GLENDALE, Ariz. — Veterans Martin Maldonado and Max Stassi are 1-2 on the catching depth chart, and White Sox manager Pedro Grifol has already talked about how they’ll divide innings — Maldonado will get more than half.
But Korey Lee is saying “What about me?” with his catching and bat this spring.
“Never know,” Lee said. “You never know what’s going to happen. I’m going to do what I control, and that’s going on the field and do what I can every day, helping the team win.”
What will probably happen is Lee starts the season at Triple-A Charlotte. The Sox’ plan has been to go with Maldonado and Stassi, capable defensive upgrades and more accommodating handlers of pitchers than the departed Yasmani Grandal. The Sox aren’t built to win in 2024, but they are trying to build a pitching staff and could benefit having it in capable hands of proven veterans.
Lee, 25, is asserting himself as a handler of the staff, too. And he throws runners out. He has a triple and three home runs, including two to the opposite field, with a .350/.423/.857 hitting line in 15 Cactus League games, an encouraging development after his rugged offensive showing with the Sox late last season.
If it’s not March 28 when the Sox open the season against the Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field for Lee in a major-league uniform, it won’t be long. It’s not a stretch to envision Lee getting significant reps during the second half of the season and the bulk in 2025.
Stay tuned.
“Whatever happens, happens,” Lee said, “and I get to play baseball. That’s what makes me happy.”
Thin at catcher at the major-league level and farm system, the Sox were happy to get Lee, a 2019 first-round draft pick, from the Astros for Kendall Graveman at last summer’s trade deadline. They also have Double-A catcher Edgar Quero, 20, coming along. Acquired in the trade with the Angels for Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, Quero is their No. 5-ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline.
Lee going 5-for-70 at the plate last season was concerning, but he showed well defensively. And he may have fixed his hitting.
“It happens in baseball,” Lee said of the slump. “Some days you’re going to be good, some days bad. Last year it was a completely different feeling and now it’s more confident, it’s more myself and you know what? It’s the beauty of the game.”
The beauty of Lee’s tweaked swing in the offseason is that it’s shorter. He feels like he’s getting to the ball sooner. And seeing it better.
“That’s the name of the game,” he said. “If you can see the ball, you can hit the ball.”
The name of the game for catchers is defense, though, and to that end, one scout working in Arizona said he hasn’t seen a better throwing catcher this spring.
“That’s what I pride myself on,” Lee said. “Continue to show what I do at the highest level, and hold myself to that standard.”
Grifol said spring training is about competition, and if that’s the case, Lee is ahead of the catchers’ pack by a few lengths based on performance.
Stassi is 4-for-21 and Maldonado 2-for-24, but their 23 years combined experience won’t be overlooked.
“All parts of his game have improved,” Grifol, a former minor-league catcher and major-league catchers coach, said of Lee. “Attention to detail, his swing decisions, ability to play situationally offensive and defensively. His aptitude, how he applies information quickly.
“The way he applies information is special and he has all the ability in the world. So it’s just him slowing the game down a little and continuing to develop.”
Lee credits the “coaching staff, team, offseason, trusting my work” to his good spring.
“Nothing has changed since I’ve been a baseball player, just try to be the best version of myself,” he said. “See success happen, feed off that and every day get better.”
NOTE: The Sox (8-16-2) were off Tuesday. Michael Soroka (four innings), Chad Kuhl (three) and Michael Kopech (one) are expected to pitch Wednesday in Glendale against the Reds (3:05 p.m., 1000-AM.)
