After suffering a season-ending shoulder injury just 37 games into his debut MLB season last year, Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee experienced his first full big-league season in 2025 and has plenty to show for it.

The South Korean star slashed .266/.327/.407 in 150 games this season, leading all Giants hitters in batting average, doubles (31) and triples (12; also ranked No. 3 in MLB). Those numbers were thanks largely in part to a red-hot start by Lee, when he hit .319/.375/.526 in his first 30 games.

With the 2025 MLB season now behind him and the Giants falling just short of the playoffs at 81-81, the 27-year-old returned to South Korea and spoke to The Chosun Daily on Tuesday at Incheon Airport, where he reflected on the learning experiences of his turbulent campaign.

“I’ve never experienced such extreme ups and downs in a season,” Lee told The Chosun Daily. “I felt emotions I’d never felt before in baseball. I started strong but couldn’t finish as well. However, since I achieved that strong start myself, maintaining that level throughout the year will be a new goal. Even during slumps, I didn’t collapse completely and showed resilience by climbing back. Regardless of how long I play, this year might be a pivotal one in my baseball career.”

Lee felt like “time just zipped past” this season as opposed to last, he said, and noted he didn’t feel like he wanted to return to South Korea so soon now that he has become closer with his Giants teammates and fully understands how the organization works.

“Next year will be even better,” Lee predicted.

There were plenty of adjustments Lee had to make across a 162-game slate in the United States, he added, such as the lack of off days and adjusting to series in different time zones — both of which made him realize how important it is to keep up his physical condition and diet.

“Even American players struggle with this, but Asians like me need to prepare even more thoroughly,” Lee said.

Lee also admitted he felt a lot of pressure to perform in the big leagues, which led to overthinking both at the plate and in the outfield. But he’s “grateful” for the help he received from the Giants organization in that regard, and the struggles also inspired him to train during the season and finish strong.

“I thought, ‘Am I going to drop to a .100 average?’ I pressured myself a lot,” Lee recalled. “I needed to perform well and fight pitchers in the batter’s box, but focusing too much on results made me neglect my approach. Normally, even if I struggle, I’d tell myself, ‘I’ll get it next time,’ but this year, one bad at-bat felt huge. That psychological pressure followed me.”

Over his last 30 games, Lee hit .287 with eight RBI and a home run. He finished the final seven games slashing .370/.370/.481 and ended the year as just the fifth player in franchise history to record 30 doubles and 10 triples in a season.

In the field, Lee hopes to be better in 2026. While he made some jaw-dropping catches throughout the season, there also were areas where Lee knows he can improve — some of which might have been a result of that aforementioned pressure.

“Honestly, defense only gets praised when it’s good, but mistakes lead to constant criticism,” Lee told The Chosun Daily. “I believe my defense will improve next year. In July, my defense suddenly declined, and I reflected a lot. As a center fielder, I need to be more aggressive and take charge, but I started overthinking. Having played in many stadiums this year, I’ll adapt better next season. Even at home, unexpected situations arise daily, so I need to stay alert.”

Lee said he plans to get right to work back in South Korea while he’s still in peak physical condition. He’ll rest afterward, he explained, as he doesn’t want to work on his hitting when he’s not in shape and risk jeopardizing his form. While he has plenty of on-field goals for his second full MLB season in 2026, he knows the mental lessons he learned in 2025 will help him improve moving forward.

“I’ve never learned psychology formally,” Lee said. “If my skills are lacking, I can seek experts, but mental aspects are different. This year’s experience will nourish my future career. I won’t dwell on the negatives but will use this as a stepping stone to become a better player.”

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