Khalil Lee

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Khalil Lee

| image =

| team = Free agent

| number =

| position = Outfielder

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|6|26}}

| birth_place = Newark, Delaware, U.S.

| bats = Left

| throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = May 17

| debutyear = 2021

| debutteam = New York Mets

| statyear = 2022 season

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .100

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 1

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 4

| teams =

New York Mets ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2022}})

}}

Khalil Rashad Lee (born June 26, 1998) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets. He made his MLB debut in 2021.

Career

=Amateur career=

Lee graduated from Flint Hill School in Oakton, Virginia, where he played on their baseball team as both a pitcher and outfielder. As a senior, he pitched to a 7–0 record with a 0.33 ERA, striking out 87 in 43 innings pitched, along with batting .471 with six home runs, 23 RBIs, a .634 OBP and a .941 SLG. He was named the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year for the state of Virginia.{{cite web|url=http://usatodayhss.com/2016/gatorade-virginia-baseball-poy-khalil-lee|title=Virginia Baseball POY: Khalil Lee|date=May 24, 2016|publisher=USA TODAY High School Sports|access-date=February 22, 2018}}

=Kansas City Royals=

Lee was committed to play baseball at Liberty University.{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article83045477.html|title=Royals select versatile high schooler Khalil Lee with third-round pick|publisher=The Kansas City Star|access-date=February 22, 2018}} However, after he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the third round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, he chose to sign with the Royals for $579,700{{cite web|url=https://www.royalsreview.com/2016/6/20/11978170/royals-2016-mlb-draft-signings|title=Royals 2016 MLB draft signings|date=June 20, 2016|publisher=Royals Review|access-date=February 22, 2018}} rather than attend college. The Royals chose to assign him to the Arizona League Royals as an outfielder,{{cite web|url=https://www.minorleagueball.com/2017/4/27/15449920/scouting-report-khalil-lee-of-kansas-city-royals|title=MLB Prospect Profile: Khalil Lee, OF, Kansas City Royals|date=April 27, 2017|publisher=Minor League Ball|access-date=February 22, 2018}} and in 49 games, he batted .269 with six home runs, 29 RBIs, 43 runs scored, and eight triples along with an .880 OPS. He spent 2017 with the Lexington Legends and posted a .237 batting average with 17 home runs, 61 RBIs, 18 stolen bases and a .344 OBP in 121 games.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=666137#/career/R/hitting/2017/ALL|title=Khalil Lee Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=February 22, 2018}} In a July 2017 game with the Legends, Lee set a professional baseball record for strikeouts in a single game, striking out eight times in a 21-inning game against the Delmarva Shorebirds.{{cite web|title=July 13, 2017|url=http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&did=milb&gid=2017_07_13_lexafx_delafx_1|website=milb.com|access-date=July 14, 2017}}{{cite news |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/royals-minor-leaguer-strikes-record-eight-times-21-inning-game-052402246.html |title=Minor leaguer strikes out record eight times during 21-inning game |first=Mark |last=Townsend |website=Yahoo Sports |date=July 15, 2017 |access-date=June 27, 2019}}

MLB.com ranked Lee as Kansas City's top prospect going into the 2018 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/royals-2018-top-30-prospects-list-led-by-lee/c-266787422?tid=151437456|title=Lee leads Royals' 2018 Top 30 Prospects list|work=MLB.com|access-date=February 22, 2018}} He began the season with the Wilmington Blue Rocks, with whom he was named a Carolina League All-Star,{{Cite web|last=Gregorian|first=Vahe|date=June 28, 2018|title=With a knack for the spectacular, precocious Khalil Lee is moving up rapidly in Royals system|url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article214040599.html|access-date=May 22, 2021|website=kansascity.com}} and was promoted to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in June. In 100 games between the two clubs, he batted .263 with six home runs and 51 RBIs.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=666137#/career/R/hitting/2018/ALL|title=Khalil Lee Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=October 11, 2018}} He returned to Northwest Arkansas in 2019, earning Texas League All-Star honors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/lux-carlson-power-texas-league-all-stars/|title=Lux, Carlson Power Texas League All-Stars|first=Josh|last=Norris|website=www.baseballamerica.com|date=June 15, 2019 }} Over 129 games, he slashed .264/.363/.372 with eight home runs, 51 RBIs, and 53 stolen bases.

