Derrek Lee

Guide Note:

Baseball player Derrek Lee is a Major League first baseman who began his career with the San Diego Padres, but has played most of his career for theFlorida Marlins and his current team, the Chicago Cubs.

Fast Facts:

1. Born: September 6, 1975
2. Gold Gloves: 2
3. 2005: NL Batting Champion
4. 2007 Salary: $13,250,000
5. 2007 All-Star Selection

Born in Sacramento to a father who played baseball in Japan, Derrek Lee was picked in the first round of the 1993 draft by the San Diego Padres and made his Major League debut with the team in 1997. In 1998, Lee was traded to the Marlins and established himself as a consistent power hitter, hitting over 20 home runs every season, and increasing his RBI totals each year. In 2003, Lee hit 31 homers and drove in 92, and helped lead his team to a 2003 World Series victory over the New York Yankees.

After the season, however, the Marlins unloaded most of their talent and traded the promising Lee to the Cubs, after which he emerged as one of the best hitters in baseball. In 2005, Lee made the All-Star team for the first time, finished third in MVP balloting, clubbed 46 home runs, drove in 107, and finished with a career-high .335 batting average. Unfortunately, in 2006, Lee broke his wrist in a collision with the Los Angeles Dodgers' Rafael Furcal and played in only 50 games. In 2007, he re-emerged as one of baseball's best hitters, finishing the season with a .317 average.