Cliff Lee

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For other people named Cliff Lee, see Cliff Lee (disambiguation).
Cliff Lee
Cliff Lee on June 10, 2012.jpg
Lee with the Phillies in 2012
Pitcher
Born: (1978-08-30) August 30, 1978 (age 43)
Benton, Arkansas
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 15, 2002, for the Cleveland Indians
Last MLB appearance
July 31, 2014, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
Win–loss record143–91
Earned run average3.52
Strikeouts1,824
Teams
  • Cleveland Indians (2002–2009)
  • Philadelphia Phillies (2009)
  • Seattle Mariners (2010)
  • Texas Rangers (2010)
  • Philadelphia Phillies (2011–2014)
Career highlights and awards

Clifton Phifer Lee (born August 30, 1978) is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. Lee played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers. He stood 6 feet 3 inches (191 cm) and weighed 205 pounds (93 kg), while playing. During his school days, Lee played baseball at Benton High School and attended Meridian Community College and the University of Arkansas before being drafted by the Montreal Expos in the fourth round of the 2000 draft.

After playing with the Expos’ minor-league affiliate Harrisburg Senators, Lee was traded in 2002 to the Cleveland Indians and was first called up to the big leagues later that season. He was traded to the Phillies in 2009, then traded to the Mariners and Rangers, eventually returning to the Phillies as a free agent in 2011. A four-time All-Star, Lee won the American League (AL) Cy Young Award in 2008 as a member of the Indians, after leading the AL in wins and lowest earned run average (ERA).

Lee won his first seven postseason starts. As a Phillie, he went 4–0 in the 2009 postseason, including a complete game in the 2009 World Series against the New York Yankees.[1] The following season, Lee led the Rangers to a shutout win, defeating the Yankees 8–0 in the 2010 ALCS, en route to reaching the 2010 World Series.[2]

Lee threw and batted left-handed and could count on three different fastballs, the four-seam, two-seam, and cutter, in his pitching arsenal. Other pitches at his command included the slider, curveball, and change-up.

Professional baseball career[]

Montreal Expos (2000–02)[]

The Montreal Expos of Major League Baseball (MLB) selected Lee in the fourth round, 105th overall, of the 2000 MLB Draft.[3] Joe Jordan, the scout who saw Lee pitch at Arkansas, noted that Lee had an undeveloped pitch repertoire and a high walk rate, but was impressed by his competitive nature.[4] After signing with Montreal, Lee was assigned to the Class A Cape Fear Crocs of the South Atlantic League, a minor league affiliate of the Expos. There, he struck out 63 batters in 44+2⁄3 innings, but an inconsistent delivery also led to 36 walks, 50 hits, and a 5.24 ERA. There were also concerns going forward about Lee's lack of stamina, a reason that he had been moved to the bullpen in college.[5]

Lee spent the entire 2001 season with the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Florida State League during their final year as an affiliate of the Expos.[6] He frequently clashed with Jupiter pitching coach Ace Adams over how far he was going in games: Lee wanted to pitch a complete game in every start, and became angry with Adams when the pitching coach placed him on rest.[7] Despite their disagreements, it was under Adams' tutelage that Lee developed his cut fastball, which he had not thrown before joining the Hammerheads.[8] Lee started 21 games for Jupiter, posting a 6–7 record and a 2.79 ERA while striking out 129 batters in 109+2⁄3 innings.[9] His performance with Jupiter earned Lee a promotion to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators for the 2002 season. He made 15 starts there, posting a 7–2 record and a 3.23 ERA.[10]

Cleveland Indians (2002–09)[]

2002[]

