Lee Jung-hoo's Season Effectively Over With Groin Contusion… 0.276 Average, 0.724 OPS

Lee Jung-hoo has been placed on the injured list with a groin contusion. With 6 games remaining and the team eliminated from the postseason, his season is effectively over, with a 0.276 average in 143 games.

Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.

"I'm fine." Those were Lee Jung-hoo's words in a clubhouse interview on September 22, Korea time, before he was told he was being placed on the injured list. According to MK Sports, after saying this he was even preparing to pinch-hit that day. Then the situation flipped. At a subsequent team meeting, he was informed of the injured list placement. On the day the player said he would play, the club decided to shut down his season.

Fouled Off His Own Leg, Pulled From the Dodgers Game, Placed on the 10-Day Injured List

It all began a day earlier. According to MK Sports, Lee was replaced in the game against the Dodgers on September 21, Korea time, after being hit in the groin by his own foul ball. The day that ended with his substitution led to a 10-day injured list placement the next day, and Yonhap News reported that the move was announced as of September 21, U.S. local time.

San Francisco manager Tony Vitello explained the basis for the decision that day: "An injury to the core of the body affects every movement, including swinging, running and throwing." Asked whether he would have made the same decision if the team had been in a postseason race, the manager avoided giving a definite answer. According to MK Sports, the player's own willingness to play and the club's decision to place him on the list were at odds on the same day.

6 Games Left, Postseason Elimination, and the Return Waiting Period Closed the Season

As the name suggests, a 10-day injured list bars a player from playing for at least 10 days. At the time of the announcement, San Francisco had 6 regular-season games remaining, and its postseason hopes had already been dashed. Yonhap News weighed this condition together with the return waiting period and concluded that Lee Jung-hoo's 2026 season was effectively over. The waiting period was longer than the 6 remaining games, and there was no postseason in which to play additional games.

Third Year, 143 Games, 0.276: Comparing His 3 MLB Seasons

By the numbers, his third-year performance surpassed both previous seasons. In 143 games he hit 0.276 with 10 home runs, 57 RBIs, 65 runs and 12 stolen bases, along with an on-base percentage of 0.320, a slugging percentage of 0.404 and an OPS of 0.724 (Yonhap News and MK Sports). His batting average rose by 0.01 from 0.266 in 150 games last year, and his home runs rose by 2, from 8 to 10.

Season	Games	Average	Home Runs	RBIs
2024	37	0.262	2	8
2025	150	0.266	8	55
2026	143	0.276	10	57

The problem is the size of the improvement. For a hitter who crossed over after posting a 0.340 career average and a 0.898 OPS over 7 KBO seasons, it is thin for a third-year performance. His career line over the three seasons was reported as a 0.270 average and a 0.719 OPS. The cutoff date for these figures was not confirmed.

That is how the third season of his 6-year, $113 million contract ended. According to Ilgan Sports, his annual salaries are $22 million each in 2026 and 2027, and $20.5 million each in 2028 and 2029. The contract runs through the 2029 season and includes an opt-out clause after the 2027 season.

A June Surge to a 0.340 Average, and the Gap to the Final 0.276

The most surprising number this season is not an injury figure but June. In a report on July 5, 2026, Newsis said Lee hit 0.340 with 2 home runs and 12 RBIs over the month of June. Around that time, reports of a batting title race appeared. And the season ended at 0.276. Subtracting the final season average from the June monthly average leaves 0.064. The batting title race was a midseason situation, and there is no basis for attributing the second-half decline to this contusion.

The rankings differed by outlet. In its September 22 report, Yonhap News wrote that he ranked 17th in the National League in batting average, but a search of MLB's player page showed 18th and Baseball Almanac showed 19th. It was not confirmed whether the cutoff dates and qualifying plate appearance conditions are the same. What is confirmed is the injured list placement and his season stats; the final ranking will be settled only after the official stat sheets close.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where is Lee Jung-hoo's injury?

It is a groin contusion. He was replaced after being hit by his own foul ball in the game against the Dodgers on September 21, Korea time, and was placed on the 10-day injured list the next day.

Q. What are Lee Jung-hoo's 2026 season stats?

He hit 0.276 in 143 games with 10 home runs, 57 RBIs, 65 runs and 12 stolen bases. He posted an on-base percentage of 0.320, a slugging percentage of 0.404 and an OPS of 0.724.

Q. How large is Lee Jung-hoo's contract, and what is his salary?

It is a 6-year contract worth $113 million in total, with a base salary of $22 million for the 2026 season. This was the third year of the contract, and it includes an opt-out clause after the 2027 season.

Related Official Sites

San Francisco Giants Official Website — Check injured list and roster move announcements
MLB Official Player Stats for Lee Jung-hoo — Original source for season-by-season and career stats
MLB National League Official Batting Stats — Where the batting average rankings are finalized after the season closes
KBO Official Career Stats for Lee Jung-hoo — For comparing his 7 KBO seasons

Lead image · Archival photo · Not an on-site photo of the game described in the article · Photo composite · Photo = Wikimedia Commons (Turned UP Media), CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo = Wikimedia Commons (Trainholic), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo = Wikimedia Commons (Vhryce), CC BY 4.0