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San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo was placed on the 10-day injured list with a mid-back strain, the team announced Friday before hosting the Chicago White Sox at Oracle Park. The move is retroactive to Tuesday, meaning Lee will be eligible to rejoin the Giants next Friday at the earliest, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Lee felt a "pinch" in his back during pregame work earlier this week and then experienced the same sensation during his second at-bat against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, Giants manager Tony Vitello told MLB.com, as reported by Yonhap. Lee left that game in the fourth inning and missed the next two contests with back spasms.
"I think he feels immensely better than he did originally," Vitello told MLB.com. "But he still feels some of that grab. I think like a lot of our guys, part of it is guarding himself from himself. He's going to want to be out there no matter what, but it's never any fun when you do the old two steps forward, one step back with an injury like that."
Coverage Comparison
Two separate Yonhap News Agency reports, both by reporter Yoo Jee-ho, covered the injury from different angles. The first, published Friday, focused on the official IL placement and included manager quotes and team context. The second, published Monday, detailed the moment Lee was pulled from the game with back spasms and included updates on other South Korean players in Major League Baseball.
Both reports agree on the core facts: Lee's injury, his exit from Monday's game, and his season statistics. The later report adds the manager's explanation of the "pinch" sensation, while the earlier report provides the timeline of Lee's recent performance, including his .268 batting average and his five-game hitting streak that ended with the injury.
Key Claims
Lee was batting .268 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 48 games this season, according to Yonhap. He batted .312 in April but was hitting just .221 in May before the injury. The five-game hitting streak he carried into Monday's game matched his season high, per the same source.
The Giants made a corresponding roster move, bringing up outfielder Victor Bericoto from Triple-A Sacramento, as reported by Yonhap.
Perspectives
While both Yonhap reports are consistent, the earlier article from Monday provides a broader look at South Korean players in MLB. It notes that Kim Hye-seong of the Los Angeles Dodgers went 1-for-2 with a walk against the San Diego Padres, and Kim Ha-seong of the Atlanta Braves went 0-for-2 with a walk in a 12-0 loss to the Miami Marlins. These details, while not central to Lee's injury, offer context for readers following South Korean players across the league.
The Giants' decision to place Lee on the IL, despite him feeling better during Thursday's off day, reflects a cautious approach, as Vitello's comments suggest the team is prioritizing long-term health over immediate return. This perspective is conveyed directly through the manager's quotes, which were carried by Yonhap from MLB.com.