South Korean media criticize Lee Jung-hoo's performance as "below expectations," fearing it may hinder future Korean players' chances in MLB.

South Korean outfielder Lee Jung-hoo has established himself as the starting center fielder for the San Francisco Giants this season, but his recent poor form—just 2 hits in 15 at-bats over the past 5 games—has been severely criticized by Korean media, labeling him as an "below-average" player in MLB and suggesting his performance will greatly impact the focus on Korean players by major league clubs.

Sports Chosun published an article titled "Lee Jung-hoo in a slump, batting average drops below 0.260 crisis," bluntly stating that he is only an "below-average" player at the major league level. The report notes that since the game against the Diamondbacks on the 11th, he went hitless in 7 consecutive games, and if his batting average falls below .250, it would symbolize a clear and significant gap between the KBO and MLB levels.

Lee Jung-hoo was once dubbed the "Korean Ichiro" in the KBO, posting a .360 batting average in 2021 and an impressive .349 with 23 home runs and 113 RBIs in 2022, showcasing elite hitting ability. However, his transition to MLB has fallen short of expectations, raising concerns in Korean media that this could negatively impact future Korean hitters attempting to enter MLB via draft or free agency. The report states, "Top-tier KBO hitters are only considered below average in MLB. This will reduce MLB teams' interest in Korean hitters. Lee Jung-hoo is not just fighting for his own career but also for the future of younger players."

As of the 22nd, the Giants rank 4th in the National League West, trailing the wildcard spot by 3 games, making playoff chances slim. Amid the team's struggles, Lee Jung-hoo faces increased pressure. The report highlights that if he cannot quickly halt his decline and regain form, it will not only affect his role with the Giants but also potentially jeopardize his future in MLB.

The 27-year-old Lee Jung-hoo has appeared in 145 games this season, batting .261 with 8 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases, posting an overall OPS of .725. He signed a six-year, $113 million contract (approximately 8.2 billion RMB) with the Giants at the end of 2023 but struggled defensively in his first MLB year, hitting the outfield wall on a home run play and ultimately missing the entire season due to a structural shoulder injury, playing only 37 games.