SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Jung Hoo Lee’s MRI on Monday revealed that the center fielder has not sustained any structural damage in his back, and the team is hopeful the center fielder could return to the field as early as Friday, following the team’s off day.
“We’re going to give him through the off day,” said manager Bob Melvin. “So, if that happens, we have two more (games) here, then we have three at home. I think that’s going to be enough time. … He wouldn’t play all those games, but hopefully, he’s able to play after the off day. Sometimes, these things linger on a little bit longer than maybe you’d hope. … I just don’t want to put pressure on him to feel like he has to play Friday.”
Melvin said Lee is dealing with spasms in the mid-to-upper back area, adding that Lee has shown “mild” improvement and will see a chiropractor. Lee won’t need “a ton” of at-bats prior to Opening Day on March 27, but Melvin would feel most comfortable if Lee can play three exhibition games between now and then.
Lee was scratched from Saturday’s lineup due to the back issue after sleeping on it wrong, according to Melvin. He last appeared in a game on March 13.
This spring, Lee has a .300 batting average and .967 OPS with two home runs and five RBIs, often hitting third while LaMonte Wade Jr. bats leadoff. Lee only played 37 games last year due to a season-ending shoulder injury after signing a six-year, $113 million deal. He hit .262/.310/.331 with two home runs, two steals and eight RBIs.
Giants’ High-A team to relocate
The Eugene Emeralds, the Giants’ High-A minor-league affiliate, announced on Tuesday that the franchise plans to relocate after failing to secure a long-term stadium plan.
“After four years of extensive efforts to secure a long-term home in Eugene, the Eugene Emeralds have reached a difficult conclusion: the future of professional baseball in the Emerald Valley is coming to an end,” the team announced in a statement.
The Giants did not provide comment at the time of publication.
Last May, voters rejected a $15 million bond measure to help fund a new stadium for the team at the Lane County Fairgrounds. The Emeralds also considered a “smaller-scale expansion” of PK Park, which also houses the University of Oregon baseball team, but the team did not receive the necessary funding.
The Emeralds, the Giants’ High-A affiliate since 2021, will continue playing at PK Park until they find a long-term stadium solution.
“We recognize that the loss of professional baseball in Eugene is deeply disappointing for many,” Emeralds general manager Allan Benavides said in a statement. “Despite our exhaustive efforts to bring this project to life, we were ultimately unable to secure the unified community support needed for a stadium solution. The Emeralds have been a staple of this community for 70 years, and we are committed to making our final seasons in Eugene truly special.”
The Emeralds have played in Eugene since 1955, while being affiliated with nine different teams over their 70-year existence.