It’s early in the season, but a series between two Florida State League rivals is getting chippy. Multiple hitters on both teams have been plunked by opposing pitchers and tempers are hot. Another Clearwater Threshers hitter takes a fastball in the back.
His teammates are giving it to the pitcher from the dugout, calling him everything but a Child of God. Right there with them is Hao Yu Lee, shouting unprintable words in a language he has yet to master, just as loud, if not louder, than his teammates.
Halfway around the world from his homeland of Taiwan, Lee is not just fitting in, he’s standing out.
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The fiery 19-year-old shortstop — who has also logged several games at both second base and third base this season — signed with the Phillies a little less than a year ago with a bonus of more than $500,000. He hasn’t stopped working since. In fact, the Clearwater coaching staff has to remind Lee to take it easy.
“If we let him, he’ll hit for 12 hours,” Threshers manager Marty Malloy said. “But it’s a lot easier to get a player to ease off the gas pedal than to throttle up, and he’s got the gas pedal mashed all the way down.
“As a coach, sometimes you have to be their biggest cheerleader, but at times you have to be the guy to pull in the reins a bit,” Clearwater hitting coach Jake Elmore said. “You sometimes have to remind him it’s a [145-game] season.”
The book on Lee was that his hit tool was strong and through two months of the season, he has been as advertised. He leads the Florida State League in RBIs (37 in 41 games) and ranks in the top five in OPS (.869), batting average (.288), and hits (45).
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He definitely looks ahead of the curve at the plate, and his approach to the game also seems to be one of a more seasoned player.
“Mickey Moniak was rehabbing with us last week, and the only guy I saw picking his brain was Lee,” Elmore said. “He would say ‘How do you lay off that pitch? What were you thinking?’
“He does stuff 19-year-olds don’t do. Mentally, he’s beyond his years, and that’s been the most impressive part.”
Lee said he was brought up in the game by traditional, old-school coaches who told him, “Do you best, or don’t do it at all.” As a freshman in high school he had a chance to compete against a U.S. team in the U18 Baseball World Cup.
“I saw teams from all over the world and thought, ‘Maybe I could be like them, maybe I can be better,’” Lee said through his translator. “Since I’ve gotten here, my goal has always been to get to the major leagues, and that’s what drives me.”
Due to the 12-hour time difference between New Taipei and Clearwater, Lee said he only speaks to his friends and family one or twice a month, but they text often. He didn’t get to watch much American baseball growing up, but his favorite player is Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton.
When asked what he misses most about home? “Food,” he said. “Pork braised rice and beef noodle.”
Scouts and draftniks love to use player comparisons to project talent in young prospects. While Malloy stayed away from giving a name, Elmore likened Lee to an A.L. MVP winner.
“His demeanor and his play remind me of Dustin Pedroia,” he said. “He’s hard-nosed, he’ll fight for his team, fight for himself, and he won’t take anything from the other team.”
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