June 2nd, 2016 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka It was an exciting day – June 7, 2010. It was Day-1 of the 2010 MLB First Year Player Draft and (then) longtime Dodgers Director of Scouting and Development Logan White was pacing the floor nervously. Because the Dodgers had won the NL West title in 2009, they were relegated to the 28th draft slot. Only two MLB teams had a worse drafting position than the Dodgers – the Angels and the Yankees (although the Angels had the 18th overall pick in the first round because of a 2009 deal with the Mariners).
But just as he had done for years, White had done his homework and had a plan. As several of their draft targets came off the board, White kept eyeing one name that he knew very few other teams were willing to take a gamble on – and with good cause. That name was Zach Lee, an 18-year-old right-hander out of McKinney High School in McKinney, Texas. But even though Lee was ranked as one of the top draft targets, he was considered unsignable because he had already committed to Louisiana State University, where he was rumored to be guaranteed the Tigers starting quarterback job.
Sure enough, when the Dodgers were on the clock, Lee had gone unselected through the first 27 picks and White jumped all over him. And though he didn’t come easy (or cheap), the Dodgers were able to convince Lee – and even more so his agent Scott Boras – at the very last hour of the signing deadline to forego a full ride scholarship and starting quarterback job at LSU and sign with the Dodgers.
Unlike most high school draftees who generally begin their professional careers in the Arizona Rookie League or the Pioneer Rookie League, Lee began his professional career at Low Single-A Great Lakes, where he posted a very impressive 9-6 record and even more impressive 3.47 ERA. In his 24 games with the Loons – all starts – Lee struck out 91 while walking 32 in his 109 innings pitched.
Although Lee moved up quickly through the Dodgers minor league system, he has been held at the Triple-A level for the better part of three seasons now. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
During the 2012 season, Lee made 12 starts with the Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (2-3, 5.05 ERA) before being promoted to Double-A Chattanooga, where he went 4-3 with a 4.25 ERA, and by all appearances he was developing just as Logan White and the Dodgers had hoped he would.
Lee spent the entire 2013 season at Double-A Chattanooga, going 10-10 with an very impressive 3.22 ERA on the season. He also began to prove himself as an exceptional control pitcher, having struck out 131 opposing batters while walking only 35 in his team-leading 142.2 innings pitched.
After receiving an invitation to major league spring training camp in 2014, Lee was assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, where he spent all of 2014 posting a 7-13 record and 5.39 ERA. This certainly isn’t indicative of a bad season, it’s indicative of just how difficult it is to pitch at over 5,000 feet, where hitters have a distinct advantage because of the extremely thin air (and a big reason why the Dodgers did not renew their Player Development Contract with the Isotopes).
Lee began the 2015 season with the Dodgers new Triple-A team in Oklahoma City but fell victim to a series of injuries and spent time rehabbing in the low minors. Yet in spite of this, he still managed to post a combined season record of 13-6 with a remarkable 2.63 ERA over 123.1 innings. He also had a combined 85 strikeouts with only 20 walks – good enough to earn an emergency spot start with the Dodgers on July 25, 2015 against the New York Mets at Citi Field when Dodgers co-ace Zack Greinke had to leave the team for the birth of he and wife Emily’s first child.
It did not go well for Lee.
In his 4.2 innings against the Mets in his major league debut, Lee allowed seven runs on 11 hits (including a home run) while striking out three and walking one. He was sent back to Oklahoma City the next day and hasn’t appeared in a major league game since – this in spite of the fact that he continues to consistently put up outstanding numbers at Triple-A even to this day. In fact, Lee is currently 6-3 with a 4.58 ERA in the 10 games he has started for the OKC Dodgers this season. He did receive a one-day call-up to the Dodgers on April 23, 2016 to fill a bullpen slot but never entered the game (he did warm up, however).
Lee has been given only one opportunity at the major league level. You would think that the Dodgers would at least give him another instead of burying him at Triple-A or blocking his path to the big leagues with another team. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
The point to all of this is that Zach Lee – now 24 years old – has done as much as he possibly can and has nothing more to prove at the minor league level. And while the extremely polite and very soft-spoken Dallas, Texas native may not be as flashy as several of the other young Dodgers prospects around him, he has more than proven himself worthy of at least another opportunity to earn a spot – even if only temporary – in the Dodgers starting rotation, especially with the recent series of injuries among the starting five. And while the perception of many Dodger fans is that the Dodgers are merely showcasing the hard-throwing right-hander in an attempt to solicit trade offers, they are doing a disservice to this young man by keeping him in the minors where he is wasting his bullets.
It’s time for the Dodgers to bring up Lee for more than one high-pressure start and give him an opportunity to sink or swim at baseball’s highest level. If the Dodgers brass chooses not to do so, they should at least have the professionalism and courtesy to trade him so that he will have a legitimate shot the major leagues with another team.
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So glad someone else besides myself realizes this.. The powers that be in our front office seem to want to just let this kid rot in the minors.. I totally agree that he needs to be given a fair shot or be traded to a team that will and possibly get us some decent prospects..
The FO may be thinking that Lee’s trade value as a AAA pitcher can yield a good return in trade, but bringing him up is a gamble that could significantly diminish the current value. with so many other RH SP prospects Dodgers may be much better off including Lee in a package for immediate or longer term future help.
