San Francisco Giants' shortstop prospect Lee Hak-ju was sent to the team's minor league camp on Sunday, a move that put his major league dream on hold yet again.  The Giants announced that they've reassigned Lee, 25, along with three other players to their minor league camp. Lee had signed a minor league deal with the Giants last November and earned an invitation to spring training.

Lee batted .286 (4-for-14) with three RBIs and a steal in 13 spring appearances, but will have to start another season in the minors.

Lee, a graduate of Chungam High School in Seoul, hasn't played a major league game since moving to the United States in 2009, when he signed with the Chicago Cubs. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in January 2011, but the Rays designated the underachieving infielder for assignment last September. He elected free agency and signed with the Giants.

Once among the top-50 prospects rated by Baseball America, Lee has been held back by injuries throughout his minor league career.

Lee faced an uphill battle to crack the Giants' 25-man roster, with Gold Glove-winning shortstop Brandon Crawford firmly entrenched in the everyday lineup.

Lee had been one of seven South Koreans competing in preseason, along with Choo Shin-soo of the Texas Rangers; Park Byung-ho of the Minnesota Twins; Kim Hyun-soo of the Baltimore Orioles; Choi Ji-man of the Los Angeles Angels; Oh Seung-hwan of the St. Louis Cardinals; and Lee Dae-ho of the Seattle Mariners. Of them, Lee is the only player on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Two others, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kang Jung-ho of the Pittsburgh Pirates, are rehabbing from injuries and are expected to return to action after the start of the regular season.

In Sunday's action, Choo went 1-for-3 with a steal against the Angels, while Choi went 0-for-2 in the same game.

Kim went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and reached the Mendoza Line for the spring. He's batting .200 (8-for-40) and has gone 7-for-19 over his past seven games.

Lee Dae-ho and Park both went hitless. Lee was 0-for-2 and was hit by a pitch against the Cleveland Indians. He has reached safely in five straight games.

Park was also 0-for-2 but drew his first walk of the spring. (Yonhap)