Khalil Lee Stats & Scouting Report

AB	13
AVG	.154
OBP	.267
SLG	.231
HR	0

Full name Khalil Rashad Lee
Born 06/26/1998 in Newark, DE
Profile Ht.: 5'10" / Wt.: 170 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Flint Hill
Debut 05/17/2021
Drafted in the 3rd round (103rd overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 2016 (signed for $750,000).

View Draft Report

Lee could pose an interesting conundrum for teams looking to draft him. Committed to Liberty as a two-way player, Lee has made significant strides both at the plate and on the mound this spring, and scouts are divided as to whether they like him more as a position player or a pitcher. Showing a mid-80s fastball when he first committed, Lee has worked 91-93 mph this spring from the left side, touching 94 and showing some feel for spinning the ball. But the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Lee has also shown growth in his position player skill set, running 4.2 or under down the line, and his strong arm plays well in the outfield. Though his frame is compact, he has enough bat speed and pop that most teams considered him a hitting prospect early this spring. But with his blossoming velocity, Lee might be a more attractive pitching option. The confusion over his position could serve Liberty well, as Lee would have the opportunity to play both ways if he happens to make it to campus.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: Drafted by the Royals out of high school in 2016, Lee had reached Double-A by the time the pandemic struck. The Royals traded him to the Mets following the lost 2020 minor league season, acquiring Andrew Benintendi from the Red Sox as part of a three-team deal. Lee advanced to Triple-A Syracuse in 2021 and led all qualified players at that level with a .451 on-base percentage and 18.3% walk rate. His .951 OPS ranked eighth.

Scouting Report: Injuries pressed Lee into emergency big league duty in May. He wasn’t ready and went just 1-for-18 with 13 strikeouts. The Mets were encouraged by how he recovered at Triple-A and by how his aggressiveness ticked up late in the season. In his final 30 games he hit .311/482/.600 with 13 extra-base hits. Lee has bat speed and above-average raw power to his pull side but faces questions about his overall feel for hitting. He tended toward passivity at Triple-A and swung at just 37% of pitches, placing him in the 1st percentile in terms of aggressiveness for the level. Lee runs well but is not the burner his past stolen base totals suggest. He is capable in center field but better in right, where his plus arm is an asset.

The Future: Lee offers more floor than ceiling and could serve as an extra outfielder as soon as 2022. His window to playing time opens wider if he can prove himself in center field or get to more power by attacking pitches he can damage.
Hitting: 40. Power: 55. Running: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 70.

TRACK RECORD: The Royals have pushed Lee aggressively since they drafted him in the third round in 2016, including sending him to Double-A as a 20-year-old. Lee was set to spend the 2020 season at Triple-A, but he instead spent the summer at the alternate training site and finished up with the instructional program at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals traded him to the Mets in February as part of the three-team deal that saw Andrew Benintendi land in Kansas City and Franchy Cordero in Boston.

SCOUTING REPORT: Lee is an impressive athlete whose biggest need is to reduce his strikeout rate. He struck out 154 times in 129 games in 2019 and has a 34% strikeout rate in his career. He made strides at the alternate training site by hunting specific pitches and staying out of two-strike counts. Lee hasn’t been able to get to his above-average raw power because of his swing-and-miss issues, but he has enough thump to reach double-digit home runs. Lee worked with Royals outfield coach Mitch Maier to improve his instincts and jumps in the outfield and take better advantage of his above-average speed. Even if he can’t stay in center field, his plus arm will be enough for an outfield corner. Lee is an aggressive and instinctive baserunner who stole 53 bases in 65 attempts in his last full season.

THE FUTURE: Lee has a chance to become part of the Mets’ outfield picture, but only if his contact improvements hold.
TRACK RECORD: Lee has been young for his level every year since the Royals drafted him in the third round in 2016. He spent the entire 2019 season at Double-A Northwest Arkansas after first heading there partway through the 2018 season on his 20th birthday. Lee's numbers improved his second time through the Texas League, headlined by a league-leading 53 stolen bases.

SCOUTING REPORT: Lee presents an intriguing mix of power and speed, though how much he will get out of each is an open question. At the plate, Lee drives the ball into the gaps when he makes contact, but his swing gets stiff and at times he gets too passive at the plate. His strikeout rate remains alarmingly close to 30 percent and has improved only modestly over the years. These factors contribute to a below-average feel for hitting. Lee's above-average speed is sufficient and plays on the bases, but he doesn't always show the instincts or closing speed for center field. As such, most evaluators prefer him on an outfield corner, where his plus arm will play in either right or left.

