During Spring Training the Los Angeles Dodgers watched helplessly as the injury bug depleted their starting pitching depth. As a result, Carlos Frias and Ross Stripling were left as the last two men standing in competition for the fifth starter job.
In a mild surprise, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Stripling was the club’s fifth starting pitcher a few days before the 2016 season began. Although he wasn’t part of the final two options under consideration, Zach Lee at one point was also part of the mix.
Lee’s been unable to crack the Dodgers’ rotation since being taken No. 28 overall in the 2010 draft. He made his Major League debut last season in a spot start against the New York Mets.
Lee was recalled when Yimi Garcia was placed on the disabled list, but Lee was optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday. He’s spent his career toiling in the Minors, incurring some bumps along the way.
Although the end result didn’t break in his favor, Lee expressed happiness for Stripling getting the nod from Roberts, per J.P. Hoornstra of the LA Daily News Group:
“When they named it was (Stripling), I was really happy for Strip. He’s worked really hard to come back from his injuries. It couldn’t happen to a greater person.”
Lee did acknowledge some disappointment in not being named to the Opening Day roster, but views it as another learning experience:
“I was a little disappointed in not being able to make the club. At the same standpoint, I looked at it as an opportunity to get better, go down there and prove that I deserved to come back.”
Lee is 3-0 this season for Oklahoma City, with a 1.56 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in three starts. He also has 14 strikeouts to just one walk.
