PEORIA, Ariz. — Jung Hoo Lee is back from the WBC, where he enjoyed the heck out of playing for South Korea and making the quarterfinals. He’s also glad to get back to the San Francisco Giants and working on playing right field alongside new center fielder Harrison Bader.

Bader also recently returned from Team Israel, while Heliot Ramos is expected back soon from his time with Team Puerto Rico. It’s a short time for the outfielders to get acclimated to each other.

“We talked about how it’s great to open up the door for these other guys to get additional repetitions and show what they can do,” manager Tony Vitello said of the backups getting game action during the WBC. “But it’s kind of gone on long enough is the easiest way to say it. Plus, it’s refreshing” to see Lee and Bader. 

Both were in the lineup Monday in the Giants’ 3-1 loss to the Padres, and Lee doubled in his first plate appearance and walked in his third. He’s batting .429 (6 for 14) with a 1.110 OPS. In the WBC he went 5-for-21 (.238) with two doubles and a .606 OPS in five games.

Lee played mostly right for South Korea, but, he said, with Justin Han interpreting, “I do want to spend more time in right field during spring training … and get a lot of time on the field with the boys.” 

The main emphasis after the Giants endured the worst defensive metrics in the majors last year, Lee said, is going all out. “Last season, I think the outfield had a lack of aggressiveness and now, this spring, I feel like we’re talking more about being a lot aggressive altogether, and that’s what the coaching staff is requiring us to be. … Overall, I feel like we’re all in a good spot at the moment.”

There is some synergy, too, Lee said, in all three starting outfielders playing for their national teams in adrenaline-filled games, better for simulating regular-season games than spring training, certainly. There was a playoff atmosphere, but, Lee said, with few Korean fans in Tokyo or Miami, he’s looking forward to a real postseason scenario, instead. 

 “I would love to have a playoff game in Oracle Park where it’s just a bunch of orange crowds,” he said, further burnishing his fan-favorite credentials. 

The last time Korea made the quarterfinals was in 2009, making this an extra-big deal.  

“I was in elementary school, grade five, and I remember, I was watching it through television,” Lee said. “It’s hard to explain how meaningful this was.”

Game action: Tyler Mahle’s standout spring continued with four scoreless innings in which he allowed one hit and struck out six. For the spring, that’s 10 innings, two hits, no runs, seven walks and 13 strikeouts. “He’s a pretty complete pitcher,” Vitello said. … Considering where he’s pitching, following Robbie Ray’s Sunday outing, Mahle appears lined up for the third game of the season against the Yankees on March 28 at Oracle Park. Vitello said the fourth game of the season is also possible. … Infielder Christian Koss made his first appearance in the outfield and uncorked an overthrow on Miguel Andujar’s sacrifice fly to center in the sixth, but otherwise he looked fine. Vitello said the team just wants to determine how flexible all of the backups are. … Non-roster outfielder Jared Oliva, on the bubble for a roster spot with his base-stealing ability, went 0-for-1 with a sacrifice bunt. He was hit by a pitch and immediately stole second, his Cactus League-leading 12th stolen base.