THE FUTURE: Lee will still be only 21 on Opening Day and should get a crack at Triple-A Omaha. He will be tested by the advanced pitching at the level, but has a chance to make his major league debut during the season.
Track Record: Lee continued on the fast track through the Royals' system, making it to Double-A three days after his 20th birthday. The athletic outfielder took big strides forward in 2018, especially in cutting his strikeout rate from 32 percent in his first full season to 25 percent. He was one of the most productive players in the Carolina League before his midseason promotion to Double-A. He also improved his walk rate from 12 to 14 percent. He missed the last month of 2018 to back soreness but made up for lost time with an assignment to the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: The key to Lee's improvement at the plate resulted from cutting down on his swing with two strikes and using the whole field more often. The larger ballparks in the Carolina League helped to suppress his home run total, which dropped from 17 in 2017 to six in 2018. But Lee projects to hit for more power as he matures. He shows easy plus raw power in batting practice and scouts believe he has good feel to hit and keeps his hands back and works deep counts. While not a burner, Lee is a smart baserunner and has the above-average speed, athleticism and arm to stay in center field.

The Future: Lee will return to Double-A Northwest Arkansas to start the 2019 season. In a system with a number of high-ceiling prospects in the lower levels of the minors, Lee stands out because he's not that far away from the big leagues. Lee should be starting in Kansas City by the end of 2020.
After a solid first pro season in 2016, Lee skipped a level by heading off to low Class A Lexington in 2017. It was an encouraging first full season for the Royals' 2016 third-round pick, despite the lower batting average and tendency to swing and miss. Lee's high strikeout totals are less of a concern because of his advanced knowledge of the strike zone, which allowed him to walk in 12 percent of his plate appearances. He projects to be an average hitter with more power to emerge with experience and strength. There is a concern about how he sets up his hands at the plate and struggles to get his foot down, but his hands are lightning quick and give him plus bat speed and good barrel control. He has above-average raw power to all fields with a swing that helps him put the ball in the air. Lee could have also been drafted as a pitcher, so his plus arm strength is for real and will be more than enough for right field, and premium athleticism will let him handle center field. He moves well in the outfield and takes good routes. He's close to a plus runner now and will at least be above-average as he gets bigger. Lee projects as a starting outfielder capable of handling all three positions. He'll head to high Class A Wilmington in 2018.
Many scouts saw Lee as a more promising lefthanded pitcher than outfielder, and if he had headed to Liberty, he would have been a two-way contributor. The Royals made him a 2016 third-round pick because of his bat, and he paid off their belief by finishing among the Rookie-level Arizona League leaders in many categories, including on-base percentage (.396) and slugging (.484). Lee stands out because of his athleticism, body control and plus bat speed. In his pro debut, he showed better-than-expected barrel control as well. Unlike many young hitters, he's comfortable hitting with two strikes and showed an ability to string together good takes on breaking balls out of the zone. Lee is small for an outfielder but has surprising strength and above-average raw power. Despite a high strikeout rate, he draws frequent walks and drives the ball enough to project as an average hitter. Lee played all three outfield spots in the AZL, but he is an average runner without the exceptional first step or reads required to play center field. His above-average arm (he sat 91-93 mph as a pitcher) fits in right field. Lee is ready for full-season ball with a jump to low Class A Lexington in 2017.

Draft Prospects

Lee could pose an interesting conundrum for teams looking to draft him. Committed to Liberty as a two-way player, Lee has made significant strides both at the plate and on the mound this spring, and scouts are divided as to whether they like him more as a position player or a pitcher. Showing a mid-80s fastball when he first committed, Lee has worked 91-93 mph this spring from the left side, touching 94 and showing some feel for spinning the ball. But the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Lee has also shown growth in his position player skill set, running 4.2 or under down the line, and his strong arm plays well in the outfield. Though his frame is compact, he has enough bat speed and pop that most teams considered him a hitting prospect early this spring. But with his blossoming velocity, Lee might be a more attractive pitching option. The confusion over his position could serve Liberty well, as Lee would have the opportunity to play both ways if he happens to make it to campus.

