Korey Lee

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #7 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Lee was a surprise first-rounder when the Astros drafted him out of California with the 32nd overall pick in 2019. He debuted in the short-season New York-Penn League out of the draft and then missed 2020 due to the pandemic. Lee emerged as a better player after making adjustments to both his swing and catching setup during the time off. When he reached full-season ball in 2021, he hit .277/.340/.438 across three levels and ranked as the Astros' No. 1 prospect heading into 2022. Lee reached Triple-A Sugar Land in 2022 but hit just .238/.307/.483 in 104 games. Called up in late June, he spent the month of July with the major league club.
  
  Scouting Report: Lee's profile and prospect status has been heavily boosted by his defensive skills behind the plate. After flashing an average combination of contact and approach in 2021, Lee's bat-to-ball skills and swing decisions backed up in favor of a more power-centric approach. The change resulted in inconsistent production from Lee. His total of 25 home runs was a nice step up in slugging, but his overall line was below-average for the Pacific Coast League. Once a hit-over-power profile, Lee now hunts power at the plate with a lofted swing. His power plays average. Behind the plate, Lee is far more of a sure thing, with a variety of average-to-plus skills. He is a an average framer based on the team's internal metrics, an above-average blocker and a true 80-grade thrower. Lee's arm is a real weapon against the running game. He is able to nab basestealers at a high rate with powerful and accurate throws, consistently clocking elite pop times on throws to second base.
  
  The Future: Lee is a defense-first catcher with the ability to contribute about 15-20 home runs.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 40. Power: 50. Speed: 40. Fielding: 55. Arm: 80
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #1 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Fourteen years after the Astros drafted and developed Stanford product Jason Castro as their catcher of the future, another California-based backstop is following a similar path. The Astros surprised the industry by selecting Lee in the first round of the 2019 draft at No. 32 overall. Many teams thought Lee would be available in later rounds, but the Astros pounced due to their confidence in a bat that showed promise in his final collegiate season at California hitting behind Andrew Vaughn. The team hoped Lee’s athleticism would pay dividends behind the plate. He signed for $1.75 million and delivered a solid, if unspectacular, debut season in Rookie ball in 2019. The upside and potential Houston saw finally manifested in Lee’s first full minor league season in 2021. Lee hit .277/.340/.438 with 11 home runs in 88 games and reached Triple-A Sugar Land during a revealing campaign that included noticeable adjustments to both his batting and catching stances. He continued to make contact and control the strike zone across three minor league levels while distinguishing himself as a defensive standout. The Astros exposed Lee to both first base and third base in 2021, but his short-term future is behind the plate, where his athleticism is obvious and an opportunity for imminent major league playing time looms.
  
  Scouting Report: Making so many adjustments left Lee somewhat inconsistent throughout the 2021 season, but his upside is apparent. He now catches in a one-knee stance to generate quicker releases with a plus-plus throwing arm. He produces pop times as low as 1.8 seconds in the one-knee stance. He shortened his arm slot to help the throws, too, but it has led to some accuracy issues. The two major changes sometimes leave Lee looking ragged behind the plate but his consistency and work ethic outweigh the occasional off days. He’s developed into a better receiver but still needs work. Concerns still surround Lee’s bat, but scouts believe he can hit enough to become an everyday catcher. He hit far too many ground balls to his pull side during his first minor league season, necessitating a few stance alterations. Lee came into pro ball with a busy batting stance—complete with a long stride and too much pre-pitch movement. Lee is far more stable and quiet now, which allows him to use his whole body, drive the ball more frequently and hit line drives. Lee can still tap into more of his above-average power, and the strides he made in 2021 portend well for the future.
  