Lee with the Indians in 2008

On June 27, 2002, Lee was part of a six-player trade deadline deal between the Expos and the Cleveland Indians. The Expos, who were making a push for the 2002 MLB playoffs, acquired Cleveland ace Bartolo Colon, pitching prospect Tim Drew, and cash from the Indians, while Cleveland received Lee, outfield prospect Brandon Phillips, minor-league shortstop Grady Sizemore, and first baseman Lee Stevens.[11] After making only three starts with the Double-A Akron Aeros, during which he went 2–1 and struck out 18 batters in 16+2⁄3 innings, Lee was promoted to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons of the International League.[9][12]

Lee made his major league debut on September 15, 2002, where he took the loss against the Minnesota Twins. He was able to take a shutout into the sixth inning before pitch count limitations pulled him out of the game, which the Indians ultimately lost 5–0. The victory helped Minnesota clinch their first playoff berth since 1991.[13] Lee had one other major league start that season, earning a no decision after allowing one run in five innings of Cleveland's 3-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals.[14] In addition to his two Cleveland starts, Lee started a total of 26 minor league games across Harrisburg, Akron, and Buffalo. He went 12–5 in those starts with a 3.64 ERA, and struck out 153 batters in 146 innings.[9]

2003[]

At the start of spring training in 2003, Lee suffered an abdominal strain that kept him from the mound through the start of the regular season. He was officially transferred to the 60-day disabled list after spring training ended and before the start of the season.[15] The strain, compounded by an additional sports hernia, kept Lee from pitching between March 28 and May 20.[16] Lee opened the season in Buffalo, but was recalled to Cleveland for the first game of a doubleheader on June 30, 2003. He picked up his first major-league win in that game, taking a three-hitter into the seventh inning of a 10–5 victory over the Kansas City Royals. Afterwards, Lee and Brad Voyles were sent back down to Buffalo to continue their development.[17] He was recalled again on August 16, taking injured reliever Jason Boyd's position in the Indians' 25-man roster when Boyd suffered from shoulder tendinitis.[18] Lee impressed in his third start of the season, allowing only two runs while striking out seven batters in eight innings of an 8–3 win against the Tampa Bay Rays. Indians manager Eric Wedge praised Lee's performance in the game, telling reporters, "He has a tremendous focus out there and on top of that he's a competitor."[19] Lee made a total of nine major league starts in his rookie season, going 3–3 with a 3.61 ERA while striking out 44 batters in 52+1⁄3 innings.[20] This is in addition to 14 minor league starts, in which he went 7–1 with a 2.82 ERA.[9] After the MLB season ended in October, Lee underwent surgery in Philadelphia for his sports hernia. It was while recovering from surgery that he first met his future teammate Roy Oswalt, who was recovering from a groin injury.[21]

2004[]

Lee began the 2004 MLB season in the Indians' starting rotation, the first time that had had made an opening day MLB roster.[22] He picked up his first win of the season on April 12, pitching six innings in Cleveland's 6–3 home opener against the Minnesota Twins.[23] Lee did not lose a start that year until June 3, when he allowed three runs over 6+2⁄3 innings of a 5-2 loss to the Anaheim Angels, raising his ERA from 2.87 to 3.27 in the process.[24] In his next start on June 13, Lee was ejected in the fourth inning after throwing what home plate umpire Matt Hollowell believed was a beanball at Ken Griffey Jr. of the Cincinnati Reds. Lee maintained that the pitch was accidental, while Griffey refused to comment on whether or not he believed Lee was intentionally pitching at his head.[25] MLB suspended Lee for six games for the incident, a decision which Lee intended to appeal. At the time of the suspension, Lee had been quarantining in the team's hotel out of concern that he contracted chickenpox from his then-two-year-old son Jaxon.[26] On the advice of Cleveland manager Eric Wedge, Lee ultimately agreed to drop the appeal of his suspension, as the team had a conveniently-placed day off that would allow them to keep their rotation as-is.[27]

