SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — When teams travel to the opposite side of the valley, as the Giants do today, rarely are veterans required to make the trek. When teams split up their squads, the manager typically remains home with his primary players and delineates the road duties to his coaching staff.
So, then, why was Bob Melvin, one of the game’s most veteran managers, going all the way to Peoria for their exhibition against the Mariners while most of his players stayed back to host the White Sox?
“I don’t necessarily always stay at home games,” the manager said behind a coy grin.
Melvin wasn’t willing to spill the beans, but in spite of the top-secret treatment, it wasn’t much of a mystery.
Shortly after dodging reporters’ inquiries, Melvin departed earlier than normal for Peoria Sports Complex, with Jung Hoo Lee in tow. One appeal of the Giants to the Korean center fielder in free agency was Melvin’s close connection to Ichiro Suzuki, a childhood idol of Lee’s after whom he has modeled his game.
Before the Giants’ meeting with the Mariners, a more significant summit was on the docket. Melvin planned to introduce two of the most notable outfielders to come from the Pacific Rim to MLB. Leading off, Lee was one of the few regulars in the lineup against Seattle, where Ichiro serves as a special adviser.
“I’m just excited and happy to see him and hope I get to have a good conversation with him today,” Lee said through interpreter Justin Han before leaving Scottsdale. “When baseball came into my life, that’s when I first saw Ichiro playing. That’s where I got my inspiration for baseball.”
From his number (51) to his position (outfield) to his spot in the lineup (leadoff), Lee’s similarities to Ichiro are striking before you even see him step into the batter’s box. Even his mannerisms — the way he tugs at his jersey sleeve while digging in, his throwing motion from the outfield — mimic Ichiro’s in a way only possible by a longtime admirer.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed by Melvin, who managed Ichiro in Seattle for two seasons and maintains a close relationship with him.
“Yeah, well he kind of styled himself after him,” Melvin said. “I think that’s kind of the guy he’s watched by far the most and is kind of the type of player he wants to be.”
The Giants hope the comparisons don’t stop there.
When Ichiro first arrived in camp with the Mariners in 2001, he faced the same questions as Lee about his ability to adjust to major-league pitching. More than 3,000 hits — in MLB alone — and many successful Japanese position players later, those doubts have been put to rest. But back then, Ichiro was a groundbreaker in a similar way to Lee, who is trying to join Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim as the only position players to make the successful jump from the KBO to MLB.
“I can’t say that I’m similar to Ichiro because he’s such a great player,” Lee said. “He is one of my idols, one of my favorite players I used to like as a kid.”
The part of Lee’s game that has drawn the most comparisons to Ichiro is his ability to put practically any pitch into play. Hitting coach Justin Viele pointed out that the stability of Lee’s hands in his swing mirrors Ichiro’s. Over seven seasons in the KBO, Lee never posted a batting average lower than .318 and hit a .340 mark for his career. He also wasn’t much of a power hitter, reaching double digits in home runs only twice.
So far, though, Lee’s spring production has belied those small power figures. He sent his first home run screaming off the bat at 109 mph, and he has peppered the Charro Lodge beyond right field with home run balls during batting practice. You know who else was known for his prodigious batting practice power?
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“If you watch batting practice, he’s got more power than you would originally anticipate,” Melvin said. “Kind of that Ichiro style, but he stays on his back leg pretty well and drives some balls.”
One area where Lee has not matched his idol is on the base paths, but Melvin anticipates that could come along, too. On his way to winning Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in 2001, Ichiro stole 56 bases, and he averaged nearly 40 per season over his first 11 years in Seattle.
In Korea, Lee never swiped more than 13 bags in a season, stealing only six bases in his final season while battling an ankle injury.
“We think there’s some more stolen bases in there,” Melvin said. “I think last year they were trying to be a little careful with the ankle. I know he’s inspired about creating some havoc on the bases, too. If you’re going to lead off, I think that’s an important part of it.”