Baseball fans at home and abroad are paying attention to Lee Jung-hoo's shoulder condition. If the worst happens, they may have to prepare for a season out.

Lee Jung-hoo started as the first batter and center fielder at a home game against the Cincinnati Reds in the 2024 Major League Baseball at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California on the 13th (Korea time). However, he was replaced without completing a single at-bat as he was injured while fielding an outfielder in the top of the first inning.

"It's not good. I have to have an MRI tomorrow (May 14) and it's not good," San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin told local media after the game.

With the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the first inning with San Francisco tied 0-0 on the day, Lee followed Cincinnati batter Jamer Candelario's homerun and jumped to catch the ball. However, he failed to catch the ball and fell off the fence.

Lee could no longer play due to his shoulder pain. San Francisco also immediately replaced Lee with Tyler Fitzgerald to protect its player.

Melvin described Lee's shoulder as a "separated" shoulder. However, as San Francisco club officials clearly described it as a "removed" shoulder, chances are high it is not just an injury.

Lee Jung-hoo will need to undergo an MRI examination to know the exact condition of his left shoulder. He was hit by a left foot on a foul ball he hit against the Colorado Rockies on the 9th, and did not play for three days. After recovering, he suffered additional injuries upon his return.

The official U.S. Major League Baseball website MLB.com reported, "Lee Jung-hoo did not seem to move his left arm when he was supported by San Francisco team trainer Dave Grossner as he left the stadium."

Lee Jung-hoo also suffered a left shoulder injury while playing for the Kiwoom Heroes (2017-2023) in the KBO League. In the 2018 season, his second year, he was diagnosed with a ruptured left shoulder scapula against the Doosan Bears in Jamsil on June 19. He was not able to play in first-team games for a month after sustaining a head-slip injury while running base.

Lee Jung-hoo injured his left shoulder again in the postseason in November of the 2018 season. In the second semi-playoff game against the Hanwha Eagles, he injured his left shoulder while attempting to make a diving catch while defending the outfield.

Lee Jung-hoo eventually underwent an anterior and occipital surgery on his left shoulder on Nov. 7, 2018. Despite Lee's departure, Kiwoom reached the playoffs by beating the Hanwha Eagles 3-1 in the semi-playoff, but failed to cross the wall of the SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers). Realizing Lee's absence, his advance to the Korean Series was thwarted by two wins and three losses.

Lee's rehabilitation was expected to take about six months immediately after surgery in November 2018. Kiwoom initially set the timing of Lee's return to May 2019, but the team showed an amazing recovery speed faster than expected.

Lee Jung-hoo shortened his rehabilitation period by two months. After making a successful comeback to coincide with the opening of the regular season in March 2019, he led Team Kiwoom to the Korean Series with a thumping performance.

Lee Jung-hoo reigned as the best hitter in the KBO League from the 2019 season to the 2022 season without any major injuries. With the start of the second half of the 2023 season, his last season in Korea, he underwent surgery to repair the extensor muscles, which are the membranes that wrap around his left ankle tendon, but it was not an obstacle to his major league career. .

Based on his quick recovery, Lee Jung-hoo took the batter's box against the Samsung Lions at Gocheok Sky Dome on Oct. 10 last year. Goodbye to Kiwoom fans Although he has lost his character, he once again showed off his superhuman resilience.

However, as Lee's injury is his left shoulder, which he underwent surgery six years ago, there are many concerns. If an MRI reveals surgery results, he may not be able to play in the remaining regular season games.

If the dislocation is correct, as the San Francisco Giants represented, Lee Jung-hoo's arm bone is a serious injury resulting from his left shoulder joint. If the injury is not serious, he can return to work after weeks of rest and rehabilitation without surgery. In the opposite case, one should suspect rotator cuff injury.

Lee Jung-hoo played in 36 games since the opening of the 2024 MLB regular season, recording 38 hits in 145 at-bats, batting .262, two homers, eight RBIs, two steals, and OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) 0.641.