  The Future: Lee is the Astros’ catcher of the future and is nearly ready for the major leagues. Both Castro and starter Martin Maldonado are signed only through 2022 and the team traded longtime third catcher Garrett Stubbs to clear a space on the 40-man roster and at Triple-A Sugar Land, where Lee should spend most of 2022. His MLB debut could come during the season.
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #7 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 45. Power: 50. Running: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Astros pulled a surprise with their first-round pick, at No. 32 overall, in 2019 when they drafted Lee, whom other clubs thought would be available in later rounds. The Astros had more conviction in his bat and signed him for $1.75 million. He had a solid debut that summer in the short-season New York-Penn League, then in 2020 came over to Houston’s alternate training site later in the summer before going to Florida for instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Lee didn’t do much to distinguish himself offensively during his first two years at California, but he elevated his stock by hitting .337/.416/.619 during his draft year. He has slightly above-average raw power, though it hasn’t shown as much in pro games because he was pulling a lot of balls on the ground. He's worked since then to condense his stride and tried to drive the ball in the air more consistently and showed promising returns at instructs. Lee moved around the field as a sophomore before working regularly behind the plate as a junior, and he has quickly made himself into a quality receiver. He’s a good athlete for a catcher and has a plus arm.
  
  THE FUTURE: Lee has the upside to be an everyday catcher if everything clicks. He should start 2021 at one of Houston’s Class A affiliates.
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #7 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Lee was the second best hitter for California in 2019, which was understandable when you consider he was teammates with the White Sox's Andrew Vaughn, the No. 3 pick in the draft. Lee was not seen as a first-round pick by most teams, but the Astros really believed in his bat, which gave the Bears two first-round picks in the same year for the first time in school history.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Lee hit 15 home runs for California as a junior and posts excellent exit velocities. The Astros worked to get him to loft the ball more consistently. Those adjustments and his more pull-heavy approach resulted in a very modest pro debut. If the Astros are right about Lee's latent power potential, they could have found a late first-round steal, but area scouts and pro scouts for other teams are more skeptical, seeing modest power and a decent feel for hitting. Lee needs to work on his framing and receiving, but he has the athleticism to be at least an average receiver and he has a 70 arm on the 20-to-80 scale, although he needs to improve his accuracy. He is a 40 runner—pretty speedy for a catcher.
  
  THE FUTURE: Lee will move up to low Class A Quad Cities as he works on driving the ball more consistently. He has a significant to-do list, but he also has the tools to be an everyday catcher.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #173 prospect in 2019 draft
  A 6-foot-1, 205-pound backstop for California, Lee raised his stock this spring with a career-best offensive campaign hitting behind standout first baseman Andrew Vaughn. After spending time at catcher, first base, third base and designated hitter as a sophomore, Lee has been the team's primary catcher his junior season, and he hit .339/.415/.613 with 13 home runs and a team-best 52 RBIs through his first 47 games. Lee brings above-average power to the table from the right side, but until this spring scouts had questioned how much his bat would play. Lee is a good receiver behind the plate who has continued to improve his defensive ability with above-average arm strength.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #17 prospect in 2019
  Lee played first base, third base and catcher at California before eventually becoming the Bears' everyday catcher as a junior. Lee's versatility was also apparent in his pro debut, as he played both left field and first base for Tri-City with catchers Nathan Perry and C.J. Stubbs also on the roster. While he received high marks for his above-average power before the draft, scouts and managers view Lee's feel to hit as being better than his power potential. Lee has tinkered a bit with his swing, which has resulted in making more consistent contact. He is an athletic receiver who has plus arm strength, although he needs to improve his accuracy.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #70 prospect in 2022

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Lee was a surprise first-rounder when the Astros drafted him out of California with the 32nd overall pick in 2019. He debuted in the short-season New York-Penn League out of the draft and then missed 2020 due to the pandemic. Lee emerged as a better player after making adjustments to both his swing and catching setup during the time off. When he reached full-season ball in 2021, he hit .277/.340/.438 across three levels and ranked as the Astros' No. 1 prospect heading into 2022. Lee reached Triple-A Sugar Land in 2022 but hit just .238/.307/.483 in 104 games. Called up in late June, he spent the month of July with the major league club.
  
  Scouting Report: Lee's profile and prospect status has been heavily boosted by his defensive skills behind the plate. After flashing an average combination of contact and approach in 2021, Lee's bat-to-ball skills and swing decisions backed up in favor of a more power-centric approach. The change resulted in inconsistent production from Lee. His total of 25 home runs was a nice step up in slugging, but his overall line was below-average for the Pacific Coast League. Once a hit-over-power profile, Lee now hunts power at the plate with a lofted swing. His power plays average. Behind the plate, Lee is far more of a sure thing, with a variety of average-to-plus skills. He is a an average framer based on the team's internal metrics, an above-average blocker and a true 80-grade thrower. Lee's arm is a real weapon against the running game. He is able to nab basestealers at a high rate with powerful and accurate throws, consistently clocking elite pop times on throws to second base.
  
