Dodgers News: Zach Lee Gunning For 5th Spot
The fifth starter spot for the Los Angeles Dodgers is almost a point of contention now. There are so many worthwhile pitchers that are trying to claim that spot, and there’s almost no way to actually separate them all from the rest of the pack. One such pitcher is Zach Lee, a 24-year old right-hander.
Lee hasn’t really panned out the way he had hoped his career would go. He was once a top prospect, viewed as a possible top-to-middle of the rotation starter who could help anchor a staff. Not anymore. He’s now seen as a back-end type, but that’s okay with him and with the team. They need one. And he wants that spot.
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From Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register:
“There is really nothing I can control about that,” [Zach Lee] said. “It’s one of those things where I would like to have that position. But at the same time, I can only do what I can do so it’s just – go out there, compete, continue to improve every day and establish myself in that role.”
Lee wants the spot, but he knows he has to earn it and work for it. While Mike Bolsinger seems like the likelier option to win that fifth spot out of camp, don’t count Lee out. He’s a strike-thrower and an innings eater that can provide value with both. He could help limit the wear and tear on the bullpen.
Another option, should the Dodgers so choose, would be to go with Joe Blanton, but his last foray as a starter was an unmitigated disaster, and he’s recently revived his career as a reliever. So why mess with that? With Lee, though, the team can send out a former top prospect and see what he’s got.
We will see Lee a few times this season with the big league club, we’re almost certain of that. Whether that’s as the fifth starter or not remains to be seen. He has the drive, attitude, and potential to make the team and earn the spot out of camp. All he has to do is just produce the results they need.
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I’ve watched Zach pitch both last year @ OKC and I watched his first spring outing. I would like to see him make the rotation along with Urias…….
MichaelEBrown Urias is 19…………….never pitched more than 90 innings………..Next year at the earliest with a September call up this year………………..no need to rush the kid
I would say it is now or never for Lee. He has guys like Stripling, DeLeon Bolsinger, Frias and others vying for the rotation Next year it gets harder for him as DeLeon, Urias, Holmes, Stripling and others are a year older and more experienced.
Not to mention Montas is being touted as a possible starter along with a couple of the Cuban pick ups…
So he needs to make it or they should trade him as if he pitches well he will create some value… With Kershaw, Maeda, McCarthy, possibly Kazmir and Ryu next year there are not a lot of spots…