Interpreter recalls Lee Jung-hoo’s grueling rehab: ‘It was hard to watch’

Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants, who made his MLB debut last season, went through such an intense rehabilitation process that even his interpreter described it as “almost painful to watch.”

Han Dong-hee, also known as Justin Han, who was assigned to work with Lee throughout the season, recently reflected on the outfielder’s recovery in an interview with MLB.com published on Sunday (local time).

“Lee is an incredibly positive person. He tried to overcome every situation,” Han said. “But it really wasn’t fun to watch. For several months, it was almost brutal.”

Lee signed a six-year contract worth 113 billion won ($84 million) with San Francisco ahead of the 2024 season. However, on May 13, during a home game against the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park, he collided hard with the outfield wall while making a defensive play and injured his shoulder.

The injury required surgery, and he was sidelined for the rest of his first season. Lee finished 2024 with 37 games played, a batting average of .262, two home runs, eight RBIs and two stolen bases.

Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants, center, is substituted after injuring his shoulder during a collision with the outfield wall in a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park in San Francisco on May 13, 2024. At left is interpreter Han Dong-hee. AP-Newsis

“He always tried to overcome adversity with a positive mindset,” noting that the experience seems to have laid the groundwork for Lee’s impressive performance this year," said Han, who closely witnessed Lee’s months-long recovery.

“If he hadn’t gotten hurt last year, he would’ve had a solid season. But I don’t think he would be performing as well as he is in his second year. He definitely learned something important through the injury and rehab process.”

As of Saturday, Lee has played in all of the Giants’ games this season, posting a .361 batting average (26 hits in 72 at-bats), three home runs and 14 RBIs. “What he’s doing now is truly amazing,” Han said. “When he hit two home runs against the Yankees on April 14, I got chills.”

Han, who graduated from middle and high school in Vancouver, Canada, previously worked as an interpreter during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and later with the NC Dinos in the Korea Baseball Organization. He began working with Lee full time during last year’s spring training.

“Lee is incredibly humble,” Han said. “Even though he’s famous in Korea and often recognized on the street, he doesn’t like drawing attention to himself. I really admire that about him.”

Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants runs to first base after a bunt during the first inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., Friday. AP-Yonhap

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.