Hao-Yu Lee
| Hao-Yu Lee | |
|---|---|
| Detroit Tigers – No. 50 | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: February 3, 2003 New Taipei, Taiwan | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 17, 2026, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| MLB statistics (through August 2, 2026) | |
| Batting average | .267 |
| Home runs | 6 |
| Runs batted in | 27 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
Medals | |
Hao-Yu Lee (Chinese: 李灝宇; pinyin: Lǐ Hàoyǔ; born February 3, 2003) is a Taiwanese professional baseball infielder for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2026.
Amateur and international career
[edit]Lee played on the Chinese Taipei national baseball team in multiple international tournaments, including the 2015 U-12, 2018 U-15, and 2019 U-18 Baseball World Cups.[1] He joined the national team roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but withdrew due to injury.[2]
Professional career
[edit]Philadelphia Phillies
[edit]Lee was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an international free agent on June 15, 2021, and received a $500,000 signing bonus.[3] After signing, he was assigned to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Phillies, where he played in nine games and batted .364 with one home run, two doubles, two triples, and five RBI.[4] Lee was assigned to the Clearwater Threshers of the Single-A Florida State League at the beginning of the 2022 season.[5]
Detroit Tigers
[edit]On August 1, 2023, Lee was traded to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for pitcher Michael Lorenzen.[6]
Lee made 126 appearances for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens in 2025, batting .243/.342/.406 with 14 home runs, 61 RBI, and 22 stolen bases. On November 18, 2025, the Tigers added Lee to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[7][8]
Lee was optioned to Triple-A Toledo to begin the 2026 season.[9] On April 17, 2026, Lee was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[10] In his third Major League game, Lee recorded his first two hits and a run batted in.[11] On April 26 against the Cincinnati Reds, Lee entered the game as a pinch-hitter and hit a go-ahead two-run homer off Sam Moll for his first major league home run.[12][13] The Tigers faced the Houston Astros on June 15, and Lee and Kai-Wei Teng recorded the first head-to-head matchups between Taiwanese baseball players in Major League Baseball. Lee struck out and recorded a single in two at-bats against Teng.[14] During the second half of the season, Lee hit safely in 12 consecutive games, breaking Yu Chang's record for longest hit streak by a Taiwanese MLB player.[15][16]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "U-12, U-15, U-18 Baseball World Cup alum Hao Yu Lee among MiLB Players of the Week". WBSC.org. May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
- ↑ Chao, Yen-hsiang (March 5, 2026). "Slugger Lee Hao-yu withdraws from Team Taiwan ahead of WBC opener". Central News Agency. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
- ↑ Salisbury, Jim (June 15, 2021). "Phillies sign promising hitting prospect from Taiwan". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ↑ Zolecki, Todd (March 7, 2022). "'I love playing baseball': Lee brings strong mentality, potential to Phillies camp". MLB.com. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ↑ Carr, Alex (May 16, 2022). "Phillies MiLB Weekend Recap: Holy Moly Hao-Yu Lee". SI.com. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ↑ Axisa, Mike (August 2023). "Michael Lorenzen trade: Phillies acquire All-Star pitcher from Tigers to help rotation during playoff push". CBSSports.com.
- ↑ Beck, Jason (November 18, 2025). "Tigers add 5 prospects to 40-man roster, DFA 6 relievers". MLB.com. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
- ↑ Petzold, Evan (January 27, 2026). "Why Tigers added these 5 prospects to 40-man roster for 2026 season". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Tigers cut 4 prospects from spring training, but not Kevin McGonigle". Detroit Free-Press. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- ↑ Yeh, Joseph (April 19, 2026). "Taiwan's Lee Hao-yu called up by Tigers, goes 0-for-3 in MLB debut". Central News Agency. Retrieved April 20, 2026. Republished as: "Lee Hao-yu makes MLB debut for Detroit Tigers". Taipei Times. April 20, 2026. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- ↑ Chao, Yen-hsiang (April 21, 2026). "BASEBALL / Taiwanese Lee Hao-yu knocks first, second MLB hits for Tigers". Central News Agency. Retrieved April 21, 2026. Republished as: "Taiwan's Lee Hao-yu records first MLB hits". Taipei Times. April 22, 2026. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ Beck, Jason (April 26, 2026). "Lee gets dream moment, gives Tigers a boost with 1st career HR -- off the bench!". mlb.com. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
- ↑ Chao, Yen-hsiang (April 27, 2026). "BASEBALL / Lee Hao-yu blasts first MLB home run in Tigers' comeback win over Reds". Central News Agency. Retrieved May 1, 2026. Republished as: "Taiwanese hits his first MLB home run". Taipei Times. April 28, 2026. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ Chao, Yen-hsiang (June 16, 2026). "BASEBALL/Teng, Lee stage first ever Taiwanese player-vs.-player MLB matchup". Central News Agency. Retrieved June 21, 2026. Republished as: "Teng, Lee make Taiwanese MLB history". Taipei Times. 17 June 2026. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
- ↑ Chao, Yen-hsiang. "BASEBALL/Lee Hao-yu's MLB-best active hitting streak ends at 12 games". Central News Agency. Retrieved 1 August 2026. Republished as: "Lee Hao-yu's hit streak for Tigers ends". Taipei Times. 31 July 2026. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- ↑ Chao, Yen-hsiang (25 July 2026). "BASEBALL/Lee Hao-yu extends hitting streak to 9 games in Tigers' win". Central News Agency. Retrieved 1 August 2026. Republished as: "Taiwanese MLB player keeps record hit streak rolling". Taipei Times. 26 July 2026. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Baseball Reference (Minors)
- 2003 births
- Living people
- Baseball players from New Taipei
- Clearwater Threshers players
- Detroit Tigers players
- Erie SeaWolves players
- Florida Complex League Phillies players
- Jersey Shore BlueClaws players
- Lakeland Flying Tigers players
- Major League Baseball infielders
- Major League Baseball players from Taiwan
- Salt River Rafters players
- Taiwanese expatriate baseball players in the United States
- Toledo Mud Hens players
- West Michigan Whitecaps players
- Asian Games baseball players for Chinese Taipei
- Asian Games silver medalists for Chinese Taipei
- Baseball players at the 2022 Asian Games
- Medalists at the 2022 Asian Games
- Asian Games silver medalists in baseball