THE Dae-Eun Rhee Thread

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Yes, he gets his own thread.

 

This guy claims to be a Cub Pac Rim scout (I guess?) and he has a blog entry about Dae-Eun Rhee.

 

He’s listed as 6′2 and 195 lbs, which is 10 lbs. heavier than his signing weight. He throws right-handed and his birthdate is 3/23/89. What makes the team really excited about this kid is the fact that he’s already throwing three pitches well and is working on a fourth. His best pitch is a tailing four-seam fastball that usually comes in between 87-93 MPH. He can locate it to both sides of the plate and has very good control overall. He throws a well-developed 11/5 curve that drops as low as 73 and a less-developed splitter in the 77-82 range. The fourth pitch is a power slider.

 

Also, someone from BCB was at Dae-Eun Rhee's professional debut in Burlington. He has some pics and a little blurb on how Rhee looked.

[Wrigley Rat]

He just turned 19 two weeks ago and if you look on the Chiefs’ roster page you’ll find he’s by far the youngest player on the team. This is important to our story because the Cubs don’t typically send players to Peoria at age 19. In fact the last pitcher sent there at such a young age was a guy named Greg Maddux.

 

That ain't right - Hernandez???

[RammyFanny]

I've got to say i'm a little excited. I would like to know whether that 4 seamer is closer to the 87 or the 93.

[Guest]

He just turned 19 two weeks ago and if you look on the Chiefs’ roster page you’ll find he’s by far the youngest player on the team. This is important to our story because the Cubs don’t typically send players to Peoria at age 19. In fact the last pitcher sent there at such a young age was a guy named Greg Maddux.

 

That ain't right - Hernandez???

 

Right, that stood out to me as wrong. Hernandez was 18 all last season at Peoria. Rafael Dolis started last year at Peoria at age 19. Sean Gallagher started at Peoria at age 19 in 2005. And if we're talking low-A and not just Peoria, Big Z was 19 in Lansing too.

 

I've got to say i'm a little excited. I would like to know whether that 4 seamer is closer to the 87 or the 93.

 

He was primarily clocked in the low 90s in instructs last fall.

[craig]

The notion that Rhee is the first guy to pitch at age 19 since maddux is wrong, obviously.

 

I may not remember well, but Hernandez didn't make the team last spring. He went to XST, IIRC, and only got called up after one of the Dolis/Muldowney/Albuquerque/Ceda original starters got hurt. So while Hernandez was significantly younger age-wise, perhaps one could finesse that it's one thing to get called up by necessity and another to clearly earn a spot right off the bat.

 

According to list birthdays, Z made the low-A rotation right out of camp at age 17, and didn't turn 18 until June of his Midwest year.

[Guest]

You remember well, I believe Hernandez came to Peoria in May.

 

You're right on Z too, I subtracted incorrectly when looking at his June birthday.

[ChiefsVoice]

i love that they say he is bar far the youngest guy on our roster when he is 9 days...yes Days younger than Marwin Gonzalez our lead-off hitter and shortstop.

 

Rhee is scheduled to make his home debut Wednesday...if the rain doesnt screw with us Tuesday.

[Guest]

Heck, Acosta and Cabrera are also 19 and...that's 3/5 of Peoria's rotation that is 19 (and Robert Hernandez will be 19 when his suspension is up).

[Post Count Padder]

Dae-Eun Rhee pitched six scoreless innings for low Single-A Peoria on Monday and is now 3-0 with a 0.56 ERA this season.

 

The 19-year-old Rhee is making his pro debut this year after signing out of South Korea last year. His early performance suggests he should be taken seriously as one of the top five or six pitching prospects in the Cubs system.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

His early performance suggests he should be taken seriously as one of the top five or six pitching prospects in the Cubs system

 

wow, they really went out on a limb there...lol

[cubweiser03]

Yeah this dude isnt just on my radar now, he's pretty much right in the middle of it.

How many pitchers wear the #1 (or even single digits). How awesome is that.

[UMFan83]

Yeah this dude isnt just on my radar now, he's pretty much right in the middle of it.

How many pitchers wear the #1 (or even single digits). How awesome is that.

 

Him and Kosuke will have to fight for that number when Rhee joins the club in August.

[chattbaseball]

Right, that stood out to me as wrong. Hernandez was 18 all last season at Peoria. Rafael Dolis started last year at Peoria at age 19. Sean Gallagher started at Peoria at age 19 in 2005. And if we're talking low-A and not just Peoria, Big Z was 19 in Lansing too.

 

Burke is currently 19.

 

Rhee was impressive last night for sure. Let's hope this continues. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, if it does, we might not have him long!

[Guest]

Right, that stood out to me as wrong. Hernandez was 18 all last season at Peoria. Rafael Dolis started last year at Peoria at age 19. Sean Gallagher started at Peoria at age 19 in 2005. And if we're talking low-A and not just Peoria, Big Z was 19 in Lansing too.

 

Burke is currently 19.

 

The guy's quote was referring to pitchers only though.

[chattbaseball]

Right, that stood out to me as wrong. Hernandez was 18 all last season at Peoria. Rafael Dolis started last year at Peoria at age 19. Sean Gallagher started at Peoria at age 19 in 2005. And if we're talking low-A and not just Peoria, Big Z was 19 in Lansing too.

 

Burke is currently 19.

 

The guy's quote was referring to pitchers only though.

