'Sudden in-game substitution → Excluded from lineup': Lee Jung-hoo, who clutched his lower back, avoided the worst... Manager says, "Not to the extent of being placed on the IL, condition has improved from yesterday"

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Jung-hoo (28, San Francisco Giants), whose condition raised concerns after a sudden substitution during the game, appears to be in better shape than feared.

On the 20th (Korea time), Lee Jung-hoo was excluded from the starting lineup for the away game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, in the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) season.

This was an expected outcome. Lee Jung-hoo started the previous day, on the 19th, in the Arizona game as the leadoff hitter and right fielder. He grounded out to right field in his first at-bat in the first inning but hit a ground-rule double to left field in the third inning with one out and a runner on second base. He recorded hits in five consecutive games, drawing an upward trend.

However, he could not complete the game. He was suddenly substituted for Will Brennan during the defensive play in the bottom of the fourth inning, with the San Francisco Giants citing lower back cramps as the reason. After the game, San Francisco manager Tony Vitello stated, "It seems unlikely that Lee Jung-hoo will be able to play in the game on the 20th."

Locally, there were concerns that a precise diagnosis of Lee Jung-hoo's physical condition was needed. Lee Jung-hoo suffered a shoulder injury during his debut season while colliding with a fence during defensive play, which led to surgery and forced him to end his season prematurely. This naturally fueled growing concerns.

Fortunately, the situation did not deteriorate to the worst case. According to local media, Manager Vitello explained before the game, "After speaking with Lee Jung-hoo in the training room, it appeared his condition had improved significantly from yesterday. While we need to monitor his exact status, we decided it would be better for him to receive treatment and rest today."

Vitello further added, "It does not seem necessary to place him on the Injured List (IL)." If rehabilitation or special treatment were required, placement on the IL would be unavoidable. However, this indicates that recovery is expected to be possible with just a few days of rest.

San Francisco constructed its lineup for the day as follows: Harrison Bader (center field), Luis Arraez (second base), Casey Schmidt (designated hitter), Rafael Devers (first base), Willy Adames (shortstop), Matt Chapman (third base), Drew Gilbert (left field), Daniel Suarez (catcher), and Will Brennan (right field). Landon Lupe was the starting pitcher.

Lee Jung-hoo has recorded a batting average of 0.268 (179 at-bats, 48 hits), 3 home runs, 17 RBIs, 20 runs scored, an on-base percentage of 0.311, a slugging percentage of 0.385, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.696 in 48 games this season. Compared to last year, when he played a full-time season, his overall numbers are similar, though his on-base and slugging percentages are slightly lower.

Last year, Lee Jung-hoo experienced a sharp upward trend after July. With his lower back injury resolved and the weather becoming genuinely warmer, expectations are high that he can continue his upward trajectory.

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*This content was translated by AI.