Dae-eun Rhee Stats & Scouting Report

IP	675.0
ERA	4.15
WHIP	1.375
BB/9	3.2
SO/9	6.1

Full name Rhee, Dae-Eun
Born 03/23/1989 in Seoul, South Korea
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: L / Throws: R

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Rhee signed for $525,000 out of a Korean high school, and he was so advanced that the Cubs had no qualms about sending him to low Class A at age 19 for his pro debut the following spring. He aced the test, giving up just one run in his first three starts while displaying precocious feel for three average or better pitches. Then he hurt his elbow in his next outing, leading to Tommy John surgery that knocked him out for most of 2009 and left him without his best stuff in 2010. Rhee finally began to regain his previous form in 2011, saving his best for last. He went 3-0, 2.84 in August before posting a 2.25 ERA in two playoff starts, winning the finale to give Daytona the Florida State League championship. Rhee pitched at 88-92 mph for much of the year before adding 2 mph in the final month. He also added more power to his breaking ball, which can get caught in between a curveball and a slider at times but is a solid curve at its best. His changeup is his best pitch at times, featuring both sink and fade. Rhee generally throws strikes and works the bottom of the zone. If he stays healthy and continues to improve, he could become a No. 3 starter.
Signed for $525,000 out of a Korean high school in 2007, Rhee was so advanced that the Cubs sent him to low Class A to make his pro debut the next spring. He allowed just one run in his first three starts while showing precocious feel for three average or better pitches. He hurt his elbow in his fourth outing, however, leading to Tommy John surgery that cost him most of the 2009 season. Rhee was able to make a full schedule of starts in 2010, though he was kept on tight pitch counts. His stuff isn't as crisp as it was before he got hurt but Chicago sees signs that it's coming back. He has regained most but not all of his velocity, working at 88-92 mph with his fastball last year. His formerly plus changeup is just an average pitch for the moment, but his curveball showed improvement late in the season. He's back to throwing strikes, though he leaves too many pitches up in the strike zone. The Cubs consider 2010 a recovery year for Rhee and may have him return to high Class A to begin 2011. He'll still be just 22, giving him plenty of time to reclaim his potential as frontline starter.
The Cubs mine Korea as aggressively as any club. They gave seven-figure bonuses to Hee Seop Choi and Jae-Kuk Ryu, two of the 12 Koreans to reach the majors, and have another wave of Korean talent coming, led by Hak-Ju Lee and Rhee. who was signed for $525,000 as an 18-year-old in July 2007. Rhee was so advanced that the Cubs sent him to low Class A to make his pro debut the spring after he signed. He looked terrific before injuring his elbow in his fourth start, resulting in Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for most of 2009. During instructional league, Rhee showed that he's on the verge of regaining his feel and stuff. His fastball returned to the low 90s, and he flashed a solid curveball and a nifty changeup with splitter action. He threw well enough for the Cubs to consider sending him to high Class A to start 2010. He has a clean arm action and no red flags in his delivery, so there are no health concerns going forward. While rehabbing, he used his downtime to improve his English and his conditioning. With a chance for three plus pitches, Rhee could develop into a frontline starter.
The Cubs have had a significant presence in Korea for the last decade, starting with handing out seven-figure bonuses to Hee-Seop Choi and Jae-Kuk Ryu. Signed for $525,000 in July 2007, Rhee allowed just one run over his first three pro starts last April. Then he hurt his elbow in his fourth outing, leading to Tommy John surgery. He has a clean and balanced delivery, so overuse in Korea may have been the culprit. Rhee wowed scouts before he got hurt. Pitching in the April chill of the Midwest League, he showed precocious feel for three pitches. His changeup is the best in system, and it dives at the plate with splitter action. His fastball sat at 90-92 mph and touched 94, while his curveball was a solid-average pitch. He fearlessly threw all of his pitches for strikes, and they all could develop into plus pitches once he's healthy. He has put his downtime to use by improving his English and his conditioning. Rhee won't see game action until midseason at the earliest. The good news is that he's so young that he'll still be ahead of the development curve when he returns. Once he does and builds his arm back up, he won't need much beyond more experience. If he can stay healthy and regain his feel and stuff, Rhee may have a more realistic chance of becoming a quality starter than Jeff Samardzija or Andrew Cashner. Rhee won't be at full strength and effectiveness in 2009, so the Cubs will be patient.
The Cubs invested heavily in Koreans Hee-Seop Choi ($1.2 million in 1999) and Jae-Kuk Ryu ($1.6 million in 2001), neither of whom did much in the majors, though they did trade Choi for Derrek Lee. Chicago's latest Korean bonus baby is Rhee, who signed for $525,000 last July. He didn't pitch in any games during the summer but he did open eyes with his performance in instructional league. Rhee's fastball ranged from 90-94 mph, and his best pitch was a changeup that dives at the plate like a splitter. He also showed a hard curveball and exceptional control and feel for an 18-year-old. Rhee still has room to easily add strength, as he carries just 190 pounds on his broad-shouldered, 6-foot-2 frame. He has a balanced delivery, which bodes well for his future health. As intriguing as Rhee is, he still has yet to prove anything in pro ball. He'll get his first chance to do that in 2008, either in the Rookie-level Arizona League or at Boise.