Unowned
Khalil Lee, OF
Edit player ✎
Baseball Reference →
FanGraphs →
MLB →
Scouting report
Lee was a two-way high schooler with more of a leadoff skillset until he got yoked as a senior and showed up to the AZL with surprising power. He had four years of statistical success while with Kansas City but his in-game power output has come down as he's climbed. During Lee's 2019 season at Double-A, he hit .264/.363/.372 with a 12% walk rate and a whopping 53 steals. Then Lee spent 2020 at the Royals' alternate site and went to play winter ball in Puerto Rico for the second consecutive offseason. He didn't hit well there but did look pretty good in center field. In February, Lee was part of the Andrew Benintendi three-team deal and ended up with the Mets. He wasn't as good during his few defensive opportunities this spring and, as he always has, Lee continues to strike out a lot. He is a power-over-hit type of prospect who takes giant hacks, often falling to one knee as he finishes. His big, long, uppercut swing and huge bat speed generate considerable raw power but also lead to lots of strikeouts, and he can really only lift pitches in the bottom of the strike zone. He has the tools of a three true outcomes right fielder, one who potentially plays above-average corner outfield defense. Maybe some of this is due to how intense his swings are, but I get 40-grade run times on Lee from home to first, and I don't see him stealing a ton of bases or playing center field in the big leagues. The quality of his at-bats against elite competition has been mixed, at best. It's likely going to take a swing adjustment to get Lee hitting for relevant power in games. I think he could be the larger half of a corner platoon if either more of that pop shows up in games or Lee's approach eventually enables him to make more contact. (Alternate site, Puerto Rican Winter League)