According to a report from the East Windup Chronicle, the Cubs signed Hak-ju Leea few weeks back and this shortstop from Korea has gotten rave reviews from the scouts.
Background
Hak-ju Lee is 18 years old and is currently a senior at Chungahm High School. Reports indicated Steve Wilson signed Hak-ju for $1.15 million dollars and it is believed that he would have been a first round pick in the states. The report in the East Windup Chronicle, however stated the financial terms "seem to be from somewhere in the ether."
A report listed Lee at 6' tall and 170 pounds but another report mentioned he is a little heavier and closer to 6'2"....a good build for a shortstop. Hak-ju will start in an Australian camp once school is over in June and will be assigned to either a rookie team or to the Peoria Chiefs next spring.
Scouting
Lee has plus speed and runs the 100 in 11 seconds. His speed from home to first has been clocked at 4.10 seconds from the left side of the plate. One scouting report stated Hak-ju is plus defensively and his throws from short have been clocked at 89 MPH.
Lee has been compared to Derek Jeter, but with better tools than Jeter had at the same age.
Defense
Lee's quick catch and release at short was described as 'textbook' and his plus arm makes him solid defensively. Hak-ju was described as having a 'big league' arm at only 18 years old.
Offense
Offensively Hak-ju Leehas shown the ability to make good contact with average power. One report compared him to Ichiro because of his tools. Steve Wilson said he never made the comparison, as reported.
If the Cubs have found a shortstop with 'tools comparable to Ichiro' they could very well have signed a valuable piece to their future. Comparing young players to proven major leaguers is always dangerous because it puts unrealistic expectations on prospects.
The signing of Hak-ju Lee appears to be a good one, but only time will tell....as it always does with highly touted prospects. With all of the news surrounding Jim Edmonds, the CCO dropped the proverbial ball last week by not reporting this addition to the Cubs' organization. This appears to be another good signing by Steve Wilson.
The Cubs farm system is producing big league talent capable of contributing at the Major League level. Last season proved the value of a good farm system and this year the Cubs' homegrown talent is still providing positive results. Micah Hoffpauir became the 14th different player developed by the Cubs' organization to suit up for the big league team this season.
100 in 11 seconds isn't bad for a baseball player...
Lee Hak-ju sounds exciting.
An Iowa Cubs update, (unfortunately is not exciting)
The jr. Cubbies were swept all 4 games at Round Rock.
Not much positive to report;
Pie is still hitless after 3 games. 0-12 1bb and 2runs...that's it.
Rich Hill lasted 2.2 innings surrendering 3 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks. He left after 55 pitches, and his era is 3.38.
Marshall has pitched well, his last start he threw 5 scoreless innings. Again he left after 5....it's a strange pitch count they have him on but his era is a very nice 1.50 after 3 starts. Unfortunately Cotts gave up 3 runs on 4 hits in 2 thirds of an inning to contribute to the loss.
Patterson is batting .264.
Murton went 3-3 last night and is now hitting at a .359 clip.
Tonight they start a 4 game series at Omaha before returning home.
It's good news to have a new prospect that reminds people of Jeter.
Wanting to have more discussion about whether or not we need another top of the rotation starter and where might we find one or at least a candidate. I note the brief "untouchable" and/or "trust me" no way type comments of Hubert and Cliff but think those may not be or should not be the end of the story.
A look today at the recent San Francisco area commentaries regarding the Giants indicate that they have a 3-4 year horizon for thinking about contending and that they have only pitching to trade for and the draft to add position players around the infield and one outfielder to get some defense and productive hitters. Cliff thinks less of Sanchez than I do, and thiks we can't afford him. I think a deal that includes Cedeno and a good prospect gets us Sanchez and a good prospect (likely a pitcher). If Hoffpauir shows that he can hit major league pitching, adding him to the deal likely gets us Sanchez and a very good prospect. Or maybe...Cain. Sanchez throw a lot of strikes in the mid-90's, is Petite-like in his easy mechanics, and has been mixing four or five solid innings with a poor one lately. The concensus seems to be that he is a solid 2 prospect--and, if we have no better alternative, I think we should do the deal. I also think Cain and his (current) 5 + ERA is not untouchable--given the extensive needs of the Giants and their pitching prospects.
San Diego and Seattle are imploding early too--and you wonder if they have pitching help for the Cubs. I'm thinking Young and Bedard. San Diego's several aging players and mid-$80 mil payroll cap suggests to me they would trade a pitcher + for a 2nd baseman and/or an outfielder +. The Seattle columnist says their team has "no chemistry, no leadership and no relief for fans." They have scored 19 runs in their last 10 games. Sounds like a "rebuild" to me, and mayby they have another pitcher that helps us if we can't afford Bedard--or they will only keep their ace.
Toronto is mediocre, the Toronto Star's Richard Griffin says that after 5 years, GM Ricciardi has a sub .500 record and that he isn't the answer. They have pitching depth, and their one year, $4.5 mil commitment to Eckstein isn't working. He wasn't hitting and is now on the DL. Before Spring Training I advised them to do a Cedeno + deal for Marcum. Now Marcum has pitched so well that it would take something like Cedeno, Marshall and Russell or Ceda to get him and a prospect. McGowan and Litsch have pitched well, but Gallagher may prove to be as good as they are after a few starts.
Of course, acquiring a top of the order pitcher isn't easy or inexpensive, and it is better to grow your own. But if we need a top pitcher to play in October, I'm saying let's find and get one.
I think it would be more realistic that we would go after Maddox. He wouldn't be my first choice but the star seem to be lining up for that. Badard would be a possibility since the Cubs were after him before the season started. But, I dont think they would trade him after just aquiring him this season. Thats not very good business. Plus, we would give up alot for Bedard.
Sanchez, I think they would keep for thier rebuilding process.
If we could get one good #2, which Bedard is a possibility if he wants to leave, and another decent starter, Maybe Maddox. I would be happy with that.
Cause the thing I'm worried about is Dempster fading at the end of the season. He hasn't started in years and I think it will be inevitible and no fault of his own. i dont think he will have the Stamina to keep it up.
JimK - So you are saying that there is a possibility that we could send Cedeno, Hoffpauir, and a top prospect to SF for Cain & Sanchez...? Please don't take offense to this but... sosa will patrol RF before this will happen. It might happen but it will not be cheep and probably won't be a package deal from SF.
Chris Young is a stud and would look great in Cubbie blue but it would not revolve around a 2nd basemen (see Matt Antonelli). Personally I don't think we can afford him in terms of trade value in return.
Seattle ownership has upset fans enough when they overpaid (in M's fans eyes) for Bedard so the only way they deal him THIS year would be to get overpaid in return. We can't afford it and the health concerns (hip) just don't make it a good gamble.
You know it's nothing personal JimK... we just view players value a little differently. I've been wrong before.
What about Ian Snell from the Pirates?
ALSO... more importantly. Anybody else notice how the Pirates throw more lefty's against us than anybody else? I think their advanced scouting is picking up on something here... hopefully nobody else starts this trend.
Cliff...No on Sanchez and Cain in the expanded deal. If it could be done, it would be Cain plus a lefty prospect like Hinshaw or Snider.
You are right that Antonelli could soon cover 2nd for the Pads. I've liked Snell since watching him at AAA in Indy. It's playing at the margin and I'd welcome him, but Snell may be more a 3-4 than a 2. I like the Pirates lefty reliever too (Marte).