  The Future: Lee is a defense-first catcher with the ability to contribute about 15-20 home runs.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 40. Power: 50. Speed: 40. Fielding: 55. Arm: 80
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Lee was a surprise first-rounder when the Astros drafted him out of California with the 32nd overall pick in 2019. He debuted in the short-season New York-Penn League out of the draft and then missed 2020 due to the pandemic. Lee emerged as a better player after making adjustments to both his swing and catching setup during the time off. When he reached full-season ball in 2021, he hit .277/.340/.438 across three levels and ranked as the Astros' No. 1 prospect heading into 2022. Lee reached Triple-A Sugar Land in 2022 but hit just .238/.307/.483 in 104 games. Called up in late June, he spent the month of July with the major league club.
  
  Scouting Report: Lee's profile and prospect status has been heavily boosted by his defensive skills behind the plate. After flashing an average combination of contact and approach in 2021, Lee's bat-to-ball skills and swing decisions backed up in favor of a more power-centric approach. The change resulted in inconsistent production from Lee. His total of 25 home runs was a nice step up in slugging, but his overall line was below-average for the Pacific Coast League. Once a hit-over-power profile, Lee now hunts power at the plate with a lofted swing. His power plays average. Behind the plate, Lee is far more of a sure thing, with a variety of average-to-plus skills. He is a an average framer based on the team's internal metrics, an above-average blocker and a true 80-grade thrower. Lee's arm is a real weapon against the running game. He is able to nab basestealers at a high rate with powerful and accurate throws, consistently clocking elite pop times on throws to second base.
  
  The Future: Lee is a defense-first catcher with the ability to contribute about 15-20 home runs.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 40. Power: 50. Speed: 40. Fielding: 55. Arm: 80
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Fourteen years after the Astros drafted and developed Stanford product Jason Castro as their catcher of the future, another California-based backstop is following a similar path. The Astros surprised the industry by selecting Lee in the first round of the 2019 draft at No. 32 overall. Many teams thought Lee would be available in later rounds, but the Astros pounced due to their confidence in a bat that showed promise in his final collegiate season at California hitting behind Andrew Vaughn. The team hoped Lee&#39s athleticism would pay dividends behind the plate. He signed for $1.75 million and delivered a solid, if unspectacular, debut season in Rookie ball in 2019. The upside and potential Houston saw finally manifested in Lee&#39s first full minor league season in 2021. Lee hit .277/.340/.438 with 11 home runs in 88 games and reached Triple-A Sugar Land during a revealing campaign that included noticeable adjustments to both his batting and catching stances. He continued to make contact and control the strike zone across three minor league levels while distinguishing himself as a defensive standout. The Astros exposed Lee to both first base and third base in 2021, but his short-term future is behind the plate, where his athleticism is obvious and an opportunity for imminent major league playing time looms.
  
  Scouting Report: Making so many adjustments left Lee somewhat inconsistent throughout the 2021 season, but his upside is apparent. He now catches in a one-knee stance to generate quicker releases with a plus-plus throwing arm. He produces pop times as low as 1.8 seconds in the one-knee stance. He shortened his arm slot to help the throws, too, but it has led to some accuracy issues. The two major changes sometimes leave Lee looking ragged behind the plate but his consistency and work ethic outweigh the occasional off days. He&#39s developed into a better receiver but still needs work. Concerns still surround Lee&#39s bat, but scouts believe he can hit enough to become an everyday catcher. He hit far too many ground balls to his pull side during his first minor league season, necessitating a few stance alterations. Lee came into pro ball with a busy batting stance—complete with a long stride and too much pre-pitch movement. Lee is far more stable and quiet now, which allows him to use his whole body, drive the ball more frequently and hit line drives. Lee can still tap into more of his above-average power, and the strides he made in 2021 portend well for the future.
  
