Hak-Ju Lee

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #21 prospect in 2015
  Considered one of the system's top prospects after being acquired in January 2011 from the Cubs as part of the Matt Garza deal, Lee suffered torn ligaments in his left knee in a collision at second base in early 2013 and did not return to game action until late-April 2014. He proceeded to struggle offensively throughout the season at Triple-A Durham despite being healthy, with some scouts wondering if Lee trusted his knee after having surgery and going through a long rehabilitation. His game is based on speed and quickness. He tends to slap at pitches and use his legs to get on base, a philosophy that failed more often than not in 2014. He has 20 power on the 20-80 scouting scale, and he probably won't be better than fringe-average in terms of batting average if he doesn't recover his plate discipline. Lee has stolen 30 bases in three seasons, but he swiped just 12 in 17 attempts in 2014. His defense in 2014 remained consistent, with Lee displaying quick-twitch athleticism and above-average range at shortstop, with soft hands and plus arm strength and a quick release. He will return to Durham in 2015.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #2 prospect in 2014
  A key component in the Matt Garza deal with the Cubs in January 2011, Lee got off to a great start at Triple-A Durham in 2013 before tearing ligaments in his left knee in a collision while covering second base. A two-time Futures Game participant, he had surgery in late April and missed the remainder of the season, but he should be ready for 2014. A quick-twitch athlete with great defensive instincts, he possesses soft hands and a strong, accurate arm with a quick release. He handles the speed of the game with aplomb, producing highlight-reel plays. His offensive production had leveled off during two stints at Double-A Montgomery before he showed the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field at Durham. He still tends to slap at pitches in order to use his plus speed to get on base. He has improved his ability to work counts and recognize pitches he can drive. He also has become an aggressive baserunner who should steal at least 30 bases annually if his plus speed returns in full. With Yunel Escobar holding down shortstop in the big leagues, Lee should spend 2014 honing his skills at Durham and could emerge as the Rays' shortstop as soon as 2015.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #4 prospect in 2013
  Two of the Rays' three best prospects are products of the Matt Garza trade with the Cubs in January 2011. Signed by Chicago for $725,000 out of South Korea, Lee hit well in the lower minors but has leveled off in Double-A the last two years, batting .249/.325/.351 at Montgomery. He did post a 21-game hitting streak and a 46-game on-base streak this season before an oblique injury sidelined him in mid-August. Lee's calling card is his defensive acumen. He has quick-twitch actions, plus speed and a sixth sense about where to position himself. His hands are soft and he bolsters his above-average arm strength with good accuracy and a quick release. At the plate, Lee tends to slap at pitches and uses the opposite field more often than not. While his power is modest, he can drive the ball to the gaps. He needs to do a better job of working counts and getting on base so he can take advantage of his plus speed. He knows how to steal bases and swiped 37 in 46 tries in 2012, an improvement on his 33-for-49 total from the 2011 season. The Rays continue to see Lee as their long-term answer at shortstop, but they want him to improve his strength and make a few more adjustments at the plate and improve his strength. Added to the 40-man roster, he should spend most of 2013 in Triple-A.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #2 prospect in 2012
  Signed for $725,000 by the Cubs in 2008, Lee was a huge part of the eight-player Matt Garza trade last January. He overcame chicken pox at the start of the 2011 season to hit safely in his first 14 games at high Class A Charlotte. He played in his second straight Futures Game before moving up to Double-A for the final month. An exciting player who employs speed and quickness in all aspects of his game, Lee has impressive footwork, plus range and an uncanny ability to read balls. Managers have rated him the best defensive shortstop in his league the past two years, and he has soft hands, a strong arm and a quick release. Using a line-drive stroke, Lee finished third in the Florida State League with a .318 average in 2011. He slapped the ball to the opposite field early in the season before becoming more proficient at turning on pitches. While his home run power is limited, his speed produces doubles and triples. He's learning how to read pitchers in order to become a better basestealer and could swipe 30-plus bases annually in the big leagues. Lee is a pure shortstop who should emerge as a starter and possibly an all-star. He'll return to Montgomery to open 2012 and could reach Tampa Bay by mid-2013.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #4 prospect in 2011