Minor League Top Prospects

Lee led the TL with a career-high 53 steals in 2019. Having never stolen more than 20 bases in a season before this year, Lee used his above-average speed much more aggressively while maintaining a strong .363 on-base percentage that remained in line with his career numbers. Lee’s swing is stiff at times, and he saw his strikeout rate balloon to 28.2 percent this season. Some of that can be attributed to a passive approach at times, which puts him behind in the count, but he did manage to draw a walk in nearly 12 percent of his plate appearances. Lee has above-average raw power, but he’s struggles to tap into it in games. An average center fielder with above-average arm strength, some think Lee may be best suited for right field as he continues to mature.
In 2017, Lee was one of the surprises of the South Atlantic League season because of his newfound pop, as he hit 17 home runs. This year, playing in the graveyard that is Wilmington, Lee’s power disappeared, but he still impressed thanks to his patient at-bats, as he traded away power for increased contact and an all-field approach that made him a very useful table-setter. Even though he hit only four home runs in 71 games, Lee has plus raw power that’s quite evident in batting practice. He lifts the ball in batting practice but shortens up to a level swing in games, which is how he cut his strikeout rate from 33 percent last year to 25 percent in high Class A while upping his walk rate. Lee is an above-average runner whose speed plays both on the basepaths and in the field, where it allows him to make up for some meandering routes. The Blue Rocks played Lee in center field almost everyday. He can be average in center, but the Royals are a team that normally plays a plus defender in center. If so, his range and plus arm will make him a plus defender in the corners.
Scouts were split prior to the draft as to whether Lee was a better prospect as a hitter or a pitcher. The Royals signed him for $750,000 to hit, with pitching as a fallback, but early returns indicate he's in the right place. "The first time I saw him take batting practice there was electricity in that bat," Royals manager Darryl Kennedy said. Lee has plus bat speed, barrels balls up and uses the whole field. After his hot start, AZL pitchers started throwing him more breaking balls, but Lee did a good job of adjusting to how the league adjusted to him, Kennedy said. He's aggressive on the bases, both in terms of swiping bags and taking the extra base. While he needs to improve his outfield defense, Lee should be able to stay in center field. He's an above-average runner and at times flashes a plus arm.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Kansas City Royals in 2020
Rated Best Athlete in the Kansas City Royals in 2019
Rated Best Athlete in the Kansas City Royals in 2018

Scouting Reports

BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Drafted by the Royals out of high school in 2016, Lee had reached Double-A by the time the pandemic struck. The Royals traded him to the Mets following the lost 2020 minor league season, acquiring Andrew Benintendi from the Red Sox as part of a three-team deal. Lee advanced to Triple-A Syracuse in 2021 and led all qualified players at that level with a .451 on-base percentage and 18.3% walk rate. His .951 OPS ranked eighth.

Scouting Report: Injuries pressed Lee into emergency big league duty in May. He wasn&#39t ready and went just 1-for-18 with 13 strikeouts. The Mets were encouraged by how he recovered at Triple-A and by how his aggressiveness ticked up late in the season. In his final 30 games he hit .311/482/.600 with 13 extra-base hits. Lee has bat speed and above-average raw power to his pull side but faces questions about his overall feel for hitting. He tended toward passivity at Triple-A and swung at just 37% of pitches, placing him in the 1st percentile in terms of aggressiveness for the level. Lee runs well but is not the burner his past stolen base totals suggest. He is capable in center field but better in right, where his plus arm is an asset.

The Future: Lee offers more floor than ceiling and could serve as an extra outfielder as soon as 2022. His window to playing time opens wider if he can prove himself in center field or get to more power by attacking pitches he can damage.

Scouting Grades:
Hit: 45. Power: 45. Speed: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
Track Record: Drafted by the Royals out of high school in 2016, Lee had reached Double-A by the time the pandemic struck. The Royals traded him to the Mets following the lost 2020 minor league season, acquiring Andrew Benintendi from the Red Sox as part of a three-team deal. Lee advanced to Triple-A Syracuse in 2021 and led all qualified players at that level with a .451 on-base percentage and 18.3% walk rate. His .951 OPS ranked eighth.

