Cultural acceptance has Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee playing at star level: ‘Express myself’

SAN FRANCISCO — In Korean culture, a bow is more than a greeting. It’s a sign of respect.

Jung Hoo Lee has earned plenty lately.

Now in his third season with the Giants, the Korean star seems to be feeling right at home, maybe more than ever over the past few weeks.

Nobody in baseball has more hits dating back to April 10.

In those 16 games, Lee is batting .410 (25-for-61), three times as likely to produce a multi-hit performance than to be shut out of the box score.

“It’s been electric, hitting balls all over the park,” manager Tony Vitello said. “We’ve been looking for kind of that consistent sparkplug in the offense.”

Put another way: “It’s Jung Hoo being Jung Hoo.”

Through interpreter Justin Han, Lee told the California Post that it’s easier to be himself because he is more comfortable in American life and with a major-league clubhouse than in his first two seasons. Han reiterated the sentiment by joking that soon his services wouldn’t even be required.

Credit, in part, goes to Vitello.

“I feel like Tony has made it where I can express myself in American culture, which I’ve never really learned how to do,” Lee said. “And, on the other hand, Tony is trying to do the Korean way, of showing respect and trying to understand the culture.”

Take a peek at the top of the dugout steps after Lee scores a run, or during the high-five line after a win: Vitello has often taken to eschewing a traditional handshake for the greeting more familiar in Lee’s homeland — a bow of the head.

Vitello told the Post that it started as something “fun,” it’s also about “recognizing his culture.” 

“The Latin guys all have a great camaraderie, but Jung Hoo is on a bit of an island,” Vitello said. “So it’s good to tie in anything we can to truly make him feel at home.”

The cultural exchange in the outfield goes three ways, and Lee credited his strong relationships with Jerar Encarnacion and Heliot Ramos for making him feel at home.

Vitello, who had only previously coached American college kids, faced questions about how he would handle a multicultural MLB clubhouse. The proactive steps he has taken with Lee, if nothing else, seem to be a good sign. He also visited Korea with Lee and shortstop Willy Adames over the offseason.

It’s possible he learned the practice there, or he might have taken inspiration from assistant trainer Ryo Watanabe or starter Robbie Ray, the first two Lee remembers greeting him with bows.

“He has the understanding of the culture,” Lee said of Ray. “It made me really comfortable when he gave me that (first) bow.”

Ray shared a rotation with Hyun Jin Ryu for two years with the Blue Jays. Now, “maybe like once every two weeks,” he will get into a bow-off of sorts with Han, Lee’s interpreter explained.

One instance was captured on video by SFBayNewsLab.

In essence, the deeper the bow, the deeper the respect. Elders are widely respected in Korea’s hierarchical society, so Han, who is younger than Ray, bows toward him. Ray, in a light-hearted but meaningful gesture, doesn’t allow it, ending up with his full body prone to the ground.

“I try to go more under, to show him respect,” Han laughed. “And sometimes he’ll just go down and just go on the floor. … Ryo started doing it, but I was like, one Robbie is enough for me.”

Maybe it’ll catch on wider if Lee keeps up his play of the past few weeks.

Between losing most of his rookie season to injury and a so-so sophomore showing, Lee had yet to look worth the price of the seven-year, $113 million deal he signed to come to the Giants from the Korean Baseball Organization.

His third year had gotten off to a sordid start, batting .143 through 13 games when the team left for its last road trip.

Although the Giants fell 7-0 to the Phillies Tuesday night, Lee’s average had improved to .301 — second on the team to Luis Arraez — and the contact has been accompanied by a power stroke that has produced two homers, five doubles and a triple, raising his OPS to .801.

Vitello moved Lee to the leadoff spot when he gave Adames a day off Sunday and kept him at the top of the lineup card with Adames back Tuesday.

“He’s stronger and healthier than he’s ever been in San Francisco,” Vitello said. “So on top of having good bat-to-ball skills, he’s able to drive the ball, too.”

Even with the way things are going, Han doesn’t have anything to worry about.

“I want Justin to keep his job,” Lee grinned.

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