  Few clubs scout the Far East as actively as the Cubs, whose biggest recent prize is Lee, signed for $725,000 out of Korea in 2008. He had Tommy John surgery before coming to the United States, but it hasn't held him back. He ranked as the short-season Northwest League's No. 1 prospect in his 2009 pro debut, and he and Brett Jackson represented Chicago at the Futures Game last July. A potential leadoff hitter, Lee controls the strike zone and has plus-plus speed. He has the bat speed and strength in his hands to hit for some power once he develops his upper body, though he can get overly aggressive and spin off some balls. Managers rated Lee the best defensive shortstop in the low Class A Midwest League in 2010. He has quick reactions, good range to both sides and a strong arm, though he needs to improve his reads and his focus after making 34 errors in 118 games last year. He also has to break a habit of flipping throws to first base. He picked up English quickly, helping him soak up instruction. Lee will play at high Class A Daytona at age 20. The Cubs have time before they'll have to decide where to play him and Starlin Castro on the same club. Lee is quicker and flashier, so he could push Castro to second base.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #6 prospect in 2010
  More active than most clubs in the Far East, the Cubs spent $725,000 to sign Lee out of Korea in June 2008. He injured his elbow before coming to the United States, requiring Tommy John surgery, delaying his professional debut. He recovered quickly, ranking as the top prospect in the short-season Northwest League. Lee has four above-average tools, starting with plus-plus speed that he used to lead the NWL with 25 steals. He's a gifted hitter who stays inside the ball and sprays line drives all over the field. His patience and quickness enhance his ability to get on base. He gets to balls that a lot of shortstops can't reach, and he has the actions, hands and arm strength to make difficult plays. Lee doesn't possess much power and needs to get stronger, though he does sting the ball with authority. For a player with his profile, he'll have to make more contact. He can get flashy and sloppy at times, especially on defense, where he led NWL shortstops with 27 errors. Lee is more athletic than Starlin Castro, which could push Castro to second base when they're double-play partners in Chicago. The Cubs haven't ruled out skipping Lee a level to high Class A in 2010.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #10 prospect in 2009
  Background: Lee was the prize among the Cubs' 2008 international signees, agreeing to a $725,000 bonus in June. Chicago landed two more Koreans late in the summer, righthander Su-Min Jung ($510,000) and catcher Jae-Hoon Ha ($225,000). Lee reported to MLB's Australian Baseball Academy to prepare for coming to the United States. He injured his elbow, requiring Tommy John surgery. With his array of tools, Lee has a chance to be a special shortstop. He's a lefthanded hitter who stays inside the ball well and uses the whole field. He may even have some power once he fills out his exceedingly skinny frame. He has the plus-plus speed to create havoc once he reaches base. He had a strong arm before he got hurt, and he exhibits fluid actions at shortstop. The Tommy John surgery actually isn't a major setback, because he's still just 18 and the Cubs expect him to be ready for spring training. Bigger concerns are his need to add strength and adapt to a new culture. He has a reputation for being a bit of a hot dog. One international scout who wasn't a huge fan thought he was a slap hitter whose hands and arm were questionable for a shortstop. Lee could be the first Korean middle infielder to reach the big leagues. Because he has no pro experience and the Cubs have several lower-level shortstop prospects, he'll head to the Arizona League in June.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #8 prospect in 2012
  Part of the trade that sent Matt Garza from the Rays to the Cubs in January 2011, Lee ended that season and spent all of this year in Double-A. His bat has leveled off during that time--he has hit .249/.325/.351 with the Generals--but he has maintained his standing as a quality defender and baserunner. Lee positions himself well and has the quickness to track down balls with ease. He augments his strong arm with a quick release. He has well above-average speed and succeeded on 80 percent of his SL steal attempts. At the plate, Lee sprays lots of line drives to the opposite field. He's a slap hitter with no power, so Double-A pitchers aren't afraid to challenge him. Showing more patience and working more counts might help his cause, but he projects to bat toward the bottom of a big league lineup.
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  Ranked Florida State League #3 prospect in 2011
  Righthander Chris Archer was the headliner among the five prospects the Rays received in the offseason deal that sent Matt Garza to the Cubs, but Lee may end up being the biggest prize. Managers have rated Lee the best defensive shortstop in his league two years running, and he has every asset to be a major league shortstop. Charlotte manager Jim Morrison quipped that Lee rarely has to make backhanded plays because of how fast he gets to everything. He makes good reads on balls and is a well above-average runner with excellent range. He has a strong and accurate arm, with fast hands and a quick release as well, though he can play out of control at times. Lee slapped balls the other way early in the season, but turned on pitches as the season progressed and finished third in the FSL batting race at .318. While he has a line-drive approach that won't produce big home run numbers, he has the bat and foot speed to compile plenty of doubles and triples. He's an adept bunter who needs to get better at reading pitchers to become a more efficient basestealer.
