Tarik Skubal strikes out prospect Hao-Yu Lee in Tigers spring training
In Tarik Skubal’s first live batting practice session of 2026 spring training, he struck out prospect Hao-Yu Lee on Friday, Feb. 13.
BOSTON – Hao-Yu Lee has arrived.
The Detroit Tigers promoted the 23-year-old second/third baseman from Triple-A Toledo on Friday, April 17, before the first of four games against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, replacing injured utility player Zach McKinstry. He will make his MLB debut in Friday’s game, starting at third base and batting eighth.
Lee ranks as the Tigers’ No. 6 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
McKinstry landed on the 10-day injured list with left hip/abdominal inflammation before Friday’s game (after suffering the injury in Wednesday’s 2-1 win against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park). The placement is retroactive to Thursday, so McKinstry will be eligible to return to the Tigers as early as April 26.
McKinstry serves as the primary second baseman when left-hander Framber Valdez pitches, which means Lee could fill that role when Valdez starts in Sunday’s game.
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Lee is a right-handed hitter with a track record of success against left-handed pitchers and a reputation for above-average defense.
He has played in six games for Toledo, hitting .154 with one home run, one walk and seven strikeouts in the 2026 season, posting a .454 OPS across 27 plate appearances. He logged 21 innings at second base and 18 innings at third base.
Before that, he spent three games in Low-A Lakeland during his return from a left oblique strain that he suffered in early March.
Remember, Lee thrives against left-handed pitchers.
In 2025, Lee hit .299 with a .919 OPS across 124 plate appearances against left-handers in Triple-A – where he spent all 126 games that season.
The Tigers will start Lee in both of their upcoming games against lefty starters from the Red Sox: Ranger Suárez on Friday and Garrett Crochet on Sunday. They’re also lined up to face two lefty starters in each of the next two series: Kyle Harrison from the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday and Andrew Abbott from the Cincinnati Reds on April 24.
The primary role for Lee is to be a threat on offense against left-handed pitchers, but he is expected to get some chances against righties because the Tigers value his defense.
The Tigers acquired Lee from the Philadelphia Phillies for right-hander Michael Lorenzen in August 2023 at the trade deadline – the first deadline under president of baseball operations Scott Harris, hired in September 2022.
This story will be updated.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
