Earlier this week, San Francisco Giants slugger Jung Hoo Lee was placed on the 10-day IL. This came after the outfielder slammed into the outfield wall dislocating his shoulder on Sunday.
Unfortunately, Lee will be out longer than initially thought. It was announced on Friday that he would have season-ending labrum surgery to help repair his torn left labrum.
This is the worst-case scenario for Lee. He was making a name for himself in his first season overseas. In 37 starts, the outfielder hit .262/.310/.331 with two home runs and eight runs batted in.
Lee was used as the team's leadoff hitter. Now, San Francisco must find a new slugger to employ at the start of the lineup for the remainder of the season.
While Jung Hoo Lee exits, Jorge Soler returns for the Giants
While the news surrounding Jung Hoo Lee is unfortunate, Giants fans did get a bit of good news on Friday. Jorge Soler is returning to the lineup for Friday's matchup against the Colorado Rockies.
Soler will serve as the team's DH. He was just reinstated from the 10-day IL on Friday after making a few rehab appearances in the minors. Much like Lee, Soler was dealing with a shoulder ailment.
Soler will serve as the club's leadoff hitter on Friday. Could this be who the Giants roll with at the top of the lineup for the remainder of the season?
Through 34 games, Soler hit .202/.294/.361 with five home runs and eight runs batted in. While that would be a step backward from Lee's performance, it would not be a bad choice.
It will be interesting to see what San Francisco does with their lineup for the remainder of the season. Do they replace Lee in-house or is a trade in their future?