‘A smooth conversation’: SF Giants’ Lee discusses transition to right field

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Jung Hoo Lee idolized Ichiro Suzuki as a kid. Like Suzuki, Lee wears No. 51. Like Suzuki, Lee employs a contact-centric approach.

And now, like Suzuki, Lee plays right field.

“It was a smooth conversation,” Lee said through team interpreter Justin Han on Friday afternoon. “I know that bringing in (Harrison) Bader is going to make the outfield way better. It wasn’t hard to make a decision saying that I’ll move over to right field. Whatever it takes to help the team out.”

Following the addition of Bader on a two-year, $20.5 million deal in late January, president of baseball operations Buster Posey and general manager Zack Minasian confirmed that Lee would move from center to right. Minasian and rookie manager Tony Vitello spoke to Lee about the move, and both said that Lee took the news in stride.

“He was great. I’ll keep the particulars to us, but he almost tried to make it easier on me,” Minasian said. “Total team player. He’s a pro. I think he appreciates and respects how our fans have treated him and connected to him, so I think Jung Hoo’s message to me, short and sweet, was whatever I can do to help us win.”

The Giants didn’t envision moving Lee from center field to right field before the halfway point of the six-year, $113 million deal he signed ahead of the 2024 season. Given Lee’s poor defensive metrics, it was a transition they needed to make.

Over 184 games in the majors, Lee has been worth -6 outs above average, a range-based defensive metric. Last season, Lee totaled -5 outs above average, and San Francisco’s outfielders combined last in the majors in the metric (-18).

“Going back to the past season, if I played better in center field, the organization would’ve kept me in center field,” Lee said. “But, whatever it takes to make the team better. I’ve always been (for) the team.”

Lee was asked whether his shoulder injury in 2024, caused by crashing into the center-field wall, affected him last season. He responded by saying it would be “a bad look for me” to blame his defense on the ailment, instead conceding he “could have done better.”

Despite Lee’s poor metrics in center field, the Giants believe Lee has the foundation to be a solid defensive right fielder.

Lee hasn’t played right field in the majors, but has experience at the position dating back to his time in the KBO, where he won five Golden Glove Awards. While Lee’s range rated out poorly, his 91st percentile arm will certainly play.

“We looked at Jungy relative to center fielders in terms of jumps and routes and arm strength and where he ranked there. Then, we also looked at him relative to right fielders,” Minasian said in January. “So, a lot of that came back really positive about how he would transition to right field and where he would rank relative to other right fielders. We think he’s going to be very good out there.”

The biggest challenge awaiting Lee is Oracle Park’s unique right-field wall. The wall’s combination of height (24 feet), angles, bricks and chainlink archways makes for a challenge, but Lee said he plans to call former Giant Mike Yastrzemski and get some tips on conquering the beast. The Giants also have a field at Papago Park that replicates Oracle Park’s dimensions, the main difference being that all the fences are chainlink.

“The right field in Oracle Park (has) so many dynamics and so much going on,” Lee said. “I’ll head over there when spring training is over and spend a lot of time over there at that corner.”

“His openness and willingness to go out to right field and train out there has been key,” Vitello said. “Then, it’s going to have to go a step further because, as you mentioned, our park is unique. So, the fact he is a true center fielder can benefit the outfield play as a whole because I know last year wasn’t as good as it needed to be.”

Oracle Park’s center field now becomes the domain of Bader, a one-time Gold Glove Award winner who has been one of the best defensive outfielders of his generation.

Since 2017, Bader’s +77 outs above average are the most among all outfielders, while his +67 outs above average in center field are second only to Kevin Kiermaier. With Bader in center field alongside Lee in right and Heliot Ramos in left field, San Francisco’s outfield stands to improve.

“I’m super excited about it,” said Logan Webb, who threw his first live bullpen of camp on Friday. “You obviously got Bader, who’s known for being unbelievable out there. (Heliot) Ramos has worked his butt off all offseason. Obviously, Jungy. Jungy looks great right now. He seems to be excited about the move. … I think it’ll be a smooth transition.”