Please pray for Jada Lee.

TSN: Cubs' Derrek Lee takes leave of absence

Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee could be out for the rest of the season because of his three-year-old daughter's illness.

Lee said Sunday he was taking a leave of absence to be with his wife and child.

''My daughter's lost some vision in one eye and we'll find out more at a later time - we have to go through some more tests,'' Lee said in a statement. ''Right now we just ask for everyone's prayers. We need a miracle, we need your prayers. We need everyone to believe she's going to be OK.''

Jada is the only child for Lee and his wife, Christina. Lee, 31, fought back tears as he addressed the media and then spoke to the team in private in the clubhouse.

''Some of us have known for a few days,'' Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. ''But you can't say anything if he didn't want to say anything. Quite frankly, I'm surprised he said anything.''

Lee, the 2005 NL batting champion, has played just 49 games this season, hitting .287 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs. He broke his left wrist April 19 and missed 58 games before returning to the team in late June. He went on the DL a second time in late July later with inflammation in the wrist and missed another month.

''You break your wrist and you think that's a big deal,'' Lee said. ''Then something like this happens and it kind of slaps you in the face of what really matters.''