SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A 25-year-old middle infielder who hopes to become the Giants’ first Korean-born player has ties to the organization both happy and sad.
Hak-Ju Lee, a middle infielder signed to a minor-league deal, grew up a die-hard Barry Bonds fan and wore a No. 25 Giants jersey to middle school.
“They love San Francisco in Korea,” Lee said after Friday’s workout at Scottsdale Stadium.
On the bad side, the once-promising prospect lost nearly the entire 2013 season to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that occurred when former and future Giant Travis Ishikawa, then playing for the Orioles’ Triple-A team, crashed into Lee while breaking up a double play.