The White Sox have recalled catcher Korey Lee from Triple-A Charlotte. He is expected to make his White Sox debut in this evening’s contest against the Athletics, as reported by Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. In a corresponding move, catcher Carlos Perez has been optioned to Triple-A.
The 25-year-old Lee came to Chicago at the trade deadline in the deal that sent Kendall Graveman to Houston. Lee had been one of the Astros’ top prospects since he was selected out of UC Berkeley in the first round of the 2019 draft. He made his MLB debut in July 2022 but was optioned a month later when the Astros acquired Christian Vazquez at the deadline. He has not played in a big league game since, and his rookie status remains intact.
Lee is a glove-first player with power potential in his bat. Baseball America ranked him as the no. 7 prospect in the Astros system this offseason, citing his “variety of average-to-plus skills” behind the dish and his “power-centric approach” at the plate. His best tool is his strong arm, which BA gave an 80 grade (the highest possible evaluation).
Perez was recalled in early August after Seby Zavala suffered an oblique strain. The 26-year-old Perez has been catching in the White Sox organization for nearly a decade, although he has never been a top prospect. He has appeared in 18 games for the White Sox this season, posting a .611 OPS in 30 trips to the plate. He will return to Triple-A, where he has fared slightly better, putting up a .705 OPS in 68 games.
Meanwhile, Zavala began a rehab assignment on Tuesday. There is no clear timetable for his return, but it is possible he won’t be back until September, at which point rosters will have expanded to 28 and the White Sox will have the flexibility to activate Zavala without optioning Lee.
Zavala is a stronger defensive catcher but has contributed very little at the plate this year, slashing .155/.207/.304. Yasmani Grandal, for his part, is hitting somewhat better (.235/.309/.345) but is no longer much of an asset with the glove. Lee has struggled with the bat since his arrival in Charlotte, posting a .255/.309/.275 slash line, but if Chicago views him as part of the future core, it is a good time to get him some more big-league experience. The White Sox’s postseason hopes have long disappeared, and these last 35 games provide an opportunity to get a better look at one of their potential catchers of the future. Grandal will be a free agent at the end of the season, while Lee’s fellow catching prospect Edgar Quero still looks to be a year or two away from making his MLB debut. The White Sox should have plenty of playing time available behind the dish in 2024.
I’m sorry WSox, this is tough for you
No where to go but up…
Upside, the Mets spent millions more than you…
No where to go but up…
Oh sure, Kenny and Hahn get fired . . . . just when the fruits of their labor begin to pay off. Just can’t catch a break.
Gilbert and Lee were my favorite Astros prospects, both gone. Both are gonna come back and bite the Astros in the butt.
Since 2015, the Astros have traded a bunch of prospects for veterans. How many were elite players? One…Josh Hader. He’s the only one they’d have regrets about. Joe Musgrove got them two HOF caliber years of Garrett Cole. All the other prospects are either busts or league average players.
Maybe Lee and Gilbert become superstars, but I trust the organization.
They should have moved to Tampa when they had the chance.
Let Korey Lee play the bulk of the remaining games and let lame duck Grandal be the backup. I’d also like to see Colson Montgomery up as soon as possible.
Disagree on Montgomery. He’s still figuring out AA, no need to rush him.
Why not cut Grandal now?
Egads why is every advert that comes across my internet browsing experience today has to do with trying to sell me cremation & burial insurance?? Morbid mfers.
Maybe they know something? Just sayin.
Thanks for the support!!! LOL, yeah I know artificial intelligence has made leaps and bounds lately, but this is getting spooky.
The White Sox are a horrendous team and organization. If mlb eliminated them, few would even notice.
ESPN doesn’t notice them now.
Hopefully Corey Lee is more like Geddy and takes off as he moves to the Great White North and not like Hart who’s so confused he wears his sunglasses at night
Nice. Good luck v Man U
He officially became a White Sox last night. Got his 1st error of the season.
Yeah, that was odd. I think he may have been comparing him to Perez, but it is not clear.
Yeah Zavala is pretty solid – 43rd in framing which is middle of the pack, but 7th in staff handling which is top tier. Before the injuries, the White Sox original starting five had a good run