  The Future: Lee is the Astros&#39 catcher of the future and is nearly ready for the major leagues. Both Castro and starter Martin Maldonado are signed only through 2022 and the team traded longtime third catcher Garrett Stubbs to clear a space on the 40-man roster and at Triple-A Sugar Land, where Lee should spend most of 2022. His MLB debut could come during the season.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 40. Fielding: 55. Arm: 70.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Fourteen years after the Astros drafted and developed Stanford product Jason Castro as their catcher of the future, another California-based backstop is following a similar path. The Astros surprised the industry by selecting Lee in the first round of the 2019 draft at No. 32 overall. Many teams thought Lee would be available in later rounds, but the Astros pounced due to their confidence in a bat that showed promise in his final collegiate season at California hitting behind Andrew Vaughn. The team hoped Lee’s athleticism would pay dividends behind the plate. He signed for $1.75 million and delivered a solid, if unspectacular, debut season in Rookie ball in 2019. The upside and potential Houston saw finally manifested in Lee’s first full minor league season in 2021. Lee hit .277/.340/.438 with 11 home runs in 88 games and reached Triple-A Sugar Land during a revealing campaign that included noticeable adjustments to both his batting and catching stances. He continued to make contact and control the strike zone across three minor league levels while distinguishing himself as a defensive standout. The Astros exposed Lee to both first base and third base in 2021, but his short-term future is behind the plate, where his athleticism is obvious and an opportunity for imminent major league playing time looms.
  
  Scouting Report: Making so many adjustments left Lee somewhat inconsistent throughout the 2021 season, but his upside is apparent. He now catches in a one-knee stance to generate quicker releases with a plus-plus throwing arm. He produces pop times as low as 1.8 seconds in the one-knee stance. He shortened his arm slot to help the throws, too, but it has led to some accuracy issues. The two major changes sometimes leave Lee looking ragged behind the plate but his consistency and work ethic outweigh the occasional off days. He’s developed into a better receiver but still needs work. Concerns still surround Lee’s bat, but scouts believe he can hit enough to become an everyday catcher. He hit far too many ground balls to his pull side during his first minor league season, necessitating a few stance alterations. Lee came into pro ball with a busy batting stance—complete with a long stride and too much pre-pitch movement. Lee is far more stable and quiet now, which allows him to use his whole body, drive the ball more frequently and hit line drives. Lee can still tap into more of his above-average power, and the strides he made in 2021 portend well for the future.
  
  The Future: Lee is the Astros’ catcher of the future and is nearly ready for the major leagues. Both Castro and starter Martin Maldonado are signed only through 2022 and the team traded longtime third catcher Garrett Stubbs to clear a space on the 40-man roster and at Triple-A Sugar Land, where Lee should spend most of 2022. His MLB debut could come during the season.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Lee's first full pro season began with an unaggressive High A assignment, but that was the last speed-bump he's faced in an impressive 2021. He's embraced the switch to a one-knee setup, and is relatively quiet with his hands and body behind the plate. He has a plus-plus arm. At the plate, he's simplified his stance as well. It's all paying off in a big year, as he's showing the ability to work counts while being just aggressive enough to get to his above-average power. Lee has shown some defensive versatility—he's played a little first and third, and he has a shot to be an everyday catcher.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 45. Power: 50. Running: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Astros pulled a surprise with their first-round pick, at No. 32 overall, in 2019 when they drafted Lee, whom other clubs thought would be available in later rounds. The Astros had more conviction in his bat and signed him for $1.75 million. He had a solid debut that summer in the short-season New York-Penn League, then in 2020 came over to Houston’s alternate training site later in the summer before going to Florida for instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Lee didn’t do much to distinguish himself offensively during his first two years at California, but he elevated his stock by hitting .337/.416/.619 during his draft year. He has slightly above-average raw power, though it hasn’t shown as much in pro games because he was pulling a lot of balls on the ground. He's worked since then to condense his stride and tried to drive the ball in the air more consistently and showed promising returns at instructs. Lee moved around the field as a sophomore before working regularly behind the plate as a junior, and he has quickly made himself into a quality receiver. He’s a good athlete for a catcher and has a plus arm.
  
