Carlos Lee
Left Fielder · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1999-2012)
Carlos Lee was a left fielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1999 to 2012 for 5 teams, including the Chicago White Sox, a span of 14 seasons. In 2,099 career games, he hit .285 with 2,273 hits, 358 home runs, and 1,363 RBI. Carlos Lee was a 3-time All-Star and a 2-time Silver Slugger. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 13,870.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Left Fielder
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 6'2" / 270 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1999-05-07
- Last Game
- 2012-10-03
- Awards
- 3× All-Star · 2× Silver Slugger
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,099 | 7,983 | 1,125 | 2,273 | 469 | 19 | 358 | 1,363 | 125 | 655 | 984 | .285 | .339 | .483 | .821 | 13,870 |
Career AVG .285 vs. league average .264 across their career seasons — +8.0% above league average.
Career OBP .339 vs. league average .333 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career SLG .483 vs. league average .420 across their career seasons — +15.0% above league average.
Career OPS .821 vs. league average .752 across their career seasons — +9.2% above league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | CHA | AL | 127 | 492 | 66 | 144 | 32 | 2 | 16 | 84 | 4 | 13 | 72 | .293 | .271 (+8%) | .344 (-9%) | .433 (+7%) | .778 (avg) | -217.3 |
| 2000 | CHA | AL | 152 | 572 | 107 | 172 | 29 | 2 | 24 | 92 | 13 | 38 | 94 | .301 | .270 (+11%) | .344 (avg) | .437 (+11%) | .782 (+6%) | 636.5 |
| 2001 | CHA | AL | 150 | 558 | 75 | 150 | 33 | 3 | 24 | 84 | 17 | 38 | 85 | .269 | .263 (+2%) | .332 (-3%) | .426 (+10%) | .758 (+4%) | 365.6 |
| 2002 | CHA | AL | 140 | 492 | 82 | 130 | 26 | 2 | 26 | 80 | 1 | 75 | 73 | .264 | .261 (+1%) | .331 (+9%) | .416 (+16%) | .747 (+13%) | 1353.9 |
| 2003 | CHA | AL | 158 | 623 | 100 | 181 | 35 | 1 | 31 | 113 | 18 | 37 | 91 | .291 | .264 (+10%) | .332 (-1%) | .422 (+18%) | .754 (+10%) | 1126.6 |
| 2004 | CHA | AL | 153 | 591 | 103 | 180 | 37 | 0 | 31 | 99 | 11 | 54 | 86 | .305 | .266 (+14%) | .335 (+9%) | .427 (+23%) | .762 (+17%) | 2090.2 |
| 2005 | MIL | NL | 162 | 618 | 85 | 164 | 41 | 0 | 32 | 114 | 13 | 57 | 87 | .265 | .264 (avg) | .330 (-2%) | .418 (+16%) | .749 (+8%) | 879.3 |
| 2006 | MIL | NL | 102 | 388 | 60 | 111 | 18 | 0 | 28 | 81 | 12 | 38 | 39 | .286 | .269 (+6%) | .336 (+3%) | .431 (+27%) | .768 (+17%) | 1189.9 |
| 2006 | TEX | AL | 59 | 236 | 42 | 76 | 19 | 1 | 9 | 35 | 7 | 20 | 26 | .322 | .269 (+20%) | .336 (+10%) | .431 (+22%) | .768 (+16%) | 1189.9 |
| 2007 | HOU | NL | 162 | 627 | 93 | 190 | 43 | 1 | 32 | 119 | 10 | 53 | 63 | .303 | .268 (+13%) | .335 (+6%) | .422 (+25%) | .758 (+16%) | 2002.3 |
| 2008 | HOU | NL | 115 | 436 | 61 | 137 | 27 | 0 | 28 | 100 | 4 | 37 | 49 | .314 | .263 (+19%) | .333 (+10%) | .416 (+37%) | .749 (+25%) | 2075.7 |
| 2009 | HOU | NL | 160 | 610 | 65 | 183 | 35 | 1 | 26 | 102 | 5 | 41 | 51 | .300 | .262 (+14%) | .332 (+3%) | .417 (+17%) | .750 (+11%) | 1235.7 |
| 2010 | HOU | NL | 157 | 605 | 67 | 149 | 29 | 1 | 24 | 89 | 3 | 37 | 59 | .246 | .257 (-4%) | .325 (-11%) | .402 (+3%) | .728 (-3%) | -404.3 |
| 2011 | HOU | NL | 155 | 585 | 66 | 161 | 38 | 4 | 18 | 94 | 4 | 59 | 60 | .275 | .255 (+8%) | .320 (+7%) | .399 (+12%) | .719 (+9%) | 1095.1 |
| 2012 | HOU | NL | 66 | 258 | 24 | 74 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 29 | 0 | 19 | 17 | .287 | .254 (+13%) | .318 (+5%) | .405 (+1%) | .724 (+3%) | 152.5 |
