Detroit Tigers infielder Lee Hao- yu (李灝宇), the only active Taiwanese batter in MLB, crushed his first career home run on Sunday to help his team rally to an 8-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
The Tigers’ No. 6 prospect came off the bench as a pinch hitter for third baseman Colt Keith in the top of the seventh inning, after Gleyber Torres reached on a fielding error with Detroit trailing 3-2.
Facing a 145.7kph sinker from left-hander Sam Moll, Lee drove the ball to right-center field at Great American Ball Park for a two-run shot that put the Tigers ahead 4-3.
Photo: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
“Really, it’s different, because I’m pinch-hitting,” Lee was quoted as saying by MLB.com’s Jason Beck.
“When I’m dreaming, I’m always starting, but it’s pretty awesome to me: Pinch-hitting and hit a homer, show the manager that even when I’m not starting, I’m always ready to hit,” he added.
The home run, which came after he had gone hitless in his previous four at-bats, registered an exit velocity of 170.2kph, a 26-degree launch angle, and traveled 122.5m, according to MLB.
Photo: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
The 23-year-old Taiwanese infielder could not hide his excitement after making contact. He yelled, jumped and pumped his chest while rounding the bases so fast that Torres and third base coach Joey Cora reminded him to slow down when he neared third base so he would not pass Torres and be called out.
“The first thing I thought was: ‘Please don’t catch Gleyber,’” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said, sparking laughter from reporters.
“He was going so fast and with so much intent, and I want him to enjoy it,” Hinch said. “And I love how much he puts into it. It’s probably one of the first times he’s going to really feel a part of something big, because we were down to up.”
The team later retrieved the ball for Lee, who said he would “keep it like a baby,” when asked what he planned to do with it.
The home run led to a four-run seventh inning for Detroit, including a solo shot by Spencer Torkelson, his fifth straight game with a home run.
Lee remained in the game at third base and struck out in his second at-bat in the eighth. He is batting .211 with four hits in 19 at-bats and one walk.
After an oblique strain delayed his start to the season, Lee was called up from Triple-A on April 17 as an injury replacement for utility player Zach McKinstry, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with left hip and abdominal inflammation.
According to a Tigers medical update, McKinstry is rehabilitating with light baseball activity.
Sunday’s win saved the Tigers from a sweep in the three- game series against the Reds. The Tigers, tied with the Cleveland Guardians atop the American League Central Division at 15-14, are scheduled against the Atlanta Braves for a three-game road series before returning to Detroit.
Also on Sunday, it was:
‧ Braves 6, Phillies 2
‧ Rockies 3, Mets 1 (Game 1)
‧ Rockies 3, Mets 0 (Game 2)
‧ Blue Jays 4, Guardians 2
‧ Rays 4, Twins 2
‧ Tigers 8, Reds 3
‧ Nationals 2, White Sox 1 (10 innings)
‧ Astros 7, Yankees 4
‧ Mariners 3, Cardinals 2
‧ Brewers 5, Pirates 0
‧ Athletics 2, Rangers 1
‧ Diamondbacks 12, Padres 7
‧ Dodgers 6, Cubs 0
‧ Royals 11, Angels 9 (10 innings)
‧ Giants 6, Marlins 3
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
For some, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the essential spearhead for Portugal’s FIFA World Cup bid, while others believe his presence would prevent Roberto Martinez’s strong side from flourishing. The debate around the five-time Ballon d’Or winner rages on, as it did at UEFA Euro 2024 and four years ago in Qatar — yet Ronaldo endures, ready to play in a record sixth World Cup. The 41-year-old remains a global superstar despite swapping the European elite for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, and is the leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 strikes. With 25 of those coming in 30 games under Martinez, the coach
Taiwanese sprinter Chen Yi-cen on Friday won the silver medal in the women’s 400m final at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, with a time of 53.16 seconds. Chen, 15, was the youngest among the eight finalists, and her performance also met the qualifying standard of 53.50 seconds for the Nagoya Asian Games in Japan in September and October. Chen first made her mark at the National Games in Tainan in 2023, at the age of 13, winning the women’s 400m final in 55.55 seconds to become the youngest gold medalist in the history of the event. Meanwhile,
RSS