Scouting Report: Injuries pressed Lee into emergency big league duty in May. He wasn’t ready and went just 1-for-18 with 13 strikeouts. The Mets were encouraged by how he recovered at Triple-A and by how his aggressiveness ticked up late in the season. In his final 30 games he hit .311/482/.600 with 13 extra-base hits. Lee has bat speed and above-average raw power to his pull side but faces questions about his overall feel for hitting. He tended toward passivity at Triple-A and swung at just 37% of pitches, placing him in the 1st percentile in terms of aggressiveness for the level. Lee runs well but is not the burner his past stolen base totals suggest. He is capable in center field but better in right, where his plus arm is an asset.

The Future: Lee offers more floor than ceiling and could serve as an extra outfielder as soon as 2022. His window to playing time opens wider if he can prove himself in center field or get to more power by attacking pitches he can damage.
Hitting: 40. Power: 55. Running: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 70.

TRACK RECORD: The Royals have pushed Lee aggressively since they drafted him in the third round in 2016, including sending him to Double-A as a 20-year-old. Lee was set to spend the 2020 season at Triple-A, but he instead spent the summer at the alternate training site and finished up with the instructional program at Kauffman Stadium.

SCOUTING REPORT: Lee is an impressive athlete whose biggest need is to reduce his strikeout rate. He struck out 154 times in 129 games in 2019 and has a 34% strikeout rate in his career. He made strides at the alternate training site by hunting specific pitches and staying out of two-strike counts. Lee hasn't been able to get to his above-average raw power because of his swing-and-miss issues, but he has enough thump to reach double-digit home runs. Lee worked with Royals outfield coach Mitch Maier to improve his instincts and jumps in the outfield and take better advantage of his above-average speed. Even if he can't stay in center field, his plus arm will be enough for an outfield corner. Lee is an aggressive and instinctive baserunner who stole 53 bases in 65 attempts in his last full season.

THE FUTURE: Lee has a chance to become part of the Royals' outfield, but only if his contact improvements hold.
Hitting: 40. Power: 55. Running: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 70.

TRACK RECORD: The Royals have pushed Lee aggressively since they drafted him in the third round in 2016, including sending him to Double-A as a 20-year-old. Lee was set to spend the 2020 season at Triple-A, but he instead spent the summer at the alternate training site and finished up with the instructional program at Kauffman Stadium.

SCOUTING REPORT: Lee is an impressive athlete whose biggest need is to reduce his strikeout rate. He struck out 154 times in 129 games in 2019 and has a 34% strikeout rate in his career. He made strides at the alternate training site by hunting specific pitches and staying out of two-strike counts. Lee hasn’t been able to get to his above-average raw power because of his swing-and-miss issues, but he has enough thump to reach double-digit home runs. Lee worked with Royals outfield coach Mitch Maier to improve his instincts and jumps in the outfield and take better advantage of his above-average speed. Even if he can’t stay in center field, his plus arm will be enough for an outfield corner. Lee is an aggressive and instinctive baserunner who stole 53 bases in 65 attempts in his last full season.

THE FUTURE: Lee has a chance to become part of the Royals’ outfield, but only if his contact improvements hold.
Hitting: 40. Power: 55. Running: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 70.

TRACK RECORD: The Royals have pushed Lee aggressively since they drafted him in the third round in 2016, including sending him to Double-A as a 20-year-old. Lee was set to spend the 2020 season at Triple-A, but he instead spent the summer at the alternate training site and finished up with the instructional program at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals traded him to the Mets in February as part of the three-team deal that saw Andrew Benintendi land in Kansas City and Franchy Cordero in Boston.

SCOUTING REPORT: Lee is an impressive athlete whose biggest need is to reduce his strikeout rate. He struck out 154 times in 129 games in 2019 and has a 34% strikeout rate in his career. He made strides at the alternate training site by hunting specific pitches and staying out of two-strike counts. Lee hasn’t been able to get to his above-average raw power because of his swing-and-miss issues, but he has enough thump to reach double-digit home runs. Lee worked with Royals outfield coach Mitch Maier to improve his instincts and jumps in the outfield and take better advantage of his above-average speed. Even if he can’t stay in center field, his plus arm will be enough for an outfield corner. Lee is an aggressive and instinctive baserunner who stole 53 bases in 65 attempts in his last full season.

