What is the "Splash Hit" that Lee Jung-hoo (26, San Francisco Giants) failed to achieve.

Lee Jung-hoo started as the first batter and center fielder in an away game against the Arizona Diamondbacks of the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California on the 22nd (Korea time) and recorded no hits, one walk, and one out in two at-bats.

The hitting streak in consecutive games that began on Saturday stopped at 11 games. However, he managed to get on base for 12 consecutive games. His batting average fell 7 percent from 0.289, but he maintained the .28 level.

What drew attention was Lee Jung-hoo's foul home run, which he made by targeting the first four-seam fastball (straight ball) of opposing pitcher Slade Cancheni at the third batter's box in the bottom of the sixth inning. The ball hit to the right, and passed the fence as it fell into McCorvey Bay (灣). It was outside the right pole.

Lee lost timing due to a curveball at the second pitch, and was out after hitting a fly ball. In the end, Lee ended up with no hit, and his team San Francisco lost 3-5. The most talked-about event on the day was Lee's failure to make a splash.

Splash Hit refers to a big home run that crosses the right fence of Oracle Park and falls directly into McCoby Bay. Oracle Park is the most beautiful among the 30 stadiums in the MLB. This is a signature scene that can only be seen in baseball stadiums.

The distance from the pole on the right side of Oracle Park is 94 meters. However, a fence measuring more than 7 meters from the foul line to the right-center is blocking the path. The width ranges from 6 to 7 meters from the stands on top to the outside. This makes it difficult for both left and right hitters to achieve splash hits. There are also many San Francisco fans who enjoy the game while riding a yacht or canoe through the Gulf of McCoby instead of a spectator with a view of the ground.

A splash hit is a name that is given only when a San Francisco player makes it. The player with the most records ever recorded is Barry Bonds. When a player from the opposing team hits it, it is called "a home run in McCorvey." Among Korean players, Choi Hee-sup (current coach of the KIA Tigers) was a member of the Florida Marlins (currently Miami) on May 1, 2004, and Choo Shin-soo was a member of the Texas Rangers on August 3, 2020.

After all, to leave a record that satisfies this title, he must first be a San Francisco Giants player. Hwang, who played in the 2017 season, hit a home run to the left, but failed to hit it to the right.

Lee Jung-hoo said before leaving the country to join the spring camp in February, "I want to be the first Korean player in San Francisco to have a splash hit because I'm a left-handed hitter." Lee Jung-hoo hit his first home home run against Jack Gallen against Arizona on the 21st, but he failed to achieve a splash hit as he fell into the stands.

Patrick Bailey, the team's main catcher, was the winner of the splash hit. Taking the batter's box with two outs and a runner on the first base in the bottom of the fifth inning, he hit a home run towards McCorvey Bay against Gallen. He fell onto a canoe that three of them were enjoying. It was his first splash hit of the season. It was his 103rd in Korean baseball history. Korean baseball fans hope Lee Jung-hoo will be the 104th player.

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