 

Sorry! Remember, I'm a rookie. While we're talking about age though, I'll chime in. I know it can be frustrating to see guys getting "held back" who seem to be ready to move forward, but we've seen it happen all to often where they get bumped too quickly, and at 19 or 20, failure can spell disaster for a KID's confidence.

 

And since I mentioned Burke, I personally think the Pads moved him too quickly to Fort Wayne last year. But anyways, that's neither here nor there now. I think Rhee is going to be fine, and I hope he sticks around at least until the All-Star break. It'll be interesting to see his success once the weather gets above 50 and the hitters start to come around...

[dlocks]

I have not seen this mentioned any where yet, but has anyone heard anything on Rhee's mechanics? Does he have some deception to his delivery like most Korean pitchers?

[CyHawk_Cub]

I have not seen this mentioned any where yet, but has anyone heard anything on Rhee's mechanics? Does he have some deception to his delivery like most Korean pitchers?

 

That's what I was wondering as well...is he, well, "gimicky"?

[karenmac]

I would say no to the idea that his pitching style is gimmicky at all. I'm certainly no trained eye, but at the low-A level, you see plenty of sidearmers, etc. Instead, I'd say, he looks like he's got "classic" mechanics (whatever *that* means)

 

Oh, and a fun story for Raisin...I work in downtown Peoria, and my employer has office space in just about every building. Therefore, in the 82 meetings I attend in a week, I often have to leave my office at the "mother ship" and walk to one of the other buildings. Today, as I was walking past the Jimmy Johns (at about 9:15am, mind you), there was Dae-Eun, an older gentleman I'm guessing was his dad, and another younger guy, out for a morning stroll - guess they wanted to make the most of the off day!

 

Peoria is a small place.

[Jon]

I'm not sure if this interview was posted elsewhere, but here are some excerpts:

 

ELI: When did you first start playing baseball in South Korea?

 

DAE-EUN: I started playing when I was eleven but I was in the infield. When I was thirteen I switched to pitcher.

..............

ELI: You are off to a good start so far, what has been working for you thus far?

 

DAE-EUN: I have been able to keep my strikes in the bottom part of the strike zone. I have always been good with my command, and it is showing so far.

 

ELI: What would you say is your strongest pitch?

 

DAE-EUN: My change-up.

 

ELI: You had a minor injury early in the season, what was the recovery process like for you?

 

DAE-EUN: It really was not bad. I was off the mound for about ten days and then I started throwing from flat ground again. It was not serious at all. It was my first time in the rotation so I think my arm was a little tired. But I am okay now.

.........

ELI: Your mechanics are very good, is that something you have worked on for a long time?

 

DAE-EUN: I have worked on it since I was young. It was more than just going out and throwing, it was about doing it properly.

 

ELI: Have you set any goals for yourself this season?

 

DAE-EUN: I hope to just complete the season without further injury.

It sounds like it probably won't be a bad idea to continue to limit Rhee's pitch count and, if the Chiefs fall out of the playoff race, even shut him down a little early.

 

I wonder if the scouting report in Raisin's original post was wrong, if that splitter is the same as his change, or if the change-up is something he only recently developed it. Of course, if he considers it his best pitch, I'd imagine he's had it for a while.

[Jon]

By the way, here is the 19-year-old's line so far this season:

 

4-1, 1.22 ERA, 9 starts, 37.0 IP, 23 H, 10 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 12 BB, 31 K, 1.81 GO-FO, .177 BAA, 0.946 WHIP

[dlocks]

By the way, here is the 19-year-old's line so far this season:

 

4-1, 1.22 ERA, 9 starts, 37.0 IP, 23 H, 10 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 12 BB, 31 K, 1.81 GO-FO, .177 BAA, 0.946 WHIP

 

Those are very impressive for a 19 year old. I hope we don't rush him through the system. Finishing the season at Peoria without injury would be great for him. Next year I would like to see him at Daytona if he progresses properly. 20 years old and at High-A would be very remarkable for a pitcher.

[craig]

I wonder if the scouting report in Raisin's original post was wrong, if that splitter is the same as his change, or if the change-up is something he only recently developed it. Of course, if he considers it his best pitch, I'd imagine he's had it for a while.

 

I'd guess it's two names for the same pitch.

[Brett]

By the way, here is the 19-year-old's line so far this season:

 

4-1, 1.22 ERA, 9 starts, 37.0 IP, 23 H, 10 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 12 BB, 31 K, 1.81 GO-FO, .177 BAA, 0.946 WHIP

 

Absolutely fabulous numbers, but why so few innings per start? Has he never been a starter before? I know they don't send young guys deep into games, but 4 innings per? That seems a bit slim.

[Jon]

By the way, here is the 19-year-old's line so far this season:

 

4-1, 1.22 ERA, 9 starts, 37.0 IP, 23 H, 10 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 12 BB, 31 K, 1.81 GO-FO, .177 BAA, 0.946 WHIP

 

Absolutely fabulous numbers, but why so few innings per start? Has he never been a starter before? I know they don't send young guys deep into games, but 4 innings per? That seems a bit slim.

He gave up 5 runs, 3 earned, in just 1 inning of work right before he went on the DL for nearly 6 weeks. When he was activated, he pitched 2 innings, 3 innings, and 4 innings, respectively. It's only because of that injury and then building up endurance.

 

If you remove that injury start, he has a 0.50 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP over 36 IP.