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  Ranked Midwest League #13 prospect in 2010
  With Franklin projecting as a second baseman, scouts tabbed Lee as the MWL's best shortstop prospect. However, some of them said they expected more polish after he ranked as the short-season Northwest League's No. 1 prospect a year ago and was billed as having four plus tools. Lee's best attribute is his speed, which grades as a 65-70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He's even quicker down the line because he uses a jailbreak approach and races out of the box a la Ichiro Suzuki. He also has an above-average arm, though he doesn't always show it because he flips too many throws to first base. Lee has a more aggressive approach than most Asian hitters. He has a quick bat and can turn on some pitches, though he spins off some balls and needs to realize power really isn't his game. He doesn't always read balls well in the field and can get sloppy defensively, which resulted in 34 errors in 118 games.
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  Ranked Northwest League #1 prospect in 2009
  Signed out of Korea for $725,000 in 2008, Lee made his pro debut this summer after injuring his elbow last season and requiring Tommy John surgery. One of the youngest players in the NWL, he was also its best all-around player. While Lee only projects to have gap power, his other four tools are all above average. His plus-plus speed stands out and gives defenses fits. If infielders play him back, he'll lay down a bunt for a single, and if they play him in, he'll shoot a hard grounder right by them. He led the NWL with 56 runs and 25 steals (in 33 attempts) and his quickness helped on defense, where managers considered him the best shortstop in the league. "When he goes in the hole, he has plenty of arm to make that play," Boise manager Casey Kopitzke said. "When he goes up the middle, he has the athleticism to spin and make the play, and he has the hand-eye coordination when he comes in on balls to make those plays too." Lee led all NWL shortstops with 27 errors, but he also got to more balls than anyone else and Kopitzke said the errors were mainly from a lack of experience--usually rushing plays when he didn't have to--and not from deficient skills. He aggressively goes after balls and has soft hands.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #90 prospect in 2013
• Ranked Baseball America's #44 prospect in 2012
• Ranked Baseball America's #92 prospect in 2011

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Two of the Rays' three best prospects are products of the Matt Garza trade with the Cubs in January 2011. Signed by Chicago for $725,000 out of South Korea, Lee hit well in the lower minors but has leveled off in Double-A the last two years, batting .249/.325/.351 at Montgomery. He did post a 21-game hitting streak and a 46-game on-base streak this season before an oblique injury sidelined him in mid-August. Scouting Report: Lee's calling card is his defensive acumen. He has quick-twitch actions, plus speed and a sixth sense about where to position himself. His hands are soft and he bolsters his above-average arm strength with good accuracy and a quick release. At the plate, Lee tends to slap at pitches and uses the opposite field more often than not. While his power is modest, he can drive the ball to the gaps. He needs to do a better job of working counts and getting on base so he can take advantage of his plus speed. He knows how to steal bases and swiped 37 in 46 tries in 2012, an improvement on his 33-for-49 total from the 2011 season. The Future: The Rays continue to see Lee as their long-term answer at shortstop, but they want him to improve his strength and make a few more adjustments at the plate and improve his strength. He should spend most of 2013 in Triple-A.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Signed for $725,000 by the Cubs in 2008, Lee was a huge piece of the eight-player Matt Garza trade last January. He overcame chicken pox at the start of the 2011 season to hit safely in his first 14 games at high Class A Charlotte. He played in his second straight Futures Game before moving up to Double-A for the final month.
  
  Scouting Report: An exciting player who employs speed and quickness in all aspects of his game, Lee has impressive footwork, plus range and an uncanny ability to read balls off the bat. Managers have rated him the best defensive shortstop in his league the past two years, and he has soft hands, a strong arm and a quick release. Using a line-drive stroke, Lee finished third in the Florida State League with a .318 average in 2011. He slapped the ball to the opposite field early in the season before becoming more proficient at turning on pitches. While his home run power is limited, his speed produces doubles and triples. He's learning how to read pitchers in order to become a better basestealer and could swipe 30-plus bases annually in the big leagues.
  
  The Future: Lee is a pure shortstop who should emerge as a starter and possibly an all-star. He'll return to Montgomery to open 2012 and could reach Tampa Bay by mid-2013.