Korey Lee Bio
Korey Bryan Lee (born July 25, 1998) is an American professional baseball catcher who has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros and the Chicago White Sox. Drafted in the first round of the 2019 MLB draft, he made his major league debut in 2022 and was part of the Astros team that won the World Series that same year. Through the 2025 season, his big-league resume includes a .193 batting average with 14 home runs and 47 runs batted in across his time in the majors. He is recognized as a defense-first backstop with a right-handed bat and a steady presence behind the plate.
Early Life and Background
Korey Bryan Lee was born on July 25, 1998, in Vista, California, a city in San Diego County known for producing a steady stream of amateur baseball talent. He grew up in Vista and attended Vista High School, where he developed into one of the more highly regarded catching prospects in southern California. As a senior in 2016, Lee hit .407 with 21 runs batted in, a performance that drew attention from Major League Baseball scouts, though he was not selected in that year’s draft.
After high school, Lee chose to attend the University of California, Berkeley, continuing California’s strong tradition of sending catchers to the professional ranks. He played three seasons of college baseball for the California Golden Bears, gradually improving each year as he refined his approach at the plate and his skills behind it. By the time he finished his junior season, he had established himself as a first-round talent and was ready to make the jump to professional baseball.
Path to Major League Baseball
Lee’s college trajectory began modestly, as he appeared in 28 games during his freshman year in 2017, making 18 starts and batting .277 with three runs batted in. After the 2017 season, he sharpened his game in the Northwoods League, a respected collegiate summer circuit that has long served as a development ground for future pros. As a sophomore in 2018, he played in 36 games, hitting .238 with five home runs and 26 runs batted in, and returned to the Northwoods League that summer, where he posted a .283 average with six home runs and 44 runs batted in over 57 games.
His junior season in 2019 marked a true breakout. Lee slashed .339/.415/.613 with 15 home runs and 57 runs batted in over 50 games, earning Pac-12 First Team honors and cementing his status as one of the top college catchers in the country. The Houston Astros selected him with the 32nd overall pick of the 2019 MLB draft, and he signed for $1.75 million, officially launching his professional career.
Korey Lee Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Lee made his professional debut in 2019 with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the Class A Short Season New York–Penn League, spending the entire season there. Over 64 games, he slashed .268/.359/.371 with three home runs, 28 runs batted in, and eight stolen bases, showing off both his offensive potential and his surprising athleticism for a catcher. He did not play a minor league game in 2020 after the season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lee returned in 2021 and opened the year with the High-A East’s Asheville Tourists, where he slashed .330/.397/.459 with three home runs and 14 runs batted in over 29 games before a promotion to the Double-A Central’s Corpus Christi Hooks on June 14. After an oblique strain interrupted his summer, he finished the year with a brief stint at Triple-A West’s Sugar Land Skeeters, ending 2021 with a combined .277/.340/.438 line, 11 home runs, and 45 runs batted in across 88 games between three clubs. He also earned an Arizona Fall League invitation with the Glendale Desert Dogs.
Houston Astros Breakthrough (2022)
Lee opened 2022 back at Triple-A Sugar Land and continued to build on his progress at the plate. On July 1, 2022, the Astros selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues, and he made his MLB debut that night as a pinch hitter against the Los Angeles Angels. Four days later, on July 4, he made his first major league start against the Kansas City Royals at Minute Maid Park, beginning what would become a memorable first month in the big leagues.
His first major league hit and run batted in came on July 10, 2022, against the Oakland Athletics, when he singled off starter Cole Irvin to score Jake Meyers. He added his first major league double and two more runs batted in that same inning, finishing 3-for-4 with three runs batted in as Houston won 6–1. After a brief option back to Triple-A in early August, Lee made an immediate impact by hitting three home runs and driving in a career-high five runs in a 23–8 win over the Las Vegas Aviators on August 23, his first multi-homer game as a professional. Before Game 6 of the 2022 World Series, the Astros added him to the roster to replace the injured Yuli Gurriel, and the team defeated the Philadelphia Phillies to clinch the title, giving Lee his first World Series ring.
Chicago White Sox Era (2023–2025)
On July 28, 2023, Lee was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for right-handed pitcher Kendall Graveman, ending his time in the Houston organization. He was recalled to the active roster on August 24 and appeared in 24 games for Chicago down the stretch, though he struggled at the plate with a .077/.143/.139 line, one home run, and three runs batted in. He opened 2024 in the minors with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights but was recalled to the Opening Day roster after Max Stassi went down with an injury, and he played 125 games for the White Sox that season, batting .210/.244/.347 with 12 home runs and 37 runs batted in. In 2025, he spent most of the year in Triple-A Charlotte and appeared in 26 games for Chicago, slashing .257/.333/.429 with one home run and three runs batted in. On March 25, 2026, the White Sox designated him for assignment after he failed to make the Opening Day roster, and he cleared waivers before being sent outright to Triple-A Charlotte on March 28.
Notable Events and Milestones
Lee’s signature moment came during his debut month with the Astros in July 2022, when he delivered his first major league hit, double, and three runs batted in against Oakland in a single game. His three-homer, five-RBI performance against the Las Vegas Aviators on August 23, 2022, marked his first multi-home-run game as a professional. Most notably, his addition to the 2022 World Series roster just before Game 6 helped the Astros close out the Philadelphia Phillies for the championship, making him a World Series champion in his first major league season.
Korey Lee Career Wins
Lee is best known for his championship-level team success rather than a long list of individual accolades, with his 2022 World Series title standing as the headline achievement of his early career. He has steadily accumulated service time as a backup and platoon catcher, contributing defensive value behind the plate while continuing to refine his offensive game at the Triple-A level.
Korey Lee Family
Personal Life
Korey Bryan Lee was raised in Vista, California, the community that shaped his early baseball development and where he attended Vista High School. Public details about his family and personal life remain limited, and he has generally kept that side of his life out of the spotlight as he has built his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Lee’s 2025 campaign was defined by extended work in the minors, as he spent the bulk of the year with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights while making only brief trips to the majors. In 26 games with the Chicago White Sox, he slashed .257/.333/.429 with one home run and three runs batted in, while continuing to handle catching duties and provide organizational depth. His limited big-league playing time reflected the White Sox’s crowded catching picture and his ongoing push to prove he can be an everyday option.
Heading into the rest of 2025, Lee’s role with the parent club remained uncertain, and the organization eventually designated him for assignment in March 2026 after he failed to make the Opening Day roster. After clearing waivers, he was sent outright to Triple-A Charlotte, leaving the path back to the majors dependent on opportunity and continued production. His trajectory remains that of a young catcher with championship experience, working to translate his minor-league track record into a consistent role at the highest level.
