Cubs sign shortstop Lee Hak-ju

[Brett]

It will be interesting to watch his progress, but it seems a bit forward to say he "will" play SS in the Major Leagues.

[CubColtPacer]

It will be interesting to watch his progress, but it seems a bit forward to say he "will" play SS in the Major Leagues.

 

I think that's more referring to the fact that he's not going to switch positions like many signed prospects do. If he gets to the majors, it will be as a SS, instead of him needing to switch to a less demanding position like 3rd or 2nd as he moves up the system.

[Guancous]

This guy needs a cool Korean nickname. I guess Oldboy would be inappropriate.

[Guest]

So ITI says Hak-Ju Lee is 18, Baseball America says he's 17:

 

Baseball America[/url]"]Cubs Sign 17-year-old Korean Shortstop

 

By Ben Badler

 

The Cubs made another splash in South Korea, signing 17-year-old high school shortstop Hak Ju Lee. Major League Baseball officially approved the contract last week.

 

Lee, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound lefthanded hitter, runs from home to first in 3.9 seconds with above-average range in the field, above-average agility and an average arm according to Paul Weaver, who scouts the Pacific Rim as a special assistant to Cubs general manager Jim Hendry.

 

"He's got a chance to be a good all-around player," Weaver said. "You don't see guys that are shortstops that are 80 runners (on the 20-80 scouting scale) that can hit from the left side."

 

An athletic, agile player, Lee is a "premium prospect," Weaver said who "has a chance to hit at the top of the order."

 

"He's got a good swing and he's got good balance," Weaver said. "I would say right now he's more of guy who uses the whole field to hit, (who) stays inside the ball good. I wouldn't say he's going to be a power guy, but he's got some power.

 

Lee's bonus exceeds the bonus the Cubs gave last July to righthander Dae-Eun Rhee, who signed for $525,000, though it still does not surpass the bonus the Cubs gave to fellow Koreans Hee-Seop Choi ($1.2 million in 1999) and righthander Jae-Kuk Ryu ($1.6 million in 2001).

 

Damn, they ballparked the bonus but didn't give an exact figure. We already knew it was more than Rhee's and less than HSC's. Cool to hear that he's actually a 3.9 second runner.

[craig]

Very informtative to see those scouting evaluations by Weaver.

 

The bad, of course, is the "average arm" and "I wouldn't say he's going to be a power guy". Not many big-league SS's with average arms. So I'm already imagining him being a guy who might be switched to 2B; heh, maybe Brian Roberts prospect without the switch hitting?

 

The good is that Weaver views him as a "premium prospect", "he's got some power", views him as an 80-runner, and "He's got a good swing and he's got good balance." Obviously good balance in the box is the key to hitting, and good hitting is also the key to power. A guy with average power who hits the ball on the nose produces more XBH than a Harvey or Dopirak with extraordinary power who rarely hit the ball solidly. The "80" on the running thing was a surprise, giving anybody an 80 is rare, so I assumed he'd be a 70 or less.

[CuseCubFan69]

I wonder where LH-j would be drafted if he were in this Junes draft?

[Post Count Padder]

I'm excited about this. Can't wait to see how he does.

[CuseCubFan69]

Very informtative to see those scouting evaluations by Weaver.

 

The bad, of course, is the "average arm" and "I wouldn't say he's going to be a power guy". Not many big-league SS's with average arms. So I'm already imagining him being a guy who might be switched to 2B; heh, maybe Brian Roberts prospect without the switch hitting?

 

The good is that Weaver views him as a "premium prospect", "he's got some power", views him as an 80-runner, and "He's got a good swing and he's got good balance." Obviously good balance in the box is the key to hitting, and good hitting is also the key to power. A guy with average power who hits the ball on the nose produces more XBH than a Harvey or Dopirak with extraordinary power who rarely hit the ball solidly. The "80" on the running thing was a surprise, giving anybody an 80 is rare, so I assumed he'd be a 70 or less.

 

I thought he could throw 89 MPH's?

[1908]

The bad, of course, is the "average arm" ...

I thought he could throw 89 MPH's?

I read that comment as an average arm for an MLB shortstop, which is certainly still above average compared to the average for MLB players.

[UK1679666180]

The bad, of course, is the "average arm" ...

I thought he could throw 89 MPH's?

I read that comment as an average arm for an MLB shortstop, which is certainly still above average compared to the average for MLB players.

 

I assumed likewise.

[1908]

I wonder where LH-j would be drafted if he were in this Junes draft?

The Cubs described him as a first round talent in the original article.

[CuseCubFan69]

I wonder where LH-j would be drafted if he were in this Junes draft?

The Cubs described him as a first round talent in the original article.

 

That's wonderful. If they can continue winning and get quailty kids for the far east and down south as well they can continue to build their farm system.

[Brett]

I wonder where LH-j would be drafted if he were in this Junes draft?

The Cubs described him as a first round talent in the original article.

 

That's wonderful. If they can continue winning and get quailty kids for the far east and down south as well they can continue to build their farm system.

 

I just love that we're tapping the Pacific Rim so much now.

[jersey cubs fan]

I wonder where LH-j would be drafted if he were in this Junes draft?

The Cubs described him as a first round talent in the original article.

 

That's wonderful. If they can continue winning and get quailty kids for the far east and down south as well they can continue to build their farm system.

 

I just love that we're tapping the Pacific Rim so much now.

 

That's what she said.

[dlocks]

That's what she said.

 

=D> well played.

[Rob]

Well, it appears the Cubs view Hak-ju as a first rounder, because they passed on taking another one at #19.

[Guest]

Please.

 

Just because the success rate with first round relievers isn't great and it isn't the best usage of assets doesn't mean Cashner wasn't first round talent.

[imb]

I'm no scout, but the video of Cashner's stuff made me weak in the knees.