I have also been pushing for Lee to get a legit callup and prove one way or the other whether he belongs. His trade zenith was last winter. When he was sent down to OKC again, the FO told every team that they believe Lee is really only organizational depth and not even a consideration for #5. He is continually passed over by the likes of Bolsinger, Stripling, and even Urias. Now I am not putting Lee at the Urias talent level, but he is on the 40 man, and did not have to have anyone DFA’d to add him to the 25 man. Bolsinger is a 5 inning pitcher, and Lee seems to always be around the plate to go longer. I do not know if he takes too long to get warm, and that is why he is not considered a relief potential, but the FO put Cotton in the pen for awhile to see how he would do.
There are certainly teams that could use a #5, and I believe that it is unfair to Lee to not at least give him a chance with another team if they are not going to consider him nothing but a AAA pitcher. Having a son play most of his 9 year professional career in the minors (and producing), I have empathy for the likes of players that do not get the prolonged opportunity when they have at the very least deserved a chance.
You are correct Lee deserves either a call up or trade. I think you are also correct that the FO views Lee as organizational depth and not even a consideration for #5. So he needs to be traded.
I don’t think what FAZ thinks about Lee would stop other teams from pursuing a trade for him. If other teams thought Dodgers were wrong about his abilities he would be highly sought after by other teams hoping to fleece the Dodgers. I still think Cleveland would be a good landing spot, Lee and an outfielder (not Puig/Thompson/Pedersen) for Bauer.
Trade seems the best option for Lee at this point in his career. Under contract, or team control, beyond this season are Kershaw, Maeda, Ryu, McCarthy, Bolsinger, Stripling, and Kazmir (opt out option after this season), then Urias, De Leon, and possibly Cotton competing for starting spots in 2017. Then you have Barlow, Stewart, and Oaks having very good AA seasons, with Sborz and Holmes pitching well in Hi A and Buehler likely starting his TJ rehab late this season, or Fall ball. Lee averaging 11 hits and 1.3 home runs per 9 innings seems to be far down the list of SP prospects.
Agreed, hopefully he is one “desired” piece in a quantity for quality trade. Unfortunately, looks like Lee has regressed this year. Happily that list of potential starters is impressive (and you didn’t list some others). These are better days than when all the Dodgers had in the minors “to save the organization” was Lee. Seems like Lee is a good kid, but, he isn’t better than the competition, trade him.
I’d hate to think what the other options could be… because options are something the Dodgers are running out of very quickly.
I fail to see how an ERA of almost 5.00 is considered to be “continuing to post outstanding numbers” but ok.
I’d package Lee with Puig to get a catcher with some pop. I’m so tired of the Grandhal/Ellis combo each hitting below the Mendoza line.
How about just bringing Barnes back? Good OBP guy. I still hate to see Puig go. Watching Puig continue to swing and miss at the down and away breaking ball is frustrating, but, so much potential.
But at some point that potential has to break through. I was hoping that Matt Harvey would continue his bad start and the Dodgers could package Puig to get Harvey; two players that probably need a change of scenery and might just do better with different organizations. David Wright is now out 4-6 weeks, and Alex Guerrero might find a home in NY. And SVS would make a good righty/lefty combo with Duda at 1B. Puig, Guerrero, and SVS for Harvey.
I would do that trade. I just think it would be a mistake to “dump” Puig. Puig has the potential to carry a club (we’ve seen it) and is still young (25 years old), and good contract. I would trade him for a stud, Harvey qualifies (if arm is healthy).
Is Guerrero still tradeable or is he basically a free agent now?
The Dodgers have 10 days from the DFA to trade him. There is still a couple of days.
I have to disagree somewhat. While a good hitting catcher is something to desire, it’s a losing proposition to sacrifice defense for offense at that position.
First need in a catcher is one who can work well with the pitchers, can recognize early when a pitcher is losing it, and can correct problems right then. He needs to able to prepare the pitcher for the team he’s about to face. Other defensive skills go right along with that.
Obviously I’m describing AJ, not Yas.
AJ is 35, getting close to moving to the coaching ranks officially. Now’s the time to bring up both Murphy and Barnes (Barnes can be a utility infielder as well) to understudy him. Trade Yas. With AJ and Yeags working with them one or both should be ready to take over the #1 catcher spot soon.
Likely at that point one of them will have to go elsewhere. AJ may chose to continue a year or 2 more as backup catcher, maybe not. I see him moving to Honey’s staff, eventually replacing him. Likely he’ll eventually be a manager.
I just hope the Dodgers don’t let him get away like they did Mike Scioscia.
I agree with your comments regarding the value of a catcher and how he should be valued. The best pitcher on the planet wants AJ behind the plate; not Lucroy or McCann or even Posey…but AJ. AJ is a very good game manager and controls the pitcher. If Kershaw wants him…
I am all in with Barnes getting the permanent call. I would not have said yes to Murphy, but after watching him last weekend with Jharel Cotton on the mound, I have more respect for his game control attributes. He took control. There was a point in the game when Cotton was upset about a call at 1B after being run over by the hitter/runner. That left runners on 1st and 3rd with one out. Murphy went to the mound to cool off Cotton and get him to focus on the batter. The next batter popped up, and Cotton got the third out without anyone scoring. When Cotton was overthrowing his slider, it was Murphy that went to the mound and said something. After that the slider dropped 3-4 MPH and became an out pitch. Murphy was good for Cotton on that day. Although he isn’t that old, he reminds me of Crash Davis. It’s just when I watch him play, that is who I think of.