Lee Jung-hoo’s three-run blast caps ‘Korean Heritage Night’ at Oracle Park

With a packed crowd of over 40,000 fans, many clad in jerseys bearing his name, San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo delivered a storybook moment during the team’s Korean Heritage Night at Oracle Park on Tuesday (local time).

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Lee crushed a three-run homer to right field — his fifth of the season — effectively sealing a 10-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The moment felt cinematic. Arizona had opted to intentionally walk hot-hitting Elliot Ramos to pitch to Lee, who had been struggling of late. But Lee made them pay. Facing left-hander Joe Mantiply, he launched the fourth pitch of the at-bat into the stands, sending the crowd into a frenzy. It was Lee’s first home run at home in 388 days, the last coming in April 2023.

Lee’s heroics — which included multiple hits on the night — came on a day when the Giants celebrated Korean culture. Fans were treated to K-pop dance performances, Korean-inspired ballpark food like kimchi fries and bulgogi quesadillas and a ceremonial first pitch by Consul General Lim Jeong-taek of San Francisco.

Every attendee received a special edition “Grandson of the Wind” jersey featuring Lee’s name in Korean and a wind graphic on the sleeves, a nod to his nickname and lineage — he is the son of Korean baseball legend Lee Jong-beom.

Now a cornerstone of the Giants' lineup, Lee has added emotional resonance to the franchise’s annual Korean Heritage Night, an event the team has hosted for over a decade.

Last year’s edition was especially poignant: sidelined with a shoulder injury, Lee caught the ceremonial pitch thrown by his father, who earned the moniker “Son of the Wind” during his own storied career.

Speaking to the Hankook Ilbo before the game, Lee reflected on what this year’s event meant to him. “Last year, I wasn’t able to play because of injury, so it was really disappointing,” he said. “This year, I’m happy I could be on the field. It’s a meaningful night for me as a Korean.”

In the stands, Lee’s growing fan base made its presence felt. A sea of Korean flags and homemade signs filled the seats.

Among the most visible groups was “Hoo Lee Gans,” a fan club formed earlier this year by local baseball enthusiast Kyle Smeallie. Clad in bright orange wigs and occupying an outfield section near Lee’s defensive post, the group has expanded rapidly from its original 51 members — a nod to Lee’s jersey number — to more than 100 attendees at the game.

“Lee Jung-hoo plays with intelligence and passion,” said Smeallie. “He’s made us love San Francisco baseball even more. No matter what his stats are, we’ll always be behind him.”

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.