| 2012 | MIA | NL | 81 | 292 | 29 | 71 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 48 | 3 | 39 | 32 | .243 | .254 (-4%) | .318 (+3%) | .405 (-20%) | .724 (-10%) | 152.5 |
| Career · 16 seasons | 2,099 | 7,983 | 1,125 | 2,273 | 469 | 19 | 358 | 1,363 | 125 | 655 | 984 | .285 | — | — | — | — | 14,924 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (2099 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 1055 | 3901 | 564 | 1120 | 188 | 715 | .287 |
| Away | 1044 | 4082 | 561 | 1153 | 170 | 648 | .282 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-10-03 | MIA | NYN | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2012-10-02 | MIA | NYN | W | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012-10-01 | MIA | NYN | W | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2012-09-30 | MIA | PHI | L | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2012-09-29 | MIA | PHI | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2012-09-28 | MIA | PHI | W | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2012-09-27 | MIA | ATL | L | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012-09-26 | MIA | ATL | L | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012-09-25 | MIA | ATL | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012-09-23 | MIA | NYN | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 250 | 236 | 1938 | 195 | 13 | 182 |
| OF | 1770 | 1758 | 3049 | 99 | 50 | 13 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | CHA | 1B | 5 | 4 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 1999 | CHA | OF | 105 | 105 | 201 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 2000 | CHA | OF | 149 | 146 | 273 | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| 2001 | CHA | OF | 130 | 129 | 241 | 9 | 8 | 0 |
| 2002 | CHA | OF | 137 | 134 | 249 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2003 | CHA | OF | 156 | 155 | 307 | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| 2004 | CHA | OF | 148 | 148 | 282 | 11 | 0 | 2 |
| 2005 | MIL | OF | 162 | 161 | 308 | 8 | 6 | 3 |
| 2006 | MIL | OF | 98 | 97 | 145 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 2006 | TEX | OF | 51 | 51 | 82 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2007 | HOU | OF | 157 | 157 | 261 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| 2008 | HOU | OF | 110 | 110 | 187 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | HOU | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | HOU | OF | 154 | 154 | 211 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| 2010 | HOU | 1B | 20 | 17 | 115 | 12 | 1 | 6 |
| 2010 | HOU | OF | 133 | 133 | 183 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| 2011 | HOU | 1B | 79 | 70 | 578 | 75 | 5 | 59 |
| 2011 | HOU | OF | 80 | 78 | 119 | 10 | 2 | 3 |
| 2012 | HOU | 1B | 65 | 65 | 576 | 44 | 3 | 46 |
| 2012 | MIA | 1B | 80 | 80 | 643 | 60 | 3 | 68 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 250 |
| Left Field | 1770 |
| Designated Hitter | 82 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Player of the Week | Week of 2008-08-09 |
| 2007 | Silver Slugger | OF |
| 2007 | TSN All-Star | OF |
| 2005 | Player of the Week | Week of 2005-05-07 |
| 2005 | Silver Slugger | OF |
| 2000 | Player of the Week | Week of 2000-09-09 |
| 1999 | Player of the Week | Week of 1999-08-28 |
Salary History
Carlos Lee's recorded salaries total $130,775,000 over 14 seasons, 1999 to 2012. Lee's career, 1999 to 2012, falls within 1985 to 2016, the years the salary data covers.