After starting the season 10–1 in his first 19 games, Lee failed to carry his momentum through the second half of the season, falling into a six-game slump and carrying an ERA of 10.51 between July 21 and September 2.[28] His frustrations came to a head on August 3, when Lee allowed six runs in 4+1⁄3 innings to the Toronto Blue Jays before throwing his hat and glove into the stands and storming to the bench.[29] Lee snapped his losing streak on September 8, pitching five innings of a 9–5 victory over the Seattle Mariners. It was his first win in 10 starts since July 16, when Cleveland defeated Seattle 18–6.[30] Lee won again on September 23, helping the Indians to a 9–7 victory over Minnesota despite allowing five runs in 5+2⁄3 innings. After the game, Lee described his own season performance as going "from doing real good to real bad", and that he needed to "figure out how to cut those [losing] stretches short".[31] He was able to finish the season strong, winning the last game of the season 5–2 against Minnesota and tying Jake Westbrook for the most wins that season on the Indians pitching staff.[32] Lee finished the season 14–8 with a 5.43 ERA in 33 starts, and he struck out 161 batters in 179 innings while allowing 30 home runs, 108 earned runs, and 188 hits.[20]

2005-06[]

Lee won at least fourteen games in each of his first three full seasons and pitched more than 200 innings in both 2005 and 2006. He finished the 2005 season with an 18–5 record and a 3.79 ERA, earning him fourth place in the AL Cy Young Award voting that year.[33] In 2006, the Indians gave him a midseason 3-year $14 million contract extension.[34]

2007 season[]

In 2007, Lee suffered a groin strain during a spring training start, forcing him to begin the regular season on the disabled list. He returned to the Indians' pitching rotation in May, but got only a 4–9 record and a 5.38 ERA in his first 16 starts. On July 21, Lee hit Texas Rangers' right fielder Sammy Sosa in the head with a pitch on the night when the Rangers were honoring Sosa for hitting his 600th home run. The incident sparked an altercation between Lee and Indians' catcher Víctor Martínez and led to a players-only meeting immediately after the game.[35] Lee encountered more problems on July 26, 2007, when he gave up seven runs in four innings against the Boston Red Sox. When he left the game, the fans booed him and he tipped his cap to the fans before he entered the dugout. The next day, on July 27, Lee was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.[36] He was called back up on September 1 when rosters expanded, but only appeared in four games, all out of the bullpen.[citation needed]

2008 season[]

In 2008, Lee had a career year. Despite the Indians playing with a .500 winning percentage for the season, Lee started the 2008 season with much success. Lee was one of only eight pitchers since 1920 to win 19 or more of his first 21 games. He was the first Cleveland pitcher to win his first six starts since Greg Swindell in 1988. He also recorded his first career shutout on April 25, 2008, against the Kansas City Royals, allowing just three hits and no walks.[37] He had the lowest On-base percentage since 1909, having only a .163 percentage through five starts. For his efforts and success, he was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for April, when he went 5–0 with a 0.96 ERA.[38] Lee was picked to his first All-Star game in 2008, and was also selected to start the game. Lee pitched two scoreless innings for the American League team, striking out three batters and giving up only a Chipper Jones base hit.[39]

Lee at the 2008 All-Star Game parade

On August 26, Lee won his 19th game of the season, yielding only two runs to the Detroit Tigers.[40] This victory set a new career high for Lee, outdoing his previous mark of 18 wins during the 2005 season. On September 1, Lee won his 20th game of the season, where he pitched a shutout. He was the first Indian to earn 20 wins since Gaylord Perry in 1974.[41] In August, Lee was named American League Pitcher of the Month for the second time in the 2008 season. He went 5–0 with a 1.86 ERA in the month. On September 12, Lee won his 22nd game, making his record 22–2 for the season. This was the first time a pitcher had gone 20 wins over .500 since Bob Welch in 1990.[42] Lee ended the year with a 22–3 record, a 2.54 ERA, and 170 strikeouts. He started 31 games, completed four, and had two shutouts. He pitched a total of 223+1⁄3 innings. Lee was the American League champion for both wins and ERA in the 2008 season.[citation needed]

