What’s the deal with Zach Lee?

With lots of talk about the uncertainty surrounding Brett Anderson’s ability to stay healthy, one has to wonder: Who do the Dodgers have in the minor leagues to back him up?

Well, one option is an 18 year-old in Julio Urias, who got a ton of buzz last year. That’s pretty young to be throwing a kid into the mix though, and we probably won’t be seeing him at Chavez Ravine for many moons. Grant Holmes is also highly-ranked by MLB.com, but Holmes is the same age as Urias and unlikely to see the majors for some time.

The more I looked at the list, the more the answer became abundantly clear which of the the Dodgers’ farmhands should be getting ready to make the next step. The answer, of course, is Zach Lee.

I’ll cue my best Jerry Seinfeld impression here:

What’s the deal with Zach Lee?

Amid all the hubbub this offseason, Zach Lee has become an enigmatic part of the Dodgers’ system. By Dustin Nosler via Flikr

Two years ago, Lee was the best pitcher the farm system had to offer. He just needed more seasoning, or so I seem to remember having read.

Before last season, people thought he was a legitimate contender for the fifth spot in the rotation. Dustin Nosler wrote this before last season started about circumstances that would bring him to the majors last season. Here’s a fun interview Lee gave that Nosler also posted a link to.

Lee ended up spending his entire season in the Pacific Coast League, which consists of a number of ballparks that play like Coors Field. It’s a pitcher’s worst nightmare, but Lee was 22 and due to be promoted. In 2014, Lee pitched more professional innings than he ever has (over 150), but was kind of shelled. I’ll let you compare his numbers to previous seasons:

Lee’s minor League Statistics

You can see that, while Lee was in a tougher league, it wasn’t just balls in play that did a number on him. For whatever reason, his K/9 fell from 8.3 to 5.8 and his BB/9 rose 2.2 to 3.2. His ERA mushroomed from 3.22 to 5.38. A WHIP that went from the 1.1’s to over 1.5 is also not great news for Dodger fans.

So, while Lee clearly regressed some last season, what does it mean for his big-league prospects. After all, that’s all that matters when it comes down to it.

Anybody who thought Lee was going to be a legit top-3 guy in the rotation is probably going to be disappointed whenever he does get called-up.

The PCL does a number on pitchers. Sometimes, it has a similar effect to what pitching in Colorado does at the Major League level. Pitchers who are mentally tough make an adjustment and find ways to get outs.

A negative Nelly would probably say that last season might have permanently damaged Lee’s psyche, if not something about his approach or mechanics. Truthfully, he may never again be the kind of prospect or major league pitcher fans hoped for a few years ago.

A more optimistic person — and I consider myself an optimist — might look at it this way. Playing in the PCL for the first time can be daunting for a pitching prospect. While it’s possible he could have just lost something, what’s more likely is that Lee will simply regress to whatever his true talent level is. Which is to say, he’s probably better than he showed last season.

Depth at starting pitcher is something that any contender needs. Perhaps the Dodgers’ front office isn’t phased by Lee’s 2014. Confidence in Lee bouncing back and being a viable rotation guy could be a viable reason for the team not making any additional moves for starting pitching. It’s why I’ve been encouraging my Dodger fan friends to take a deep breath, and to be a little patient through the Winter.

Maybe it’s just the optimist in me talking and, come May or June, the rose-colored glasses I still see Lee through will be shattered.

Either way, can we all agree — it’s finally time to see what Lee can or can’t do this season?