San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee was briefly detained at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday after a flight from South Korea, his agent told the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Giants said in a statement that Lee, 26, either misplaced or forgot part of his travel packet upon landing at LAX from Seoul, South Korea. The issue was quickly handled, and Lee was released and allowed to enter the United States legally.
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Giants general manager Zack Minasian said there were no political motivations behind Lee’s brief detainment.
“Earlier today, Jung Hoo Lee experienced a brief travel issue at LAX due to a paperwork issue,” the Giants said in a statement, via The Athletic. “The matter was quickly clarified with the appropriate authorities, and he has since been cleared to continue his travel. We appreciate the professionalism of all parties involved.”
Lee is scheduled to appear at a Giants fan event on Saturday in San Ramon, California.
Lee spent the past two seasons with the Giants. He recorded a .266 batting average with eight home runs and 55 RBI last season, all career highs for the 27-year-old.
He signed a six-year, $113 million deal with the Giants ahead of the 2024 campaign after a huge run in the Korean Baseball Organization. Lee’s father, Jong Beom Lee, was often regarded as the best all-around player in the KBO in the 1990s, and he earned the nickname “Son of the Wind.”
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Spring training for the Giants begins next month in Scottsdale, Arizona, though Lee isn’t expected to be there long. He will play for Korea in the World Baseball Classic in March, and his team will open the event with an exhibition game against Czechia on March 5 in Tokyo.
The Giants, who went 81-81 last season and missed the playoffs for a fourth straight year, will open the 2026 MLB campaign against the New York Yankees on March 25.
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