CHICAGO — Just a few weeks ago, his batting average was a mere .265.
Today, Jung Hoo Lee stands shoulder to shoulder with baseball greats like Willie Mays and Buster Posey.
Since Posey, no San Francisco Giant has amassed more hits over a 14-game period than Lee, who has racked up 27 hits during his current streak. To find a Giant achieving a similar feat, you have to look back to 1958 when Mays collected 22 hits in nine games, a mark Lee matched upon returning from the injured list.
The key to Lee’s recent success at the plate? Surprisingly, it’s not swinging.
“During my time on the IL, I didn’t just rest,” Lee explained through his team interpreter, Justin Han. “I spent time in the batting cage, just standing there and focusing.”
Lee missed only the minimum 10 days with a mild back strain, but he made the most of his time. Unable to swing, he stood in against the Trajekt pitching machine, which can replicate the characteristics of any offering from any pitcher in the major leagues.
Han, his interpreter, fed the machine.
“I didn’t take any swings, but just tried to feel out the pitches on the Trajekt, which helped out a lot,” Lee said. “I stood in there and [Han] just kind of randomly threw out pitches located everywhere. We would just communicate on whether it was a strike or a ball.”
Since returning from the IL, Lee is batting a remarkable 22-for-37 (.595).
His batting average is up to .324, tied with Luis Arraez among the top five qualified hitters in the majors, after he rapped two more base hits Saturday — with only three more from the rest of the Giants’ lineup in a 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Cubs.
In the words of manager Tony Vitello, it’s the product of “Jung Hoo being Jung Hoo.”
“I know Ichiro is a hero of his,” Vitello said. “That style of hitting that I think we’re kind of familiar with from a lot of Asian players has got a little bit of rhythm, a little bit of movement going forward. But Ichiro was always going forward and in line with the pitcher. … I just think he’s a really good hitter. I boil it down to the mentality, but I do see him staying in line a lot better.”
Before coming to MLB, Lee led Korea’s highest level in batting three times — a career .340 hitter over seven seasons. His first two seasons in San Francisco, however, produced merely a .265 mark at the plate.
He’s not allowing himself to look too far ahead about a possible MLB batting title.
“I don’t really want to be happy about it right now. I just want to be consistent on where I’m hitting right now and see where I’m at at the end of the season.”