Hak-ju Lee

Hak-ju Lee
Free agent
Shortstop
Born: (1990-11-04) November 4, 1990
Jeju, South Korea
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Hak-ju Lee
Hangul 이학주
Hanja 李學周
Revised Romanization I Hakju
McCune–Reischauer Ri Hakchu
The native form of this personal name is Lee Hak-ju. This article uses the Western name order.

Hak-ju Lee (Hangul: 이학주; Hanja: 李學周; Korean pronunciation: "Yi Hahk Joo"; born November 4, 1990) is a South Korean professional baseball shortstop who is currently a free agent.

Career

Lee was signed out of South Korea by the Chicago Cubs in May 2008 at age 17, receiving a signing bonus of $1.15 million.[1] He made his debut in the Cubs system for the Class-A Boise Hawks in 2009 after recovering from Tommy John surgery.[2]

Lee played for the World team in the 2010 All-Star Futures Game, going 1-for-2 with a single, and making a fielding error.[3][4] He was ranked by Baseball America as the fourth-best prospect in the Cubs' system going into 2011.[5]

On January 7, 2011, Lee was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays along with fellow prospects Chris Archer, Brandon Guyer, Robinson Chirinos and Cubs outfielder Sam Fuld for pitcher Matt Garza, outfielder Fernando Perez and minor league pitcher Zac Rosscup.[6][7] Lee played for the World team for the second time in the 2011 All-Star Futures Game, going 0-2 with a strikeout. When the 2011 season was over he and second baseman Tyler Bortnick were named Florida State League all-stars.[8]

Lee started the 2011 season with the Charlotte Stone Crabs, leading the team in AVG (.318) and SLG (.443), and earning a mid-season promotion to the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits. He was caught stealing five times while playing in the Arizona Fall League where his average was .247.[9]

For 2012, Lee returned to Montgomery.

Lee was optioned to the Triple-A Durham Bulls on March 15, 2013. In late April 2013, he tore multiple knee ligaments and missed the remainder of the season.[10]

Lee was optioned to Durham on March 13, 2014, and placed on the disabled list on March 30. He was activated on April 22.

The Rays designated him for assignment on September 1, 2015. On November 23, 2015, the San Francisco Giants signed Lee to a minor league contract.[11] He was released on June 3, 2016.

Personal life

When he came to America, he fell in love with the culture, especially with American-Korean restaurants. He said he was in need of a translator and that he would like to try North Carolina style barbecue some day.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Wyatt Sinclair (February 15, 2013). "2012 MLB Prospect Watch: Tampa Bay Rays Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on February 27, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  2. ↑ Lingo, Will (June 22, 2010). "Prospects: Futures Game: Futures Game: World". Baseball America. Archived from the original on June 26, 2010. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  3. ↑ "2010 All-Star Game: Futures Game Rosters". MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2010. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  4. ↑ "2010 Futures Game Box Score". Baseball America. July 11, 2010. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  5. ↑ Callis, Jim (January 4, 2011). "Organization Top 10 Prospects: Chicago Cubs Top 10 Prospects". Baseball America. Archived from the original on January 7, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Source: Cubs agree to Garza deal". ESPN.com. January 8, 2011. Archived from the original on January 7, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  7. ↑ Carrie Muskat (January 7, 2011). "Cubs acquire right-hander Matt Garza in eight-player trade with Rays". MLB.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  8. ↑ Grant McAuley (August 30, 2011). "Bortnick, Lee named to All-Star Team". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  9. ↑ Bernie Pleskoff (December 17, 2012). "Lee impresses with his speed and glove work". Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  10. ↑ Sam Dykstra (April 21, 2013). "Lee injures knee, could miss season". MLB.com. Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on April 22, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Report: Giants add former Rays prospect on minor league deal". CSN Bay Area. NBC. November 23, 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  12. ↑ Andrew Carter (May 2, 2014). "Back and healthy, Durham Bulls' Hak-Ju Lee attempts to rediscover road to big leagues". News Observer. Retrieved June 24, 2014.

External links

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