SAN FRANCISCO (AP) \u2014 Harrison Bader is the new center fielder for the San Francisco Giants, so that means Jung Hoo Lee will be moving to right field.<\/p>\n
And the Korean star is apparently all in for the switch after speaking with new manager Tony Vitello and general manager Zack Minasian. Bader, too, can’t wait to get going with his new teammates this spring and insists constant communication will be they key to everyone getting on the same page in a hurry.<\/p>\n
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Bader played left field last year for the first time in his nine-year career.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have talked to Jung Hoo, Tony\u2019s talked to him, Zack spoke with him earlier,\u201d President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey said Friday. \u201cJung Hoo is great. Also, there\u2019s an understanding on our end and to Jung Hoo that there\u2019s a chance that Jung Hoo can still be getting reps in center field, but our plan is to have Bader play in center field.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bader finalized his $20.5 million, two-year contract<\/a> \u2014 and the Giants believe with his addition they will have a far-improved defensive outfield going forward. Lee will soon have a chance to become more comfortable with San Francisco’s unique right-field wall with a nearly identical one at one of the club’s spring training sites in Arizona. Heliot Ramos returns in left field.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The 31-year-old Bader batted .277 with 17 home runs, 54 RBIs and a .796 OPS in 146 combined games with Minnesota and Philadelphia last season \u2014 setting career highs in all those categories. He is eager to steal more bases.<\/p>\n \u201cBasically going into the free agency for the third time this year I really just wanted to find a home,\u201d Bader said. “And I think a number of factors that play into what a baseball player would identify as a home is winning culture, a really strong city, a culture in a city that is really centered around baseball, winning culture, good food, good energy. I just ultimately picked San Francisco because the opportunity was just fantastic to go out there and play my game. You always want to be an everyday player.\u201d<\/p>\n This will be the furthest West he has played \u2014 and his new \u201chome\u201d features challenges such as wind, mist and wild bounces.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cThe outfield defensively can certainly be tricky,\u201d Bader said, noting he plans to familiarize himself with it as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n Posey said the Giants had been aiming to acquire Bader all offseason.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a great fit for us, he\u2019s a guy who\u2019s going to play hard, play fearless in the outfield,\u201d Posey said.<\/p>\n Lee is still expected to be the center fielder for Korea in the World Baseball Classic, something the Giants support him doing.<\/p>\n