Derrek Lee
From BR Bullpen
Derrek Leon Lee
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 5", Weight 205 lb.
- High School: El Camino High School
- Debut April 28, 1997
- Born September 6, 1975 in Sacramento, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Derrek Lee has played fourteen years in the majors through 2010. He has been in one World Series, was named to two All-Star teams and has won three Gold Gloves. In his best year, 2005, he led the league in hits, doubles, batting average, slugging and OPS+.
He is the son of Leon Lee and the nephew of Leron Lee, both players famous for their success in Japan.
Derrek was a first-round draft pick in 1993 and played five years in the minors before becoming a regular at the major league level in 1998. He went back to the minors for much of 1999 before blossoming at the major league level in 2000. He has hit 100 homers in the minors.
He was traded to the Chicago Cubs on November 25, 2003 for Hee-Seop Choi, another young first baseman who failed to blossom with the Florida Marlins.
In 2005, he had a great year with the bat, hitting for a career-high .335 batting average, which was tops in the National League, and slugging 46 home runs. Unfortunately, he broke a hand early in the 2006 season and was set back considerably, although he returned to being an excellent hitter.
Through age 34, none of the most-similar players (by the similarity scores method) are in the Hall of Fame although the most similar player, Fred McGriff, may well get in.
He is a huge fan of the rap group Arrested Development. His nickname is "D-Lee".
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 1996 MVP Southern League Memphis Chicks
- 2-time NL All-Star (2005 & 2007)
- 3-time NL Gold Glove Winner (2003, 2005 & 2007)
- NL Silver Slugger Award Winner (2005)
- NL Batting Average Leader (2005)
- NL OPS Leader (2005)
- NL Hits Leader (2005)
- NL Total Bases Leader (2005)
- NL Doubles Leader (2005)
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 9 (2000-2005 & 2007-2009)
- 30-Home Run Seasons: 4 (2003-2005 & 2009)
- 40-Home Run Seasons: 1 (2005)
- 100 RBI Seasons: 2 (2005 & 2009)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 1 (2005)
- Won a World Series with the Florida Marlins in 2003
