Marcus Lee Sang Aims for Success in 2024 

(Reading, PA) Growing up, R-Phils outfielder, Marcus Lee Sang looked up to long-time baseball veteran, Andrew McCutchen. McCutchen, who spent nearly a decade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, also played for the Phillies from 2019-2021.

The 37-year-old is not only a force to be reckoned with on the field but also in the clubhouse and the community. McCutchen returned to the Pirates in 2024 as a seasoned leader amongst a young team.

“Being able to watch him at a young age, just the kind of player, his archetype out there, seeing how incredible he was watching him play, it’s somebody I really looked up to,” said Lee Sang. “It’s a guy that we’ve had in this organization that I wish I had a chance to speak to and let him know he’s great.”

Lee Sang returns to Baseballtown for the second year after playing 25 games for the Fightins in 2023. The 23-year-old was selected by the Phillies in the 11th Round (330th overall) of the 2019 draft.

Now having this Double-A experience under his belt, he noted, “The experience was incredible. Being around Al, the coaching staff, and being able to get comfortable around these guys, it was huge,” said Lee Sang. “Especially meeting the fans, the people of Reading, it gives you the extra kick to put on a show for them. You want to play well in front of these guys and bring a ring back, and that's the biggest contributor.”

Before his promotion to Reading last August, Lee Sang appeared in 99 games with the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws, hitting .268 with 99 hits, eight homers, and 53 RBI. Out of his 99 hits, 20 of those were extra-base hits, with a career-high 20 doubles and seven triples.

The outfielder was named the Phillies Minor League Player of the Month last May and hit .352 with three home runs and 18 RBIs through 27 games. Lee Sang was also ranked second-best in the South Atlantic League in May, posting a .491 on-base percentage and 1.048 OPS.

In 2022, Lee Sang spent most of the season with Single-A Clearwater, before being called up to Jersey Shore in August. He hit a combined .258, with 94 hits, 11 homers, 44 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases, in 102 games. The outfielder began his professional career with the GCL Phillies East in 2019.

Lee Sang attended Northern High School in Owings, Maryland. He executed well in his senior season, hitting .523 with a .602 on-base percentage, six homers, and 18 RBIs. Defensively, Lee Sang was among the best pitchers in the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference, going 5-1, with a 0.55 ERA and 76 strikeouts.

He was committed to playing collegiate baseball at St John’s University in New York but declined the opportunity to pursue his career with the Phillies after being drafted in June 2019.

Upon their arrival from spring training, the R-Phils players saw their brand new clubhouse for the first time, located on the first floor of Redner’s Event Center.

Lee Sang expressed his excitement saying, “It’s incredible, we have a big-league facility in Double-A. They did a great job putting it together and I know that having this level of comfort is going to translate onto the field as well.”

Reading returns home to begin the 2024 season on Tuesday, April 9, against the Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox). The first pitch for Opening Night is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Fans can get tickets at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL, or at the Customer's Bank Ticket Office. For fans who can't make it out to the game, you can listen at rphils.com/radio, or watch on Bally Live or MiLB TV.

The 2024 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.