HOUSTON — Korey Lee’s first taste of the big leagues came at Minute Maid Park.
Lee entered as a pinch hitter for the Houston Astros in the eighth inning of a July 1, 2022 game against the Los Angeles Angels, subbing in for Martín Maldonado.
“I had all the adrenaline going through my veins,” Lee said Friday afternoon.
He hit a deep fly to left field that was tracked down by Brandon Marsh.
Lee made his first major-league start three days later at the same ballpark when the Astros faced the Kansas City Royals.
“It’s all good memories coming back here,” Lee said.
The catcher made his return to Minute Maid Park on Friday with the Chicago White Sox for the opener of a three-game series. It was his first trip back since being acquired in a trade with the Astros last season.
“It was a little weird going on this side,” Lee said with a smile, referring to the visiting clubhouse. “But it’s the same game, the same place I got to debut and it’s going to be a fun time here this weekend.”
Lee played in 12 games for the Astros in 2022. He was dealt to the Sox for reliever Kendall Graveman on July 28, 2023, and appeared in 24 games.
He entered Friday hitting .217 with 10 home runs and 28 RBIs in 96 games this season. He had three consecutive multihit games Aug. 9-12 and is 8-flor-28 (.286) with a home run and two RBIs in his last eight games.
“For a catcher that can hit like that and throw and move it around a little bit, he’s a tremendous athlete for that position,” interim manager Grady Sizemore said. “I’m excited to let him come here and play against his old team, always brings more energy and emotion.”
Lee said he was in Las Vegas with Houston’s Triple-A affiliate the Sugar Land Space Cowboys when he found out he was traded.
“They gave me a call at breakfast and let me know I was coming over to Chicago and they thanked me for everything that I did, I thanked them and the next thing I know I was in (Triple-A) Charlotte about two days after that playing for the Knights,” Lee said.
“(Trades are) always going to be part of it. At the end of the day, I got the good opportunity to come over here and play my game.”
He made his Sox debut last August and this year has emerged as the team’s starting catcher. During his time with the Sox, Lee said that he has learned “that I belong here.”
“I belong as a catcher in the big leagues, and that’s something I hold myself to,” Lee said. “The hitting, that’s always going to come and go with some people. But it’s just being that solid backstop behind there goes a long way in this game. I’ve taken that to heart, will always be a catcher and then hitting comes as a little bonus.”
Like Lee, the Sox acquired outfielder Corey Julks in a trade with the Astros. They made the move on May 15, sending pitcher Luis Rodríguez to Houston.
The Astros welcomed both back Friday with a tribute on the video board before the game.
Julks made his major-league debut with the Astros at Minute Maid Park on March 31, 2023, against the Sox.
“Got the first hit — actually, playing against the White Sox and that’s kind of crazy with that,” Julks said. “It was a special moment, family was all here. It was awesome.”
Julks played 93 games for the Astros last season and has appeared in 52 games — hitting .228 with three home runs and nine RBIs — for the Sox.
“Have a lot of memories here,” Julks said. “Taking it all in. It’s been nice. Seeing some of the guys from last year has been fun. Excited to be back, for sure.”
Julks was born in nearby Friendswood, Texas. He also played college baseball at Houston.
“I always was a fan growing up,” said Julks, who listed Hall of Famers Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio among his favorites. “Just the opportunity to play for them in the past was definitely special. Growing up, cheering for the Astros, it was definitely a thing.”
Julks anticipated having a lot of family in attendance.
“Going to bring them out and show some love to the city,” Julks said.
Reliever Dominic Leone placed on IL
The Sox placed reliever Dominic Leone on the 60-day injured list with a right UCL sprain. The right-hander exited Wednesday’s game against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning.
Leone is 0-2 with a 6.63 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 23 relief appearances.
In the corresponding roster move, the Sox reinstated reliever Matt Foster from the 60-day IL. The right-hander had been out since undergoing Tommy John surgery on April 19, 2023.
