With the MLB trade deadline mere hours away, the Philadelphia Phillies made their first move of the day when they acquired starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen from the Detroit Tigers. It's a move that will help the Phillies bolster their starting rotation for the stretch run to the postseason.
But who did the Phillies give up in the deal for the two-month rental?
Going to Detroit in the trade is prospect Hao-Yu Lee, a 20-year-old infielder who had most recently been playing in High-A for the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. Originally signed out of Taiwan as an 18-year-old, Lee came into the season ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 5 Phillies prospect.
After advancing to High-A at the end of last season, hitting .257 in nine games, Lee has his batting average up to .283 with a .773 OPS in 64 games with the BlueClaws this year. The righty has five home runs, 26 RBI, 35 runs scored and 14 stolen bases.
Prior to the season, Pipeline graded Lee's hit tool as an above-average 55, and the youngster has demonstrated his ability to hit to all parts of the diamond. He sports a 32.1 percent pull rate, while 29.6 percent of his batted balls go up the middle, and 38.3 percent are to the opposite field.
Lee had dropped to 9th on my midseason list. I think I was a bit too high on the hit tool and a bit too low on how it all came together. That said, everyone loves him and he is by all accounts and extremely hard worker. He also has a real fill for getting bat to ball.
— Matt Winkelman (@Matt_Winkelman) August 1, 2023
The Tigers are getting a young hitter with good patience at the plate. He's sporting a 10.2 percent walk rate and an impressive 18.6% strikeout rate, bolstered by his contact skills. Per FanGraphs' preseason scouting report, Lee's "contact and chase rates are a better-than-average mix;" he registered 83 percent in-zone and 75 percent overall contact rates last season.
Listed at 5-foot-9 and 190 pounds, Lee has played most of this season at second base, with a handful of appearances at third and short. Although Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs thinks he's a candidate to end up as a third baseman.