SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Center fielder Jung Hoo Lee will undergo an MRI exam on his tight back on Monday, a concerning development for the Giants as they enter the final week of Cactus League play.

Lee was slated to start Saturday’s game against the Mariners, but he was scratched from the lineup after waking up with back discomfort. The Giants hoped Lee would be able to return to action after a few days, but the issue lingered longer than expected, prompting the club to send him for imaging as well as a follow-up exam with Dr. Kenneth Akizuki.

The injury could create some doubt about Lee’s availability for Opening Day on March 27, but manager Bob Melvin said the 26-year-old Korean star should still have time to ramp up if he can get back on the field before the end of the exhibition schedule, which includes a two-game series against the Tigers at Oracle Park next week.

“If he can play here or at home, we’re fine,” Melvin said. “This has obviously gone on a little longer than we expected, but hopefully we get some good news today. It’s just not getting much better.”

Lee appeared in only 37 games for the Giants before suffering a season-ending left shoulder injury last year, but he came into camp healthy and looked poised to settle in the club’s starting center fielder after batting .300 (9-for-30) with two home runs and five RBIs over 11 Cactus League games this spring.

If Lee needs to open the season on the injured list, the Giants will likely turn to Grant McCray, another natural center fielder who showed off his intriguing power-speed combination after reaching the Majors last August.

McCray, 24, crushed five home runs and stole five bases over 37 games for San Francisco in 2024, but he also struck out 56 times over 130 plate appearances and has been focusing on making more consistent contact this spring. That work is already beginning to show up in Cactus League play, as McCray entered Monday batting .314 (11-for-35) with one home run, one triple and two doubles over 20 games.

“I can’t say I expected him to be in the big leagues last year, and then he had a stretch where he was really good,” Melvin said earlier this spring. “Hitting homers, playing great defense, making good throws. And then the strikeouts kind of accumulated a little bit. He knows. That’s what he’s working on this spring. But he’s got some power. He’s trying to shorten his swing a little bit. He’s kind of long. Short to it, long through.”

Worth noting

Left-hander Enny Romero, a non-roster invitee who’s competing for a spot in the Giants’ bullpen, is away from the team due to personal reasons. Romero logged a 12.60 ERA over eight Cactus League appearances and hasn’t pitched since March 9, which could make him a long shot for the Opening Day roster.

The Giants haven’t decided if they’ll carry a second lefty option behind Erik Miller in their bullpen, but if they do, they seem increasingly likely to go with Joey Lucchesi, who hasn’t allowed a run over five innings in his first five Cactus League appearances. Lucchesi is in camp on a Minor League deal, so he’d have to be added to the 40-man roster if the Giants want to add him into their relief mix.