Interview with Hak Ju Lee

A huge thanks to Patrick for taking the time to translate this interview. It's fantastic. ~Slow

Just for fun, I'd like to share part of his interview with Korean media last week.

Poor translation so just read it for fun, do not take it serious.

Q: So you managed .318 .389 .443 at A+ this year.

Lee: I believe I could have done better than that. I was on hot streak but tired out since August. Hope to play better, more consistently next year.

Q: What makes you regret the most this year?

Lee: That I did not do well in AA once got promoted. First three games were okay, but since then I felt myself being exhausted. Could not do my swing. Bat speed got slowed down. My swing stance got shaky and tend to lean forward as I faced more breaking balls there. It does not put me down. I know I can do better and hopefully make it to big league once I put things all together. I must do well next year.

Q: Huge difference between A+ and AA?

Lee: Not too far away. The pressure you're having that I'm facing better competition may give some hard time I guess.

Q: How about pitching differences?

Lee: More breaking pitches. I'd say by 20%. Also better movement on fastball.

Q: This was your first year playing for Rays, any problem communicating with coaches there?

Lee: When I first started training, no one was advising me on anything. I felt little uncomfortable but then coach Ozzie Timmons came and talked to me, "Do on your own. This is not a place someone can man you to be a better player, should challenge yourself to get better." Since then I put lots of efforts on every swing. He is a type of coach who believes players can only better themselves by challenging themselves to overcome, rather than listening to someone when in slump. I think he wants to see me how I approach when I stuck in slump. He cheered me up after season. Hopefully I lived up to his expectation.

Q: Any advice from him after season?

Lee: I talk to him that I feel nervous since I am not satisfied with my numbers in AA. He told me everything is going to be all right and you will only get better next year. That is about it.

Q: Your rank has moved up from 3rd place in prospect rank to 2nd.

Lee: It is only because Jennings is not eligible for prospect status anymore. I haven't done much.

Q: If you think you did not make any progress this year, that would be wrong. If you name one thing, what would it be?

Lee: One thing I could think of is my defense at AA. Since I stuck at slump there, I thought I should do well in defense at least, moving my feet faster and focus on games more and more.

Q: So you recently started weight training.

Lee: Yes, and I will start focusing on swings as early as mid-December in my high school.

Q: You had been selected as the best defensive player in minor league by Rays.

Lee: I do not afraid of committing errors, and I tend to make many errors but it should get better. I make more errors since I am always active, move ahead, catch and throw balls to 1st base which other short stops are not capable of. I do not regret my approach on defense. But my errors this year has been cut in half comparing last year. It has been the second best number in A+. I will improve my defense until I commit almost zero errors.

Q: Has your defense affected by change of scenery?

Lee: Cubs minor system was focused solely on hitting. Rays minor system is more focused on basic skills of baseball, especially on defense. I think here I had less time spending time on batting practice.

Q: How different Cubs and Rays are?

Lee: Rays have better standing and I think it shows on minor leagues as well. Good air, great environment over the season. The biggest difference is how coaches train. In Chicago, coaches focus only on their native players. Hispanic coaches only care about Hispanic players, American coaches only care about American kids.. like that. I was a little out of nowhere since I am Asian. So sometimes Korean coach, Mr. Sung, argue with other coaches as they did not advise on Asian players. That was what I worried the most since I moved to Rays, as they have no Asian coach. That was very wrong. All coaches were very interested in me and tried their best to help me. I even thought myself, why are they being so friendly to me? I called Mr. Sung after the season. "They are treating me better than you haha"

Q: Seems like you miss coach Song. Still keep in touch with him?

Lee: He was like father to me in America. He always cheer me up. Always check on my status even if we are in different organization. If i get K, then he calls me after the game right away, pointing what my problem is and what needs to happen to correct it. He knows all about me. I wish I have success in big league so I can pay off all those things that I owe.

Q: Who do you get along the most?

Lee: Tyler Bortnick. He was also the first guy who talked to me when I got there. I think he will get promoted to big league soon. He is a great kid. Also to mention Kang who is my rommate. Very good guy also.

Q: What did Joe Maddon say when you saw him at Tropicana Field?

Lee: Congrat on your achivement and hope to see you on Tropicana Field one day. My father told me, tell him see you next year, but I forgot. I feel bad about it.

Q: Look like you adapted to America now.

Lee: Everyone is saying like that, you are grown up. When I first came to America, I was really having hard time. So lonely. Sometimes cried a lot as I wanted to go back to Korea. As I overcome all these things, I think I grow up a bit. My parents tell similar things also, that now you look like a real man. I feel proud of myself when hearing such.

Q: What kind of changes happened to you?

Lee: Before I came to America, I was selfish, thinking only about myself. Now I'm not. I get my head straight up and think for others as well. My baseball skills as well. As I am lonely and since I am stranger here, I have to solve all stresses by playing baseball. Focusing on every training session changed myself the most.

Q: Next year would be the key for your career.

Lee: Agree. That is why I start training earlier than any other off seasons. Every season is important but if I don't do well next year then I may stay in minor leagues much longer. So next year would be a risk but an opportunity to me.

Q: You should overcome Tim Beckham, 1st pick in 2008 draft.

Lee: I do not care about him, I know what he is capable of and what I am capable of. I only focus on myself to get better. Hopefully I can do better than him. The player I had to overcome is Reid Brignac. He manged .194 average but kept his spot for his stellar defense. Some players call him "Son of Joe Maddon" but a good ball player he is. My goal is to do well next year and find my spot in big league in future.

Q: Previously you mentioned you weak point is approach on change-up, how is it now?

Lee: Got better but still in progress. Higher competition you face better location, better movement on pitching. I would focus on this during off season.

Q: How about fastballs?

Lee: I can hit fastballs with confidence. I have seen many pitchers throwing 100mph fastball this season. Now fastball is not the biggest concern I have and I can even hit 102mph fastball.

Q: Who is you role model?

Lee: Jose Reyes.

Q: You have made two consecutive years in futures game.

Lee: Did not feel great as I feel like made no progress, staying as prospect only. Shin Soo Choo also told me he felt awkward when he made his third futures game. Next year would be my third year in futures game if I get nominated. Hope to play in big league soon.

Q: Your friend, Starlin Castro made two consecutive years with .300+ average.

Lee: One time he came to minor league with super car, looked little cocky haha. Feels like it was just yesterday together getting yelled by coaches for being lazy. Time goes fast. Still in good relationship with him. Feel little jealous but proud of him since things worked out nice for him. Sometimes he send me msgs on facebook but I will not reply until I debut in big league, haha.