THE FUTURE: Lee has a chance to become part of the Mets’ outfield picture, but only if his contact improvements hold.
TRACK RECORD: Lee has been young for his level every year since the Royals drafted him in the third round in 2016. He spent the entire 2019 season at Double-A Northwest Arkansas after first heading there partway through the 2018 season on his 20th birthday. Lee’s numbers improved his second time through the Texas League, headlined by a league-leading 53 stolen bases.

SCOUTING REPORT: Lee presents an intriguing mix of power and speed, though how much he will get out of each is an open question. At the plate, Lee drives the ball into the gaps when he makes contact, but his swing gets stiff and at times he gets too passive at the plate. His strikeout rate remains alarmingly close to 30 percent and has improved only modestly over the years. These factors contribute to a below-average feel for hitting. Lee’s above-average speed is sufficient and plays on the bases, but he doesn’t always show the instincts or closing speed for center field. As such, most evaluators prefer him on an outfield corner, where his plus arm will play in either right or left.

THE FUTURE: Lee will still be only 21 on Opening Day and should get a crack at Triple-A Omaha. He will be tested by the advanced pitching at the level, but has a chance to make his major league debut during the season.
TRACK RECORD: Lee has been young for his level every year since the Royals drafted him in the third round in 2016. He spent the entire 2019 season at Double-A Northwest Arkansas after first heading there partway through the 2018 season on his 20th birthday. Lee’s numbers improved his second time through the Texas League, headlined by a league-leading 53 stolen bases.

SCOUTING REPORT: Lee presents an intriguing mix of power and speed, though how much he will get out of each is an open question. At the plate, Lee drives the ball into the gaps when he makes contact, but his swing gets stiff and at times he gets too passive at the plate. His strikeout rate remains alarmingly close to 30 percent and has improved only modestly over the years. These factors contribute to a below-average feel for hitting. Lee’s above-average speed is sufficient and plays on the bases, but he doesn’t always show the instincts or closing speed for center field. As such, most evaluators prefer him on an outfield corner, where his plus arm will play in either right or left.

THE FUTURE: Lee will still be only 21 on Opening Day and should get a crack at Triple-A Omaha. He will be tested by the advanced pitching at the level, but has a chance to make his major league debut during the season.
TRACK RECORD: Lee has been young for his level every year since the Royals drafted him in the third round in 2016. He spent the entire 2019 season at Double-A Northwest Arkansas after first heading there partway through the 2018 season on his 20th birthday. Lee's numbers improved his second time through the Texas League, headlined by a league-leading 53 stolen bases.

SCOUTING REPORT: Lee presents an intriguing mix of power and speed, though how much he will get out of each is an open question. At the plate, Lee drives the ball into the gaps when he makes contact, but his swing gets stiff and at times he gets too passive at the plate. His strikeout rate remains alarmingly close to 30 percent and has improved only modestly over the years. These factors contribute to a below-average feel for hitting. Lee's above-average speed is sufficient and plays on the bases, but he doesn't always show the instincts or closing speed for center field. As such, most evaluators prefer him on an outfield corner, where his plus arm will play in either right or left.

THE FUTURE: Lee will still be only 21 on Opening Day and should get a crack at Triple-A Omaha. He will be tested by the advanced pitching at the level, but has a chance to make his major league debut during the season.
Lee led the TL with a career-high 53 steals in 2019. Having never stolen more than 20 bases in a season before this year, Lee used his above-average speed much more aggressively while maintaining a strong .363 on-base percentage that remained in line with his career numbers. Lee’s swing is stiff at times, and he saw his strikeout rate balloon to 28.2 percent this season. Some of that can be attributed to a passive approach at times, which puts him behind in the count, but he did manage to draw a walk in nearly 12 percent of his plate appearances. Lee has above-average raw power, but he’s struggles to tap into it in games. An average center fielder with above-average arm strength, some think Lee may be best suited for right field as he continues to mature.
Lee made it to Double-A by his 20th birthday in just his second full season. He made tremendous strides as a hitter this year, cutting down on strikeouts to go with his always solid plate discipline. The key factor was an ability to cut down on his swing with two strikes and instead being willing to take a single to the opposite field. That change as well as the larger ballparks of the Carolina League have suppressed his home run totals, but there’s still plenty of power waiting to emerge. Lee is also showing better aptitude on the bases, having been successful on 14 of 17 stolen base attempts at high Class Wilmington before his promotion.