Houston — What a story this would make for rookie Hao-Yu Lee. A single, double and home run off future Hall-of-Famer Justin Verlander? Come on.
“Yeah, I should get a video to show my kids,” Lee said, laughing.
Lee did get those three knocks off Verlander, including an opposite-field home run here at Daikin Park Monday, but they came in a simulated game where Verlander was not only working his way back from the hip injury that’s sidelined him since April 1, but also on a day when he was working on some different slider grips.
“I do feel happy with that,” Lee said. “He’s a Hall-of-Famer. But it doesn’t count. He’s still trying to work on his pitches. I don’t think if this was a real game I would get him like that. But I will take today.”
Verlander threw 66 pitches and got up and down four times. There is a chance he could slot back into the rotation as early as Saturday, but that decision has not been made. His pitch volume seems to be where it needs to be.
The decision will be determined by what manager AJ Hinch and pitching coach Chris Fetter feel about where his execution is.
“He was working on a couple of different slider grips,” manager AJ Hinch said. “He accomplished what we needed to get him through. From a symptom standpoint, he’s feeling better and better and that’s a good sign. But consistency in his delivery and just his stuff is something he’s working through.”
Hinch said he expects to announce a decision by the end of this series as to where Verlander’s next start will be.
“He’s a really good pitcher,” Lee said. “Not many people who are 43 years old can still throw 95 mph. He’s a legend.”
Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com
@cmccosky
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Hao-Yu Lee hits homer vs. Justin Verlander in sim game: ‘I should get a video’
Reporting by Chris McCosky, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Chris McCosky, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