Lee's 2008 winning percentage of 88% was the twelfth best of all time, and the fourth best by a pitcher starting a minimum of 30 games, behind only Randy Johnson, Ron Guidry, and Lefty Grove. Lee's winning percentage is the second best in the Indians' history, behind Johnny Allen's 93.8% (15 wins, 1 loss, in 24 games) in 1937.[citation needed]

Lee earned several awards following the 2008 season. These included the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award, the Players Choice Award for AL Outstanding Pitcher of the Year, Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award, Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award, and the Warren Spahn Award for best left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. On November 13, 2008, Lee was awarded the AL Cy Young Award.[43] This made Lee the second straight Indian (and third overall) to win the award, following former teammate CC Sabathia, who won it in 2007.[citation needed]

2009 season[]

On June 14, 2009, Lee pitched a no-hitter into the 8th inning in a game against St. Louis, striking out six and walking two. Lee allowed three hits in a complete-game shutout, improving his record to 4–6 and his ERA to 2.88.[citation needed]

Philadelphia Phillies (2009)[]

Lee's debut with the Phillies in 2009

On July 29 (just before the July 31 trading deadline), the Indians traded Lee (along with outfielder Ben Francisco) to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald, Lou Marson, and Jason Knapp.[44]

In his first game with the Philadelphia Phillies, Lee pitched a complete game and took a 5–1 victory. He pitched a no-hitter into the sixth inning and batted two hits, including his first career double and a run scored. Through his first five games with the Phillies, Lee compiled a 5–0 record, 39 strikeouts in 40 innings pitched, and a 0.68 ERA.[citation needed]. In 34 starts across the season, Lee posted a 14–13 record with a 3.24 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 231+2⁄3 innings and six complete games, including a 7–4 record and a 3.39 ERA in 12 starts for the Phillies.

2009 World Series[]

Charlie Manuel named Lee as the starting pitcher for the first game of the World Series. Lee had posted a 2–0 record in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Lee would be pitching against his former Indians teammate CC Sabathia.[2]

Lee pitched a complete game in Game 1 of the 2009 World Series, winning the game 6–1 against the New York Yankees. He allowed no earned runs during this outing.[45][46] He was the first pitcher since Deacon Phillippe of the 1903 World Series to pitch a complete game in the World Series with ten or more strikeouts and no walks. However, Phillippe allowed two earned runs in his start, so Lee was the first to do so without allowing an earned run.[47] In his next start (Game 5), Lee earned another victory, allowing five runs and three walks while striking out three in seven innings. The Phillies won the game 8–6. Despite winning both of his starts, the Phillies lost the series in six games.[2]

Seattle Mariners (2010)[]

On December 16, 2009, the Phillies traded Lee to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for three prospects: right-handed pitchers Phillippe Aumont and J. C. Ramírez, and outfielder Tyson Gillies.[48] The Mariners had devoted their offseason to acquiring a strong starting pitcher, and had initially pursued Rich Harden, who was acquired as a free agent by the Texas Rangers. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. offered to trade Lee to Seattle if he and the Phillies could successfully acquire Roy Halladay from the Toronto Blue Jays.[49] Lee was taken by surprise upon hearing of the trade, which had occurred amidst talks of a contract extension with the Phillies, but understood why Philadelphia opted to take Halladay instead. The Halladay – Lee switch was the first time in MLB history that two Cy Young-winning pitchers had been traded on the same day.[50] That February, Lee underwent foot surgery to remove a bone spur that had broken loose. The surgery was considered minor, and Zduriencik was confident that it would not impede Lee's preparation for the upcoming season.[51]