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | HOU | NL | $19,000,000 |
| 2011 | HOU | NL | $19,000,000 |
| 2010 | HOU | NL | $19,000,000 |
| 2009 | HOU | NL | $19,000,000 |
| 2008 | HOU | NL | $12,500,000 |
| 2007 | HOU | NL | $11,500,000 |
| 2006 | MIL | NL | $8,500,000 |
| 2005 | MIL | NL | $8,000,000 |
| 2004 | CHA | AL | $6,500,000 |
| 2003 | CHA | AL | $4,200,000 |
| 2002 | CHA | AL | $2,700,000 |
| 2001 | CHA | AL | $400,000 |
| 2000 | CHA | AL | $275,000 |
| 1999 | CHA | AL | $200,000 |
| Total recorded salary | $130,775,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 19th | 7.0 | 448 | 0 |
| 2005 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 17th | 19.0 | 448 | 0 |
| 2003 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 18th | 16.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1999 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 7th | 4.0 | 140 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Carlos Lee (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Carlos Lee
Carlos Lee: the record in brief
The profile opens with Carlos Lee's first major league game on May 7, 1999; the last one listed came on October 3, 2012. The team column moves through the Chicago White Sox (1999 through 2004), the Milwaukee Brewers (2005 to 2006), the Texas Rangers (2006), the Houston Astros (2007 through 2012), and the Miami Marlins (2012). Lee is listed as a left fielder at 6-foot-2 and 270 pounds. Lee both batted and threw right-handed, per the bio block. Lee was born on June 20, 1976, in Aguadulce, Coclé, Panama.
Lee collected 2,273 hits in 7,983 at bats across 2,099 games, good for a .285 batting average; the totals also include 358 homers, 1,363 RBI, and 125 stolen bases. On-base and slugging figures of .339 and .483 give Lee a career OPS of .821. Set against a .264 league average for the same years, Lee's .285 average sits 8.0% above it. The home run peak was 32 in 2005 with the Milwaukee Brewers. No season topped the 190 hits of 2007.
Frequently Asked Questions about Carlos Lee
- What years did Carlos Lee play?
- Carlos Lee played in Major League Baseball from 1999 to 2012.
- Was Carlos Lee a pitcher?
- No. Carlos Lee was a position player (Left Fielder).
- How many home runs did Carlos Lee hit?
- Carlos Lee hit 358 career home runs with 2,273 hits.
- What teams did Carlos Lee play for?
- Carlos Lee played for 5 teams: the Chicago White Sox (1999–2004), the Milwaukee Brewers (2005–2006), the Texas Rangers (2006), the Houston Astros (2007–2012), and the Miami Marlins (2012).
- Did Carlos Lee win an MVP award?
- No. Carlos Lee did not win the MVP award.
- What awards did Carlos Lee win?
- Carlos Lee won 2 Silver Slugger awards (2005 and 2007). He was selected to 3 All-Star Games.
- What were Carlos Lee's career stats?
- In 2,099 games, Carlos Lee had 2,273 hits, 358 home runs, 1,363 RBI, 1,125 runs, and 125 stolen bases, with a .285 batting average.
- How much did Carlos Lee earn in his career?
- Carlos Lee's recorded salaries total $130,775,000 over 14 seasons, 1999 to 2012. Lee's career, 1999 to 2012, falls within 1985 to 2016, the years the salary data covers.
- What was Carlos Lee's salary?
- Carlos Lee's last recorded salary was $19,000,000, in 2012. His highest recorded salary was $19,000,000, in 2009, and his lowest was $200,000, in 1999. The Salary History table lists each season from 1999 to 2012.
- What position did Carlos Lee play?
- Carlos Lee played primarily as a left fielder, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Carlos Lee and how much did he weigh?
- Carlos Lee was listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 270 pounds.
- How many home runs did Carlos Lee hit each season?
- Carlos Lee's home runs by season: 16 in 1999, 24 in 2000, 24 in 2001, 26 in 2002, 31 in 2003, 31 in 2004, 32 in 2005, 37 in 2006, 32 in 2007, 28 in 2008, 26 in 2009, 24 in 2010, 18 in 2011, and 9 in 2012. His most in one season was 37, in 2006.
- What was Carlos Lee's career batting average?
- Carlos Lee batted .285 over his career, with 2,273 hits in 7,983 at bats.
- How many RBI did Carlos Lee have?
- Carlos Lee drove in 1,363 runs in his career.