In a recent piece on MLB Pipeline, a well-known figure for fans of the Philadelphia Phillies is highlighted as each MLB team’s top overseas prospect. Sadly, a trade in 2023 took this elite talent away from the squad.
As of Pipeline’s most recent update, 20-year-old second baseman Hao-Yu Lee is listed as the eighth prospect in the Detroit Tigers organization and has also been dubbed the team’s top international prospect. On August 1st of last year, the former Phillies prospect was traded for Michael Lorenzen, a starter/reliever who had some fantastic moments during his brief tenure with the team. After an All-Star season, Lorenzen remains a free agent, awaiting his opportunity with a new team.
After initially signing a $570,000 contract as an 18-year-old out of Taiwan, he quickly ascended the Phillies prospect list thanks to his strong work ethic and baseball instincts, which made him better than most predicted.
By trade, Lee is a middle infielder, but throughout his three seasons in the Phillies minor league system, he flashed an above-average hit tool. Lee slashed.282/.376/.432 with 16 home runs and 90 RBI in 163 games during portions of those three years. Even though he is only 5-foot-9 and weighs just under 200 pounds, he has some pop in his bat, especially in light of the fact that he may have gained about 10 pounds in the winter to bulk up as he approaches a promotion.
Lee headed to the Arizona Fall League where he slashed last season after getting hurt and missing out on playing in the Tigers minor leagues.Over 13 games, he batted 265/.373/.367 with one home run and nine RBI.
According to the most recent update from Bleacher Report, the Tigers have the eighth-ranked farm system, thus it is impressive to see someone like Hao-Yu Lee capture this honor. There were two long-term solutions up the center of the diamond that hindered Lee while he was in Philadelphia.
The Phillies’ infield combination for the foreseeable future appears to be Trea Turner, who recently signed an 11-year, $300 million contract, and Bryson Stott, who had a breakout year in his second season, batting close to.300 the entire time while playing defense worthy of a Gold Glove.
Pitching was crucial at the deadline last year because of injuries that cast doubt on the rotation. Just off his first All-Star appearance, Lorenzen expected to provide the Phillies with another weapon in October, either out of the bullpen or out of the rotation.
The Tigers No. 8 prospect looks to continue to work on his swing and develop as a minor leaguer as well as an adult. His baseball instincts will continue to give him a leg up on the defensive and baserunning side of the ball. A successful campaign at the plate could see Lee moving up to the Tigers’ higher minor league teams, possibly to the Double-A Erie SeaWolves this year.