Lee with the Mariners in 2010

Lee's trademark temper returned during spring training, when he was suspended for five regular-season games after throwing a fastball over the head of opposing pitcher Chris Snyder during an exhibition game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lee, who was expected to be paired with Seattle ace Felix Hernandez at the top of the starting rotation, and Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik, intended to appeal the decision.[52] The suspension was rescinded on April 21, with Lee and the Mariners' head athletic trainer successfully arguing that Lee's recovery from foot surgery, as well as the abdominal strain that he had suffered earlier in the game from colliding with Snyder, were sufficient to reverse the suspension and fine. Lee had been placed on the 15-day disabled list for the abdominal strain on April 4, retroactive to March 26, causing him to miss the start of the 2010 MLB season.[53] He returned to the mound on April 30, 2010, earning a no decision by striking out eight Rangers in seven innings. The game went into extra innings before Elvis Andrus scored on a wild pitch from Mariners reliever Brandon League, allowing Texas to take the game 2–0 in the 12th inning.[54] Lee's first win with the Mariners came on May 11, when he allowed one run in 7+1⁄3 innings of a 5–1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.[55]

Lee proved an overall success in Seattle, posting an 8–3 record and 2.34 ERA, as well as 0.5 walks per nine innings.[56] His longevity on the mound proved to be a particular asset; on June 30, with a 7–4 defeat of the New York Yankees, Lee pitched his third complete game in a row. He was the first MLB pitcher to do so since his former teammate C. C. Sabathia in 2008, and the first Mariner since Randy Johnson in 1998.[57][58] Despite his prowess on the mound, Seattle quickly fell behind in the AL West. By June 18, the Mariners were 16 games under .500 and 12+1⁄2 games behind in the pennant race.[59]

Texas Rangers (2010)[]

Lee pitching in Game 5 of the 2010 World Series.

On July 9, after a deal with the New York Yankees failed, Lee was traded to the Texas Rangers along with Mark Lowe in exchange for Justin Smoak and prospects Blake Beavan, Josh Lueke and Matt Lawson.[60]

On August 6, against the Oakland Athletics, Lee earned his 100th career win going eight innings and allowing only one run with seven strikeouts.[citation needed] Despite only making 28 starts over the season, Lee finished 2010 with 212+1⁄3 innings pitched to go with a 3.18 ERA, 185 strikeouts, a 1.00 WHIP, and an outstanding 10.28 strikeout-to-walk ratio (which is currently the third-best single-season K/BB ratio ever posted by a starting pitcher).

Lee pitched Game 1 of the American League Division Series against Tampa Bay on October 6, 2010, the same day that Phillies' pitcher Roy Halladay pitched a no-hitter against the Reds in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. Lee pitched for seven innings. He gave up one run and struck out ten batters. There have been eight post-season pitching performances of at least ten strikeouts and no walks in baseball history, of which Lee has pitched the last four. Two of these were in the 2010 ALDS. In Game 5 of the series, Lee set the ALDS series strikeout record and tied the MLB record with 21 strikeouts. He pitched a complete game, striking out eleven batters and allowing one run, earning a win.[citation needed]

Lee continued his postseason mastery into the 2010 ALCS, when he allowed just two hits while striking out thirteen New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in an 8–0 Texas victory in Game 3.[61] Lee has also become the first person to pitch three 10-plus strikeout games in one post-season.[62]

However, facing the San Francisco Giants' Tim Lincecum in Game 1 of the 2010 World Series, Lee gave up seven runs (six earned) and did not make it through five innings. The Rangers lost the game 11–7.[63] Lee faced Lincecum once again in Game 5 of the World Series with the Giants having a 3–1 series advantage. He gave up a three-run home run to Édgar Rentería, which resulted in a 3–1 loss and the Giants winning the series.[64]

Return to Phillies (2011–2014)[]

2011 season[]

