Hao-Yu Lee

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Hao-Yu Lee
Detroit Tigers – No. 50
Infielder
Born: (2003-02-03) February 3, 2003
New Taipei, Taiwan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 17, 2026, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through June 29, 2026)
Batting average.258
Home runs3
Runs batted in13
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Chinese Taipei
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place2022 HangzhouTeam

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

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

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]

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]

See also

References

  1. "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.
  2. 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.
  3. Salisbury, Jim (June 15, 2021). "Phillies sign promising hitting prospect from Taiwan". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  4. Zolecki, Todd (March 7, 2022). "'I love playing baseball': Lee brings strong mentality, potential to Phillies camp". MLB.com. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  5. Carr, Alex (May 16, 2022). "Phillies MiLB Weekend Recap: Holy Moly Hao-Yu Lee". SI.com. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  6. Axisa, Mike (August 2023). "Michael Lorenzen trade: Phillies acquire All-Star pitcher from Tigers to help rotation during playoff push". CBSSports.com.
  7. Beck, Jason (November 18, 2025). "Tigers add 5 prospects to 40-man roster, DFA 6 relievers". MLB.com. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  8. 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.
  9. "Tigers cut 4 prospects from spring training, but not Kevin McGonigle". Detroit Free-Press. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.