Former Marlins LHP Dylan Lee signs with Braves

After nearly five years including three major league spring training camps, the Miami Marlins organization parted ways with left-hander Dylan Lee on March 29. It didn’t take long for him to find another opportunity in professional baseball. Lee confirmed Saturday morning that he has signed a free agent deal with the Atlanta Braves.

Miami’s 10th-round selection in the 2016 MLB Draft, Lee began transitioning to a relief role in the spring of 2018. In 89 combined regular season appearances (120.2 IP) at High-A, Double-A and Triple-A, he posted a 2.24 ERA and 1.09 WHIP while recording 17 saves.

Lee received his first non-roster invite to Marlins major league camp in 2019. In Grapefruit League games from 2019-2021, he allowed three earned runs in 7 ²⁄₃ innings (nine games).

This past spring, the 26-year-old used a four-seamer/changeup/curveball pitch mix according to Statcast. Lee’s fastball only maxed out at 92.7 miles per hour, but he had been sitting a couple ticks above that in pre-pandemic minor league competition.

The Dinuba, California native has some Brazilian heritage—through his grandparents and uncle—and was poised to represent the country in the World Baseball Classic before the COVID-19 struck.

Following Lee’s departure, there are only five players from the 2016 Marlins draft class remaining with the organization: left-hander Braxton Garrett, outfielder Thomas Jones, first baseman/right-hander Sean Reynolds, outfielder Corey Bird and right-hander Parker Bugg.

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