In 2022, Dylan Lee might have been the most underrated player on the team. His stats were elite bullpen work:

  • 50.2 innings pitched
  • 2.13 ERA
  • 1.8 BB/9
  • 10.5 K/9
  • 5.9 K/BB rate

Unfortunately, 2023 was not as kind to Dylan. With shoulder inflammation rearing its ugly face, Lee spent quite a bit of time on the IL and was only able to total 23.2 MLB innings and 7.1 AAA innings. The average FB velocity dropped again for the 3rd straight year, the walks rose to 3 per 9 and the strikeouts lowered to 9.1. While that’s still a 3K/BB rate, it’s not a stat-line that screams “needed”.

Shoulder injuries suck, but I really like Lee. He has 2 more options, so the Braves will likely have him on a string between Gwinnett and Atlanta, should his injured past show it’s in the past.

Lee is still pre-arb and will receive amount of 3/4 of a million for his time on the MLB roster. If healthy, he provides real value from the left side. Left handed hitters have suffered greatly against Lee, recording a .512 OPS against him for his career. And while RHHs have hit him much better, the OPS is still on .737.

Depending on how AA utilizes Lee, he could be arb-eligible next year or he could get squeezed for one more year in 2025. Whatever happens, all eyes will be on Lee’s shoulder.