Tarik Skubal moves out prospect Hao-Yu Lee in Tigers spring coaching
In Tarik Skubal’s first are living batting apply consultation of 2026 spring coaching, he struck out prospect Hao-Yu Lee on Friday, Feb. 13.
BOSTON – Hao-Yu Lee has arrived.
The Detroit Tigers promoted the 23-year-old 2nd/3rd baseman from Triple-A Toledo on Friday, April 17, ahead of the primary of 4 video games in opposition to the Boston Purple Sox at Fenway Park, changing injured software participant Zach McKinstry. He’s going to make his MLB debut in Friday’s sport, beginning at 3rd base and batting 8th.
Lee ranks because the Tigers’ No. 6 prospect, in step with MLB Pipeline.
McKinstry landed at the 10-day injured checklist with left hip/belly irritation ahead of Friday’s sport (after struggling the damage in Wednesday’s 2-1 win in opposition to the Kansas Town Royals at Comerica Park). The location is retroactive to Thursday, so McKinstry can be eligible to go back to the Tigers as early as April 26.
McKinstry serves as the main 2nd baseman when left-hander Framber Valdez pitches, this means that Lee may just fill that position when Valdez begins in Sunday’s sport.
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Lee is a right-handed hitter with a monitor document of luck in opposition to left-handed pitchers and a name for above-average protection.
He has performed in six video games for Toledo, hitting .154 with one house run, one stroll and 7 strikeouts within the 2026 season, posting a .454 OPS throughout 27 plate appearances. He logged 21 innings at 2nd base and 18 innings at 3rd base.
Prior to that, he spent 3 video games in Low-A Lakeland right through his go back from a left indirect pressure that he suffered in early March.
Take into account, Lee prospers in opposition to left-handed pitchers.
In 2025, Lee hit .299 with a .919 OPS throughout 124 plate appearances in opposition to left-handers in Triple-A – the place he spent all 126 video games that season.
The Tigers will get started Lee in either one of their upcoming video games in opposition to lefty starters from the Purple Sox: Ranger Suárez on Friday and Garrett Crochet on Sunday. They are additionally covered as much as face two lefty starters in each and every of the following two sequence: Kyle Harrison from the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday and Andrew Abbott from the Cincinnati Reds on April 24.
The main position for Lee is to be a risk on offense in opposition to left-handed pitchers, however he’s anticipated to get some probabilities in opposition to righties for the reason that Tigers worth his protection.
The Tigers received Lee from the Philadelphia Phillies for right-hander Michael Lorenzen in August 2023 on the industry closing date – the primary closing date below president of baseball operations Scott Harris, employed in September 2022.
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Touch Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or practice him @EvanPetzold.