The New York Mets’ Triple-A team, the Syracuse Mets, recently released outfielder Khalil Lee, marking the end of his brief stint with the organization.
Lee, who was acquired by the Mets in a trade with the Kansas City Royals prior to the 2021 season, struggled mightily at the Triple-A level, hitting just .151 with one home run and nine RBIs in 34 games.
Despite his struggles, Lee was considered one of the top prospects in the Mets’ organization and was ranked as their number six prospect by MLB Pipeline before the season.
Lee’s release is certainly disappointing for both the player and the Mets, who were hoping he could provide some outfield depth at the major league level.
However, with the emergence of young players like Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto, and Dominic Smith, the Mets’ outfield is already crowded, which likely played a factor in Lee’s release.
It’s also worth noting that minor league rosters are set to expand from 25 to 28 players on June 1, which could have made it difficult for Lee to find playing time.
Despite his struggles in Triple-A, Lee is still just 22 years old and has a lot of potential. He was a third-round pick by the Royals in the 2016 MLB draft and was considered one of their top prospects before being traded to the Mets.
It’s unclear what the future holds for Lee, but he will likely get another opportunity with another organization. In the meantime, the Mets will continue to evaluate their outfield depth and work to find the right mix of players to help them compete for a playoff spot this season.
