It's another day where the Detroit Tigers are the team to beat in the American League. A.J. Hinch's club is entering Saturday's action with an AL-best 55-34 record, putting the Tigers just one game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in all of Major League Baseball.
Although the Tigers have done a great job of setting themselves up as World Series contenders, there's always room for improvement. Detroit will need all the help it can get to bring a championship back to the Motor City for the first time in over 40 years, and one way to add help is by promoting in-house talent.
Several minor-league players in the Tigers' system have worked hard to deserve call-ups, including a top prospect who's a candidate to be promoted before July is over.
Tigers Must Promote IF Hao-Yu Lee Before July Is Over
Detroit's pipeline is filled with promising prospects, including Hao-Yu Lee. The versatile infielder is currently the No. 6 prospect in the Tigers' system, and it's safe to say a call-up could be on the horizon based on how he's performed so far.
The 22-year-old Taiwanese IF has been with the Tigers ever since he was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for pitcher Michael Lorenzen in August 2023. Lee soon found himself spending the entire 2024 campaign with Double-A Erie, impressing the fan base as he racked up 12 home runs, 56 RBIs, 33 walks, 16 stolen bases, and a .298/.363/.488 slash line in 87 games (342 at-bats).
The Tigers were impressed enough by Lee's performance that they had him start the 2025 season with Triple-A Toledo. He hasn't looked out of place since then, slashing .247/.353/.413 with eight HRs, 30 RBIs, 10 SBs, and 38 walks in 68 outings (259 ABs). His bat has only become more dangerous as time's gone on, proven by his racking up three homers in six games since June 26.
Hao-Yu Lee's power surge continues with some Fourth of July fireworks 🎇
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 4, 2025
The @tigers' No. 6 prospect crushes his third homer in six games for the Triple-A @MudHens: pic.twitter.com/d73GQJjW2B
Lee still has plenty of room for improvement, especially as far as consistency is concerned, but it's clear he's done enough to deserve a look from the Tigers. Third base has been a spot of concern for Detroit this season, and Lee potentially stepping up to help address that issue would be a major win if he pulls it off.
That's without mentioning how he can play shortstop and second in addition to third base, allowing Hinch to get creative with how he uses him. Another layer of versatility in the Tigers' lineup is never a bad thing.
The future of baseball in the Motor City is bright, but it might not be long before the future becomes the present. If Lee continues to crush the ball out of minor-league parks, it won't be long before he's playing meaningful games in a Tigers jersey, perhaps before the month is even over.