Khalil Lee, Photo by James Farrance
It was announced that New York Mets outfield prospect Khalil Lee was selected as a 2021 Triple-A East League All-Star on Tuesday afternoon.
According to MLB.com, Lee is ranked as the eighth prospect currently in the Mets system. He was also named to the MLB Pipeline Prospect Second Team of the Year alongside top prospect Francisco Alvarez last week.
The Mets acquired Lee back in February of this year as part of a three-team deal that ultimately sent outfielder Andrew Benintendi from the Boston Red Sox to the Kansas City Royals.
Lee’s outstanding first season as a member of the Mets organization is highlighted by a whopping .451 on-base percentage. That number not only led the league, but also set a Syracuse Mets franchise record.
Overall, Lee slashed .274/.451/.500 on the year with 14 home runs and 37 runs batted in. Lee showcased improved discipline at the plate, drawing a career-high 71 walks during the season. He also finished the year with a 162 wRC+, which led the league.
Fans likely remember Lee from his short stint with the replace-Mets in late May. In 18 plate appearances, Lee struck out a whopping 13 times, amounting to an astonishing 72.2% strikeout rate.
Lee was only able to rack up one singular hit in those 18 AB’s, but that hit was a go-ahead double to give the Mets a late lead over the Marlins. The youngster also showcased his ability to use his speed to get to fly balls and make terrific plays in the field in his short time with the big league team.
Speed and base stealing is an aspect of Lee’s game that is sort of a question mark at this point in his career. Back in 2019, Lee swiped a colossal 53 bags in 65 attempts for the Royals Double-A affiliate. With Syracuse this season, he was only able to muster up eight stolen bases in 18 attempts.
There is no doubt that Lee will receive a spring training invite next season. Corner outfield positions could be in question if the departure of Michael Conforto is imminent. If Lee performs well, he could definitely find himself as a major contributor at the big league level next season.
Congratulations to Khalil Lee for being named a 2021 Triple-A East League All-Star!