  THE FUTURE: Lee has the upside to be an everyday catcher if everything clicks. He should start 2021 at one of Houston’s Class A affiliates.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 45. Power: 50. Running: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Astros pulled a surprise with their first-round pick, at No. 32 overall, in 2019 when they drafted Lee, whom other clubs thought would be available in later rounds. The Astros had more conviction in his bat and signed him for $1.75 million. He had a solid debut that summer in the short-season New York-Penn League, then in 2020 came over to Houston’s alternate training site later in the summer before going to Florida for instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Lee didn’t do much to distinguish himself offensively during his first two years at California, but he elevated his stock by hitting .337/.416/.619 during his draft year. He has slightly above-average raw power, though it hasn’t shown as much in pro games because he was pulling a lot of balls on the ground. He's worked since then to condense his stride and tried to drive the ball in the air more consistently and showed promising returns at instructs. Lee moved around the field as a sophomore before working regularly behind the plate as a junior, and he has quickly made himself into a quality receiver. He’s a good athlete for a catcher and has a plus arm.
  
  THE FUTURE: Lee has the upside to be an everyday catcher if everything clicks. He should start 2021 at one of Houston’s Class A affiliates.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Lee was the second best hitter for California in 2019, which was understandable when you consider he was teammates with the White Sox’s Andrew Vaughn, the No. 3 pick in the draft. Lee was not seen as a first-round pick by most teams, but the Astros really believed in his bat, which gave the Bears two first-round picks in the same year for the first time in school history.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Lee hit 15 home runs for California as a junior and posts excellent exit velocities. The Astros worked to get him to loft the ball more consistently. Those adjustments and his more pull-heavy approach resulted in a very modest pro debut. If the Astros are right about Lee’s latent power potential, they could have found a late first-round steal, but area scouts and pro scouts for other teams are more skeptical, seeing modest power and a decent feel for hitting. Lee needs to work on his framing and receiving, but he has the athleticism to be at least an average receiver and he has a 70 arm on the 20-to-80 scale, although he needs to improve his accuracy. He is a 40 runner—pretty speedy for a catcher.
  
  THE FUTURE: Lee will move up to low Class A Quad Cities as he works on driving the ball more consistently. He has a significant to-do list, but he also has the tools to be an everyday catcher.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Lee was the second best hitter for California in 2019, which was understandable when you consider he was teammates with the White Sox's Andrew Vaughn, the No. 3 pick in the draft. Lee was not seen as a first-round pick by most teams, but the Astros really believed in his bat, which gave the Bears two first-round picks in the same year for the first time in school history.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Lee hit 15 home runs for California as a junior and posts excellent exit velocities. The Astros worked to get him to loft the ball more consistently. Those adjustments and his more pull-heavy approach resulted in a very modest pro debut. If the Astros are right about Lee's latent power potential, they could have found a late first-round steal, but area scouts and pro scouts for other teams are more skeptical, seeing modest power and a decent feel for hitting. Lee needs to work on his framing and receiving, but he has the athleticism to be at least an average receiver and he has a 70 arm on the 20-to-80 scale, although he needs to improve his accuracy. He is a 40 runner—pretty speedy for a catcher.
  
  THE FUTURE: Lee will move up to low Class A Quad Cities as he works on driving the ball more consistently. He has a significant to-do list, but he also has the tools to be an everyday catcher.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Lee played first base, third base and catcher at California before eventually becoming the Bears' everyday catcher as a junior. Lee's versatility was also apparent in his pro debut, as he played both left field and first base for Tri-City with catchers Nathan Perry and C.J. Stubbs also on the roster. While he received high marks for his above-average power before the draft, scouts and managers view Lee's feel to hit as being better than his power potential. Lee has tinkered a bit with his swing, which has resulted in making more consistent contact. He is an athletic receiver who has plus arm strength, although he needs to improve his accuracy.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  A 6-foot-1, 205-pound backstop for California, Lee raised his stock this spring with a career-best offensive campaign hitting behind standout first baseman Andrew Vaughn. After spending time at catcher, first base, third base and designated hitter as a sophomore, Lee has been the team's primary catcher his junior season, and he hit .339/.415/.613 with 13 home runs and a team-best 52 RBIs through his first 47 games. Lee brings above-average power to the table from the right side, but until this spring scouts had questioned how much his bat would play. Lee is a good receiver behind the plate who has continued to improve his defensive ability with above-average arm strength.