He is the son of Lee Jong-beom, who starred in the KBO League and earned the nickname "Son of the Wind,"[2][3][4] earning the younger Lee the moniker "Grandson of the Wind."[5][6]
Lee was born on August 20, 1998, in Nagoya, Japan, when his father was playing in NPB for the Chunichi Dragons.[7] In a profile of his father when Lee Jung-hoo was seven years old, he was already attracting attention for his devotion to baseball and his skill at the game.[4]
The Nexen Heroes selected Lee in the 2017 KBO League draft (held in 2016), as an infielder. Following spring training, Lee was included on the team's Opening Day roster at age 18 without going through the KBO Futures League. Converted to an outfielder, Lee became the first rookie out of high school to appear in every game for a KBO team. He finished the season batting .324/.395/.417 with 2 home runs, 47 RBIs, 12 stolen bases, and 179 hits, which set a new rookie record for hits. At the conclusion of the season, Lee was voted KBO League Rookie of the Year Award.[8]
In 2018, Lee batted .355/.412/.477. In 2019 he batted .336/.386/.456. In 2019, he won series MVP in the playoffs. His father, Lee Jong-beom, won the MVP award in the 1993 Korean Series, with a batting average of .310 (9 hits in 29 at-bats) and three steals, the most in a game. With Lee Jung-hoo's selection, it became the first time in the KBO that both father and son won a postseason MVP award.[9] Lee won another Golden Glove Award in 2020[10] with a batting line of .333, 15 home runs, 101 RBIs, and a career-high OPS of .921.
In the 2022 season, Lee played in 142 games and hit .349/.421/.575 with 23 home runs and 113 RBIs. After the season, he won the KBO League Most Valuable Player Award.[11]
In 2023, Lee played in 85 games for Kiwoom, and hit .319/.407/.456 with six home runs and 45 RBIs. On July 25, 2023, it was announced that Lee would undergo season–ending surgery after suffering a fractured ankle.[12] On December 4, Lee was officially posted to Major League Baseball (MLB) by the Heroes.[13]
On December 14, 2023, Lee signed a six-year, $113 million contract with the San Francisco GiantsofMajor League Baseball.[14][15] The Giants also had to pay an additional posting fee of $18.825 million to the Kiwoom Heroes.[16]
Lee hit his first home run in MLB on March 30, 2024, against the San Diego Padres. Family members, including his father, were in attendance to witness the event. Lee suffered an injury to his left shoulder on May 12, and the Giants announced that he would undergo season–ending labrum surgery on May 17.[17] In 37 games for the Giants, Lee had hit .262/.310/.331 with two home runs and eight RBI.
^Kim Jin-hee (September 8, 2017). "[KBO] '바람의 손자' 이정후 "이종범 뛰어넘기보다 저 자체로 인정받고파…새로운 별명 공모합니다!"" [[KBO] ‘Grandson of the Wind’ Lee Jeong-hoo, 'Rather than surpassing Lee Jong-beom, I want to be recognized for who I am... I’m running a contest for a new nickname!']. Etoday (in Korean). Retrieved June 18, 2020.
