‘최근 14경기 타율 0.404’ 이정후, 1번 타자 출격…감독은 “주전 유격수 휴식에 따른 선택”

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Lee Jung-hoo, currently the hottest hitter on the San Francisco roster, is set to bat in the leadoff position.
He will start as the number one batter and right fielder in the final game of a three-game home series against Miami at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California. This marks his first appearance in the leadoff spot since a home matchup against New York at the end of March. Throughout the season, he has typically been slotted fifth or sixth in the batting order.
Lee is the ideal fit for the top of the lineup right now due to his scorching performance. Over his last 14 contests, he has posted a .404 batting average, a .436 on-base percentage, and a .615 slugging percentage. His season average, which had dipped as low as .143 earlier in the year, has now climbed to .287.
The team’s projected lineup features Lee in right field, followed by Matt Chapman at third base, Luis Arraez at second base, Casey Schmitt as designated hitter, Rafael Devers at first base, Eliot Ramos in left field, Drew Gilbert in center field, Christian Koss at shortstop, and Patrick Bailey behind the plate. Landon Knack will take the mound against right-handed pitcher Max Meyer.
Manager’s Explanation: Rest for the Regular Shortstop
In a pregame interview, manager Tony Vitello explained that the decision to move Lee into the leadoff role “is connected to giving Willy some rest,” referring to starting shortstop Willy Adames.
“Adames has been playing through some discomfort. We believe now is a good time to give him a break. He’s been out there every day for the team, and to keep him at his best version, we’re giving him an extra day off on top of tomorrow’s scheduled team rest day,” the manager said.
He continued: “It’s a blessing to work with players who want to be in the lineup every single day. Yesterday during the pre-game ceremony, Hunter Pence was honored—he was someone who played hard every game during his career. But even he has paid a price physically for pushing his body to play daily. To build the best team for the stretch run in September, we need to manage playing time carefully right now.”
Could Lee Stay in the Leadoff Spot?
While the manager stated that Lee’s placement at the top of the order is due to Adames’ rest day, there’s a possibility that the red-hot Lee could remain in the leadoff role even after the shortstop returns.
When asked about this, Vitello responded: “As I’ve said before, the spot where he’s been batting has been quite effective for the team.”
He added: “Lee is easy to manage no matter where you put him in the order—he gets it done. He’s been delivering quality at-bats regardless of where he hits. He’s stronger and healthier than he’s ever been since joining us. His contact skills are elite, and he has the ability to produce line-drive contact consistently. So there are multiple spots in the lineup where we could place him depending on what creates the best combination with other hitters. We’ll have to see where he ends up.”
The manager, who has been praising Lee at every opportunity lately, expressed complete confidence: “Again, he’s a player who is willing to do whatever the team needs.”
“Several members of the coaching staff support using him in the leadoff spot. For now, we’ll focus on doing everything we can to win this game, and then we’ll figure out what comes next for the following game,” he concluded.
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