Lee returned to the Phillies on a five-year contract in 2010

On December 15, 2010, Lee signed a five-year and $120 million free-agent contract with the Phillies. The contract also included a vesting option for a sixth year.[65][66] He joined a pitching rotation consisting of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton. Commentators called it one of the best rotations ever assembled.[67][68][69][70] Halladay, Oswalt, Lee, and Hamels were dubbed the 'Phantastic Phour' by fans and the media.[69] In returning to the Phillies (despite the higher salary offered to him by the Yankees), Lee mentioned the chance to win a World Series ring, the strength of the staff, the chance to throw to a pitcher instead of a designated hitter in the National League, the regular sellouts, and the passion of the fans. He said "I never wanted to leave in the first place".[65]

In Lee's first game back with the Phillies on April 2, 2011, he pitched seven innings, allowing four hits and three runs, while striking out eleven and walking none. On May 6, in a game against the Atlanta Braves, he struck out a career-high 16 batters, allowing three runs in a 5–0 Philadelphia loss.[71] On June 28, Lee pitched a third consecutive complete-game shutout in a 5–0 victory over the Boston Red Sox.[72] Lee was awarded the National League Pitcher of the Month award for June 2011. Lee went 5–0 and had a 0.21 ERA. Lee pitched three consecutive shutouts and 34 scoreless innings. By the end of the month, he had also personally outscored teams he opposed (he scored two runs in the month while only allowing one run).[73]

On July 9, Lee hit his first major league home run against Tommy Hanson of the Braves after a ten-pitch at-bat. Although the Phillies lost the game 4–1, it was the first home run by a Phillies pitcher since Chan Ho Park in April 2009. Lee then went on to hit his second major league home run on August 9 against Ted Lilly of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the same game, Lee also recorded his 17th career double-digit strikeout game, resulting in a 2–1 Phillies win. [74]

On September 26, 2011, Lee was the winning pitcher in a 4–2 game against the Braves. He pitched six innings, gave up five hits and two runs, struck out six, and walked none, giving the Phillies their 100th win of the season. It marks the third time in franchise history that the Phillies have won 100 or more games in a season, and the first time they notched 100+ wins since 1977.[75] The Phillies finished the season with a franchise-record 102 wins.

In the postseason, despite having the best regular season for a second year and being tipped as the runaway favorites to win the World Series, the Phillies were eliminated by the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS. Lee started Game 2, where he surrendered five runs, as the Cardinals made a comeback from a 4–0 deficit to win 5–4. The Cardinals eventually defeated Lee's former team, the Texas Rangers, in seven games to win the World Series.[citation needed]

Lee finished the regular season with a 17–8 record and a career-best 2.40 ERA. He pitched a total of 232+2⁄3 innings in 32 starts (25 of which were quality), struck out a career-high 238 batters against just 42 walks, and held opponents to a 1.03 WHIP and a .229 batting average. He also led the MLB in shutouts with six, the most shutouts for any major league starter since Tim Belcher, who pitched eight shutouts in 1989 for the Dodgers. Lee finished third in the voting for the National League Cy Young Award.

2012 season[]

Lee before Military Appreciation game at Citi Field during Fleet Week.

Lee received poor run support throughout the entire 2012 season; particularly the first half. On April 18, in a game against the San Francisco Giants, Lee pitched ten shutout innings, but the Phillies lost in extra innings; he remains, as of 2021, the last MLB pitcher to throw more than nine innings in a game.[76] On April 21, Lee was placed on the disabled list with an oblique strain. Despite pitching well throughout the spring, Lee didn't earn any wins until July 4 in a game against the New York Mets. He pitched eight innings, allowing two runs while striking out nine, resulting in a 9–2 road victory. Lee's streak of thirteen starts without any wins was the longest of any former Cy Young Award winner since Greg Maddux in 2008.[77] On September 17, Lee recorded his 1,500th career strikeout in a game against the New York Mets.[78] He finished the season 6–9, despite an ERA of 3.16 and the lowest walks per nine innings rate in the National League at 1.2. Although he failed to post any complete games for the first time since 2004, Lee still pitched an impressive 211 innings in 30 starts, and his 207 strikeouts helped contribute to a major-league best 7.39 K/BB ratio.

