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Catcher Korey Lee has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A, in response to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Lee was designated for task by the White Sox three days in the past after being knowledgeable that he wouldn’t make the Opening Day roster.
The outright task retains Lee within the group, which can show ideally suited for the Sox. A couple of weeks in the past, Lee was poised for the backup catcher spot, with Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero splitting time between catcher and DH to maintain each within the lineup. Then, Teel strained his hamstring within the World Baseball Basic, main him to start out the yr on the injured record. The harm prompted Chicago to signal Reese McGuire to an inexpensive one-year deal as a backup whereas Quero began behind the plate. Regardless of his glorious efficiency in Spring Coaching, Lee was in the end the odd man out. He’ll now begin the yr as Triple-A depth, however he’s seemingly the following man up ought to Quero or McGuire endure an harm themselves.
Lee has made 530 profession plate appearances between the Astros and White Sox from 2022-25. His first important look got here in 2024 with the Sox, making 394 PA over 125 video games. He batted simply .210/.244/.347 with a 65 wRC+, though he confirmed some energy with 12 residence runs. He spent most of 2025 at Triple-A and fared barely higher with an 81 wRC+. Nonetheless, his general offensive output is underwhelming given his standing as a former first-round draft decide.
As an alternative, Lee’s worth comes from his protection and talent to work with a pitching workers. In 2024, Statcast graded him within the 97th percentile for pop time and the 82nd percentile for caught stealing above common. In distinction, he earned damaging marks for his blocking and framing. Regardless of these flaws, Lee’s arm energy, youth, and affordability give him some enchantment as minor-league depth. He has simply over two years of service time and is out of possibility years. If his contract is ultimately chosen, he would wish to hit sufficient to stay on the roster or else be designated for task. In that state of affairs, he would have the precise to refuse one other outright task.
Picture courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Photographs
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