Vying for backstop role, Lee seeks more ‘opportunities to shine’
HOUSTON — The retirement of Jason Castro and the departure of Christian Vázquez in free company this offseason has opened the door for catching prospects Korey Lee and Yainer Diaz to battle it out for the backup job behind regular veteran Martín Maldonado this yr.
The Astros toyed with the thought of bringing in a veteran backup behind Maldonado, however they look like set letting their kids deal with the load when Spring Training begins subsequent month. It’s a chance not misplaced on Lee, the previous first-round decide who made his debut final yr.
“I’ve just got to play my game,” Lee stated. “That’s what I pride myself on. I’m not going to try to be anybody else. I’m going to do what Korey can do and not put any pressure on myself. At the end of the day, whatever I can do to help the team win, that’s what I’m going to do. I will be a good opportunity.”
Ranked because the Astros’ No. 7 prospect by MLB Pipeline on the finish of final season, Lee spent most of 2022 in Triple-A. He slashed .238/.307/.483 with 25 homers and 76 RBIs in 104 video games with Sugar Land, hanging out 127 instances in 446 plate appearances. He had some ups and downs mechanically on the plate however has an elite arm behind it, which is essential contemplating the emphasis on protection and run prevention the Astros place on their catchers.
“Obviously, my focus is at catcher,” Lee stated. “I think you’ve got to put that first over the hitting. Obviously, I’m going to hit every day [in the cage]. Just on the defensive side, a lot of receiving [work], a lot of talking to the pitchers out on the field and just learning what they want to do. Strong relationships [are] the main priority to me right now.”
Lee, who lives in Houston, has been understanding at Minute Maid Park every morning, hitting and catching bullpens. Among the pitchers he’s caught to date are Ryan Pressly and José Urquidy, every of whom might be taking part in within the World Baseball Classic subsequent month, in addition to lefty Blake Taylor.
Lee, 24, was known as as much as the large leagues on July 1 of final yr when Castro was positioned on the injured checklist. He stayed with the Astros for a month and was despatched again all the way down to Triple-A once they acquired Vazquez in an Aug. 1 commerce with Boston. When rosters expanded a month later, it was Diaz, not Lee, who acquired the decision.
When it involves his competitors with Diaz, it’s an amicable one. But it’s nonetheless a contest. Diaz, the workforce’s No. 3 prospect, may get the primary shot to make the membership this yr due to his bat (he may DH and play some first base). Behind them, Cesar Salazar and Luke Berryhill are the subsequent wave of catchers who might be in camp.
In 26 plate appearances with the Astros final yr, Lee was 4-for-25 with 9 strikeouts. Three of these hits got here on July 10 in Oakland, the place a number of former faculty teammates from Cal have been within the stands. He went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs whereas catching seven scoreless innings from beginning pitcher Jake Odorizzi.
“It was unbelievable,” Lee stated. “It was a great learning experience for me, especially [my] first time up there, being with someone like Maldonado and Castro. Especially the team we had. There’s a lot of good guys to look up to, and I’m excited for this year to replay it again.”
Both Lee and Diaz have been on the taxi squad for the postseason, which means they have been within the dugout with the workforce and traveled on the street. Just previous to Game 6 of the World Series, Lee was knowledgeable by supervisor Dusty Baker he can be activated for the sport due to Yuli Gurriel’s proper knee damage. Lee didn’t play within the Astros’ 4-1 victory over the Phillies to win the World Series, however the expertise was invaluable.
“Seeing the atmosphere and going to the different stadiums and the crowd, it was a dream come true,” he stated. “I got to experience it, and hopefully this year I get to play in front [of the crowds again]. You’re better whenever you get those opportunities to shine.”
