Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Top 30 Las Vegas 51s Players:

15. Derrek Lee (1997)

Before winning a World Series with Marlins and becoming one of the game’s elite first baseman, Derrek Lee anchored the infield in Las Vegas

Derrek Lee

Derrek Lee

First baseman Derrek Lee came to Las Vegas in 1997 as one of the top prospects in the San Diego Padres system. And he did not disappoint.

The 6-foot-5 Lee hit a team-high .324 in 125 games for Las Vegas. That summer, he also slugged 13 homers and drove in 64 runs. After the September call up, Lee appeared in 22 games for the Padres. But during the offseason, Lee was sent to the Florida Marlins as part of a trade that brought pitcher Kevin Brown to San Diego.

Lee had a break-out year in 2000 for the Marlins with 28 homers.

In 15 years in the majors, Lee hit 331 home runs and drove in 1,078 runs while batting .281. He was a member of the 2003 World Series champion Marlins and also led the Chicago Cubs to the playoffs in 2007 and 2008.

His best year in the majors was 2005, when he hit .335 with 46 homers and 107 RBI for the Cubs. Lee was named to the National League All Star team in 2005 and 2007, and he is a three-time Gold Glove winner.

He ended the 2011 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates and is an unsigned free agent as the 2012 season gets under way.

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