MILWAUKEE — Almost three months since undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, Jung Hoo Lee’s rehab is beginning to ramp up, and the Giants decided to mark the occasion by inviting the 25-year-old outfielder to join them on their remaining road trips.
“Everybody’s all for having him on the road with us right now,” manager Bob Melvin said. “He’s going to be with us for a while. He’s great to have around. Always in a great mood. It can get a little lonely when you’re just at home doing your rehab all the time and only see the team sporadically, so it’s good to have him here.”
In the past week or two, Lee has been cleared to start running and lifting weights, an indication that his left shoulder is fully healed from the June 4 procedure to repair the labrum he tore crashing into Oracle Park’s center field wall in their May 12 game against the Reds.
The operation performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache came with a rehab timeline of approximately six months, and Giants trainer Dave Groeschner said Lee was right on schedule. The expectation is that he will report for spring training in February with no limitations.
Since suffering the injury, Lee has stayed back in San Francisco while the team is away to focus on his rehab. But the organization determined a couple extra hotel rooms for Lee and his interpreter, Justin Han, was worth the cost to help their $113 million investment prepare for next season and beyond.
“What can I say? I’m just happy to be with the team,” Lee said, with Han interpreting.
With Han by his side a few hours before first pitch Tuesday, Lee leaned over the railing of the visitors’ dugout. Han snapped a few photographs on his phone while Lee scoped out American Family Field for the first time under blue skies. With its roof closed Wednesday, he directed his gaze up toward the lattices of steel beams.
Born and raised in Korea, every major-league stadium is new to Lee. But they won’t be next year.
“Even if I’m not playing baseball, still going to new stadiums gives me a vision of how I can play next time when I’m back here,” Lee said. “So it’s good to be here.”
After taking it all in, Lee made his way to the left-field grass, where the Giants’ pitchers were going through their daily conditioning.
Lee has begun running and stretching with the pitchers before games. Three days a week, he is in the weight room, dedicating two days to his upper body.
In 37 games before suffering the injury, Lee displayed bat-to-ball skills and defensive ability that indicated he was adapting well to his first taste of the majors. In the trainer’s room, the Giants have only gained more confidence in their investment.
So independently motivated, Lee has required hardly any oversight in his rehab. When the training staff gives him a task, it gets done.
Off the field, the time away has allowed Lee to get settled in San Francisco. And breeze through his Netflix watchlist.
“I’m a homebody,” he said. “Go into Netflix and search ‘K-Drama.’ I’ve watched everything.”
