Who is Dylan Lee? Kid from Dinuba, Fresno State starts for Braves in World Series Game 4
Former Dinuba High, College of the Sequoias and Fresno State pitcher Dylan Lee got the start for the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the World Series.
Lee, who turned 27 on Aug. 1, was used to pitching in big spots throughout his high school and college career. But the assignment Saturday night was something altogether different.
According to MLB, Lee is the first pitcher in history to make his first big league start in a World Series game. His two career regular-season games mark the fewest by a World Series starter, according to Elias Sports.
The left-hander served as an “opener” and was expected to throw no more than an inning or two before yielding to another pitcher out of the bullpen.
Instead, his outing lasted just four batters, allowing a leadoff single to Jose Altuve and then two walks sandwiched around a groundout. He left with the bases loaded but reliever Kyle Wright limited the damage to one run. Atlanta rallied to win 3-2 and move within one victory of a World Series championship.
At Dinuba High, located 30 miles southeast of Fresno, Lee pitched three seasons and was named the Central Sequoia League Most Valuable Player in 2012, leading the Emperors to a league title with a 10-2 record in his senior season. He was 9-3 with a 0.40 ERA.
As a junior, Lee went 8-3 with a 2.09 ERA for a CSL championship team. He only pitched in three games as a sophomore, going 1-2 with a 1.91 ERA.
Lee took the junior college route and played for College of the Sequoias, where he led the Giants to the state final four at John Euless Ballpark in Fresno as a sophomore. He finished with a 13-1 record and 2.34 ERA.
He won 13 straight decisions before a loss in the state tournament and was named to the All-California team, selected as the Central Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year and earned a spot on the Gold Glove team.
Lee went on to play for Fresno State in the 2015 and 2016 seasons under Mike Batesole. He appeared in 15 games in 2015 and went 4-2 with a 5.31 ERA. He had 30 strikeouts in 39 innings. Lee went 2-2 with a 3.45 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 47 innings in 2016.
He was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 10th round of the 2016 MLB draft. He pitched four seasons in the Marlins’ organization before he was released March 29.
Lee signed a minor league contract with the Braves in April and was assigned to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, for whom he went 5-1 with one save, with a 1.58 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 46 2-3 innings.
Lee got his first taste of the Big Show when he was called up in late September. Lee learned he was one of the relievers to make the Braves’ postseason roster for the National League Division Series but did not pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Lee was initially left off the roster for the NL Championship Series but was added after an injury to Huascar Ynoa and pitched against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5, allowing three hits and a run in two innings.
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He has made one appearance already in the World Series in Game 2, when he struck out one in two-thirds of an inning against the Astros.
This story was originally published October 30, 2021 at 2:25 PM.
