Cliff Lee

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #3 prospect in 2003
  After coming to the Indians in the Bartolo Colon deal, Lee jumped from Double-A to Triple-A to the big leagues, getting rave reviews at each level. Lee is a rare pitcher who can win without his best stuff. And when he's on, watch out. His fastball sits at 91-93 mph, his slider has good late action, and his curveball and changeup give hitters something else to worry about. Lee is so smooth that hitters don't get a good read on his pitches until they're halfway to the plate. Lee's velocity was down to the high 80s in September, probably because his innings jumped in 2002. He just needs to adjust to the majors and appreciate the importance of every pitch. Lee is a candidate to win one of the openings in the rotation behind C.C. Sabathia. He, Billy Traber and Brian Tallet give Cleveland three advanced southpaws, and Lee has the most upside.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #11 prospect in 2002
  The Expos thought Lee was one of the top three college lefthanders available in the 2000 draft, and at times he shows the pure stuff to justify that ranking. He entered a Florida State League game last August in the second inning and promptly pitched eight no-hit innings with one walk and 10 strikeouts. He just missed winning the Florida State League ERA title, falling 21⁄3 innings short of qualifying because he was out for a month with a stiff shoulder. When everything is clicking, Lee has two varieties of an 88-93 mph fastball, a two-seamer that sinks and runs to the left, and a four-seamer that he's aggressive with up in the zone. He has an impressive 78-79 mph changeup that also runs to the left, an 80-82 mph slider with late break and depth, and a 69-73 mph curveball with tight spin and bite. At times he shows four above-average pitches, but his main stumbling block has been lack of consistency with his command. Lee must do a better job of concentrating and improve his ability to hold runners, but the Expos think he'll evolve into a middle- of-the-rotation starter.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #21 prospect in 2001
  Based on pure stuff, the Expos thought Lee was one of the top three college lefthanders available in the 2000 draft. He was selected out of high school by the Marlins (eighth round, 1997) and out of Meridian (Miss.) Community College by the Orioles (20th round, 1998). He has a prototype pitcher's body with long arms and legs. Lee has two plus pitches, an 88-93 mph fastball and a curveball. He also throws a slider and a straight changeup. Lee didn't have much success in 2000 at Arkansas or Cape Fear, primarily because he has an inconsistent delivery that hampers his ability to throw strikes. He has a tendency to lose his stuff quickly after dominating for a couple of innings, and responded when the Razorbacks moved him to the bullpen. Montreal used him as a starter in his pro debut, and will do so again this year in Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #8 prospect in 2003
  A pulled abdominal muscle derailed Lee's chances of making the Indians out of spring training, but he returned to dominate minor league hitters and make himself a strong contender for the rotation in 2004. After Cleveland promoted him, he posted six quality starts in his first eight tries for Buffalo. "He's predominantly a fastball pitcher," Buffalo manager Marty Brown said. "He elevates it with command. He would overpower guys at times, so much so that the second time through the order he'd throw the same thing. He's very deceptive and his tailing four-seam fastball sometimes looks like it rises." Lee mixes his 89-92 mph fastball with a hard slider and changeup, both of which are solid. He sometimes gets out of whack mechanically and loses command. He also must continue improving his feel for pitching if he is to develop into a front-of-the-rotation starter.
• 
  Ranked Eastern League #5 prospect in 2002
  Another key component to the Bartolo Colon trade, Lee got a higher profile when he changed organizations. He was the Eastern League's runaway leader in strikeouts before he was promoted to Triple-A in mid-July. Lee attacks hitters with a varied arsenal that includes two- and four-seam fastballs, a slider, a curveball and a changeup. He doesn't throw exceptionally hard, usually pitching around 90 mph with his sinker, but he's difficult to hit because he generates a lot of movement with his pitches. That also means he sometimes struggles to throw strikes. "He's competitive, he's athletic and he has the potential for four outstanding pitches," a National League scout said. "If he keeps getting command, he might even have ace potential at the major league level. But sometimes he battles himself and his command. That should change with maturity."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #30 prospect in 2003

• December, 2002 Scouting Report
  A pulled abdominal muscle derailed Lee's chances of making the Indians out of spring training, but he returned to dominate minor league hitters and make himself a strong contender for the rotation in 2004. After Cleveland promoted him, he posted six quality starts in his first eight tries for Buffalo. "He's predominantly a fastball pitcher," Buffalo manager Marty Brown said. "He elevates it with command. He would overpower guys at times, so much so that the second time through the order he'd throw the same thing. He's very deceptive and his tailing four-seam fastball sometimes looks like it rises." Lee mixes his 89-92 mph fastball with a hard slider and changeup, both of which are solid. He sometimes gets out of whack mechanically and loses command. He also must continue improving his feel for pitching if he is to develop into a front-of-the-rotation starter.
• December, 2001 Scouting Report
  Another key component to the Bartolo Colon trade, Lee got a higher profile when he changed organizations. He was the Eastern League's runaway leader in strikeouts before he was promoted to Triple-A in mid-July. Lee attacks hitters with a varied arsenal that includes two- and four-seam fastballs, a slider, a curveball and a changeup. He doesn't throw exceptionally hard, usually pitching around 90 mph with his sinker, but he's difficult to hit because he generates a lot of movement with his pitches. That also means he sometimes struggles to throw strikes. "He's competitive, he's athletic and he has the potential for four outstanding pitches," a National League scout said. "If he keeps getting command, he might even have ace potential at the major league level. But sometimes he battles himself and his command. That should change with maturity."