He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. On November 20, 2020, Lee was added to the 40-man roster.{{cite web|author=Anthony Franco |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/royals-desginate-glenn-sparkman-for-assignment.html |title=Royals Release Glenn Sparkman |date=November 23, 2020 |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |access-date=November 30, 2020}}

=New York Mets=

On February 10, 2021, the Royals traded Lee to the New York Mets in a three-team trade in which the Kansas City Royals acquired Andrew Benintendi and the Boston Red Sox acquired Franchy Cordero, Josh Winckowski, and three players to be named later.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30876960/sources-boston-red-sox-sending-andrew-benintendi-kansas-city-royals-3-team-deal |title=Boston Red Sox send Andrew Benintendi to Kansas City Royals in 3-team deal |website=ESPN.com |date=February 10, 2021 |access-date=February 11, 2021}}

On May 12, 2021, Lee was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/05/mets-promote-khalil-lee-albert-almora-injured-list.html|title=Mets Promote Khalil Lee, Place Albert Almora On IL|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=May 12, 2021 }} On May 15, Lee was optioned down to Triple-A without making an appearance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/05/mets-select-jake-hager-designate-trevor-hildenberger.html|title=Mets Select Jake Hager, Designate Trevor Hildenberger|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=May 15, 2021 }} On May 17, Lee was recalled to the majors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/05/mets-to-place-michael-conforto-jeff-mcneil-on-injured-list.html|title=Mets Place Michael Conforto, Jeff McNeil On Injured List|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=May 17, 2021 }} He made his MLB debut that day as a replacement for Kevin Pillar, who left due to injury, and struck out in his only at bat.{{cite news |title=Mets vs. Braves - Game Recap - May 17, 2021 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=401227667 |access-date=May 19, 2021 |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN |date=May 17, 2021 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=New York Mets at Atlanta Braves Box Score, May 17, 2021 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL202105170.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=May 19, 2021 |language=en}} On May 21 during a game against the Miami Marlins, Lee hit a go-ahead double off of pitcher Adam Cimber down the right field line in the top of the 12th inning, giving the Mets the lead. He collected his first big league hit and his first RBI. The Mets won the game 6–5.{{cite web| url = https://www.mlb.com/news/khalil-lee-s-first-big-league-hit-lifts-mets-in-extra-innings-win| title = Khalil Lee's first big league hit lifts Mets in extra-innings win | website = MLB.com }}

Lee began the 2022 season with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets. He slumped to start the season, was sent down to the High-A St. Lucie Mets for a week in May in order to work on his mechanics and thrived upon his return to Triple-A. On June 8, 2022, following injuries to Pete Alonso and Starling Marte, he was promoted to the majors.{{cite news |last1=Puma |first1=Mike |title=Khalil Lee called up by Mets after earlier demotion in minors |url=https://nypost.com/2022/06/09/khalil-lee-called-up-by-mets-after-earlier-demotion-in-minors/ |access-date=June 9, 2022 |work=New York Post |date=June 9, 2022}} On June 11, Lee hit his first career home run against Oliver Ortega of the Los Angeles Angels.{{cite web |title=Khalil Lee Career Home Runs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.fcgi?id=leekh01&t=b |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=June 13, 2022 |language=en}} Lee's home run proved to be his only hit of the season in 2 games for the Mets. He played in 100 games for Syracuse, slashing .211/.326/.366 with 10 home runs, 37 RBI, and 14 stolen bases.

On February 6, 2023, Lee was designated for assignment following the acquisition of Sam Coonrod.{{Cite web|title=Mets' Khalil Lee: Designated for assignment|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-khalil-lee-designated-for-assignment/amp/|access-date=2023-02-06|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} On February 10, he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Syracuse.{{Cite web|title=Mets' Khalil Lee: Sent outright to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-khalil-lee-sent-outright-to-triple-a/amp/|access-date=2023-02-11|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 21 games for Syracuse, Lee struggled to a .185/.299/.323 slash line with 1 home run, 7 RBI, and 2 stolen bases. He was released by the Mets organization on May 7.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-05-07 | title=Transactions }}

=Southern Maryland Blue Crabs=

On June 1, 2023, Lee signed with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=Blue Crabs Sign Former Major Leaguer|url=https://thebaynet.com/blue-crabs-sign-former-major-leaguer/#|access-date=2023-06-05|website=thebaynet.com|date=June 4, 2023 |language=en}} In 89 games, he slashed .277/.401/.482 with 15 home runs, 66 RBI, and 13 stolen bases.

=Dorados de Chihuahua=

On March 29, 2024, Lee signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 29 de marzo de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-29-de-marzo-de-2024|access-date=April 1, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}} On April 5, Lee was loaned to the Dorados de Chihuahua of the Mexican League.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/dorados-dominan-al-representativo-de-delicias | title=Dorados: Dominan al representativo de Delicias }} In three games for the Dorados, he hit .154/.267/.231 with no home runs or RBI. Lee was released by the Chihuahuas on April 16.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/player/khalil-lee-666137 | title=Khalil Lee Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News }}

Personal life

On February 1, 2023, Lee was accused by his ex-girlfriend of physical and verbal abuse. Syracuse police issued an arrest warrant for him on the charge of criminal obstruction of breathing. A lawsuit that was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York on the same day alleged he abused his former girlfriend while playing for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets in 2022.{{Cite web|title=Mets' Khalil Lee accused of assaulting, choking ex-girlfriend|url=https://nypost.com/2023/02/01/mets-khalil-lee-accused-of-domestic-violence-by-ex-girlfriend/amp/|access-date=2023-02-01|website=nypost.com|date=February 2023 |language=en}}