2013 season[]

Lee started the 2013 season as the Phillies' third starter. In his first start against the Braves, he pitched eight scoreless innings and earned a win with a 2–0 Phillies' victory.[79] Lee was voted along with Domonic Brown to play in the 2013 MLB All-Star Game, his fourth career All-Star selection. He finished the season with a record of 14–8 in 31 starts, an ERA of 2.87, 222 strikeouts in 222+2⁄3 innings, as well as a 1.29 BB/9 and 6.94 K/BB rate, both of which led the majors for the second consecutive year.[citation needed]

2014 season[]

After Cole Hamels was sidelined with an injury, Lee was named the Phillies' opening day starter, starting against the Texas Rangers.[80] He pitched five innings and earned a win, despite allowing eight runs. Lee was placed on the disabled list in May for a left elbow strain. He began to pitch again on June 10.[81] He was removed from the disabled list on July 21, only to come out of a game early on July 31, once again experiencing elbow discomfort. Lee made 13 starts in 2014 going 4–5 with a 3.65 ERA.

Retirement[]

Lee's elbow continued to bother him after the conclusion of the 2014 season, and he was diagnosed during the offseason with a tear in his left common flexor tendon, a career-threatening injury for a pitcher of his age.[82] On March 16, 2015, the Phillies placed Lee on the 60-day disabled list, and he returned home to Arkansas for rehabilitation. While doctors recommended surgery for the injury, Lee elected to make a third non-surgical rehabilitation attempt in order to avoid the six to eight month recovery time that a more intensive procedure would entail.[83] Lee did not pitch professionally at all in 2015, and at the end of the season, the Phillies, who had the option of retaining him for another year at $27.5 million, bought out the remainder of his contract for $12.5 million.[84]

By December 2015, Lee had received medical clearance to play baseball, and that he would pitch in the 2016 MLB season if he found "the right fit".[85] The following month, his agent, Darek Braunecker, clarified that Lee was adjusting to full-time fatherhood, but that he retained an interest in pitching professionally again.[86] On February 23, 2016, Braunecker announced that Lee would not pitch during the 2016 season. While not an official retirement, the announcement appeared to signal the end of Lee's professional baseball career. In 13 seasons with MLB, Lee posted a 143-91 record with a 3.52 ERA, and he struck out 1,824 batters.[87]

Pitching style[]

Lee's repertoire included two fastballs (four-seam, two-seam) that reached 90-93 mph, an 85-88 mph cut fastball, an occasional slider, as well as a circle changeup and a curveball.[88]

Lee usually appeared stoic and confident on the mound. It was considered one of his greatest attributes when pitching in pressure situations.[89]

Personal life[]

Lee and his wife, Kristen, have a son, Jaxon, and a daughter, Maci. Jaxon was diagnosed with leukemia as an infant. As of October 2011, Jaxon was in remission. The Lees donated $1 million to establish the Jaxon C. Lee-Robert L. Saylors III, MD endowed chair in pediatric hematology/oncology.[90] As of 2013, the family lived in Lee's home state of Arkansas.[91]

See also[]

References[]

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External links[]

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Fausto Carmona (September 2007)
Jon Lester 		American League Pitcher of the month
April 2008
August 2008 		Succeeded by
Scott Kazmir
Jon Lester
Preceded by
Dan Haren 		American League All-Star Game Starting Pitcher
2008 		Succeeded by
Roy Halladay
Preceded by
CC Sabathia 		Players Choice AL Outstanding Pitcher
2008 		Succeeded by
Zack Greinke
Preceded by
Carlos Peña 		Players Choice AL Comeback Player of the Year
2008 		Succeeded by
Aaron Hill
Preceded by
Grady Sizemore[citation needed] 		Cleveland BBWA Player of the Year Award
2008 		Succeeded by
N/A
Retrieved from ""