'A' Lee Jung-hoo's Unlucky Real-Life Story! 169km Bullet Hit + Expected Batting Average of 0.750, Yet 4 At-Bats with No Hits → Silence Leads to Batting Average Drop to 0.279

*This content was translated by AI.

San Francisco Giants' Lee Jung-hoo (28) endured an incredibly unlucky day. Blocked by the opponent's consecutive stellar defensive plays and bad luck, he remained silent.

On the 12th (Korea time), Lee Jung-hoo started at third base and right fielder in the home game against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, USA, as part of the '2026 Major League Baseball (MLB)' season, but recorded four at-bats with no hits.

As a result, Lee Jung-hoo's seasonal batting average dropped from 0.281 to 0.279.

The start was somewhat disappointing. Entering his first at-bat as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the second inning, Lee Jung-hoo grounded out to first base after a 1-ball-1-strike count.

The real misfortune began from his second at-bat. In the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs and no runners on base, Lee Jung-hoo stepped up to the plate and hit a powerful ball squarely off the bat's center. According to 'Baseball Savant,' a tracking site based on Major League Baseball stats, that hit reached a speed of 104.8 mph (approximately 168.7 km/h) with an expected batting average (xBA) as high as 0.750. However, the ball, which seemed destined to go over the head, was caught by San Diego Padres' second baseman Fernando Tatis Jr. with a sensational jumping catch, resulting in an unfortunate out.

A disappointing scene continued in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out and no runners on base, Lee Jung-hoo faced left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui. After a grueling eight-pitch battle, he attacked a 92.3 mph four-seam fastball. The hit was a sharp line drive with a speed of 100.7 mph (approximately 162.1 km/h) and an expected batting average of 0.590, but it unfortunately headed straight toward the right fielder.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, with San Francisco trailing 5-7, Lee Jung-hoo stepped up as the leadoff hitter for his final at-bat and grounded out to left field on a foul fly. Left fielder Jayce Bowen chased the ball all the way to the foul area near the fence and caught it, ultimately ending the game without a hit.

On this day, Lee Jung-hoo produced consecutive hard hits (powerful balls exceeding 95 mph), showcasing his ability to make solid contact with the bat's center. However, due to the San Diego defensive team's sharp focus and the unfortunate direction of his hits, he ended up with a disappointing hitless game. The Giants also lost the match as is, halting their three-game winning streak. In the bottom of the ninth inning, facing San Diego closer Mason Miller, they created a bases-loaded opportunity after two outs but failed to score. Ultimately, the Padres surged ahead with five consecutive wins.

Meanwhile, Song Seong-moon of San Diego was inserted as a defensive replacement at second base starting in the bottom of the eighth inning and played defense for two innings. He did not step up to bat.

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*This content was translated by AI.