Lee Jung-hoo, the South Korean rookie for the San Francisco Giants, has been ruled out for the rest of this season with a shoulder injury.The Giants announced Friday (local time) that Lee will “undergo season-ending surgery in the next couple of weeks and will not return in 2024.” The decision was reached a day after Lee, who was earlier diagnosed with a left shoulder dislocation, met with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles, where the renowned orthopedic surgeon recommended surgery to repair a torn labrum.Lee sustained the injury after crashing into the outfield wall at Oracle Park in San Francisco last Sunday while trying to make a leaping catch against the Cincinnati Reds.He dropped to the ground and immediately grabbed his left shoulder in obvious pain. A few minutes later, the Giants’ head athletic trainer, Dave Groeschner, escorted Lee off the field while holding the player’s left arm steady.

The Giants initially said Lee had suffered a left shoulder strain but changed the diagnosis to a dislocation after the game. An MRI test later showed structural damage, which led to a meeting with ElAttrache for a second opinion on his next steps.This is a devastating ending to the rookie campaign for Lee, who signed a six-year, $113 million contract with the Giants in December after seven successful seasons with the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).In 37 games for the Giants this year, Lee batted .262/.310/.331 with two home runs, eight RBIs and two steals, while making some highlight-reel plays in center field. At the time of his injury, he ranked second on the Giants with 38 hits.Lee’s surgery leaves San Diego 메이저 Padres shortstop Kim Ha-seong as the only South Korean player in Major League Baseball at the moment