Dylan Lee Bio
Dylan Ryan Lee (born August 1, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed reliever who has also made spot starts, Lee first reached the majors with the Miami Marlins organization before establishing himself as a trusted member of the Atlanta bullpen. He is best known for an unusual piece of postseason history: he is the first pitcher in Major League Baseball history to make a first major league start in a World Series game.
Lee played college baseball at Fresno State after beginning his career at the College of the Sequoias, and he was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 10th round of the 2016 MLB draft. He won a World Series ring with the Braves in 2021, the same year he made his big league debut.
Early Life and Background
Dylan Ryan Lee grew up in the Central Valley of California and attended Dinuba High School in Dinuba, where he played baseball. Coming out of high school he was not selected in the MLB draft, so he continued his development at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California, playing two seasons of junior college baseball for the program.
After his time at the College of the Sequoias, Lee transferred to Fresno State to play for the Bulldogs. His college progression from a small-town high school program to a well-known West Coast college program helped him sharpen his craft and put him on the radar of professional scouts.
Path to Professional Baseball
Following his time at Fresno State, Dylan Ryan Lee was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 10th round of the 2016 MLB draft. The opportunity gave him an entry into professional baseball and marked the start of a minor league climb through several affiliates in the Marlins system.
Lee spent his first professional season in 2016 split between the Gulf Coast Marlins and the Batavia Muckdogs, posting a combined 0-1 record with a 2.48 earned run average (ERA) and 13 strikeouts over 29 innings. He continued moving up the ladder in the years that followed, gaining experience and refining his approach as a pitcher in the Marlins organization before eventually joining the Atlanta Braves.
Dylan Lee Career
Minor League Years (2016-2020)
Dylan Ryan Lee began his professional career in the Miami Marlins farm system. After his 2016 debut, he spent the 2017 season with the Greensboro Grasshoppers, where he went 4-10 with a 4.85 ERA and 73 strikeouts over 98 and one-third innings. The workload helped him adjust to a full professional schedule against older competition.
In 2018, Lee split time between the Jupiter Hammerheads, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, and the New Orleans Baby Cakes, posting a combined 8-3 record with a 1.60 ERA and 63 strikeouts across 62 innings. He returned to Jacksonville and New Orleans in 2019, going 1-6 with 13 saves and a 2.91 ERA. Lee did not play in 2020 because the Minor League Baseball season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was released by Miami on March 29, 2021.
Miami Marlins Era (2016-2021)
Dylan Ryan Lee’s time with the Miami Marlins organization spanned his first five professional seasons, from 2016 through early 2021. He progressed from short-season rookie ball in the Gulf Coast League and the New York-Penn League up through Class A-Advanced, Double-A, and Triple-A, learning the demands of professional pitching at every level.
Although Lee never reached the major leagues with Miami, his development in the Marlins system laid the groundwork for his later success. His release in March 2021 opened the door for him to sign with a new organization and reset his career path.
Atlanta Braves Era (2021-Present)
After his release from Miami, Dylan Ryan Lee signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves on April 15, 2021. He spent that minor league season with the Gwinnett Stripers, going 5-1 with one save, a 1.58 ERA, and 52 strikeouts over 45 and two-thirds innings. On September 22, 2021, he was added to the Braves’ active roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.
Lee made his MLB debut on October 1, 2021, in relief against the New York Mets, giving up one hit and recording his first strikeout. He was placed on the Braves’ postseason roster and, after a late roster change caused by an injury to Huascar Ynoa, was announced as the starter for Game 4 of the 2021 World Series against the Houston Astros on October 30. With that start, he became the first pitcher in MLB history to make a first major league start in a World Series game, and he entered the start with only two prior regular season big league appearances, the fewest career appearances for a starting pitcher in World Series history. He was pulled after facing only four batters, recording one out while allowing one hit, two walks, and one run. The Braves went on to win the 2021 World Series, giving Lee a championship ring in his rookie major league season.
Lee began the 2022 season with Triple-A Gwinnett before being promoted to the major league roster on April 19, 2022. After a brief option back to Gwinnett, he returned to the majors on May 23 and stayed there for the rest of the year. He earned his first career victory on June 13, 2022, and finished the season with a 5-1 record and a 2.13 ERA in 46 games. In 2023, he posted a 3.10 ERA in 20 bullpen appearances before left shoulder inflammation sent him to the injured list on May 19. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 30, activated on September 1, and later placed back on the injured list on September 12, missing the rest of the season. On October 13, 2023, he underwent surgery to address shoulder inflammation in his left elbow.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lee works primarily as a left-handed relief pitcher, throwing with a controlled delivery built on command and deception rather than overpowering velocity. His track record in middle relief and setup work, including a 2.13 ERA across 46 appearances in 2022, shows that he is most effective when he can attack hitters with a steady mix of pitches and limit free passes. His brief but historic turn as a Game 4 starter in the 2021 World Series also demonstrated that the Braves trusted his poise in high-leverage situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Lee’s signature moment came on October 30, 2021, when he started Game 4 of the World Series against the Houston Astros and became the first pitcher in MLB history to make his first major league start in a World Series game. He also earned his first career MLB win on June 13, 2022, captured a World Series championship ring with the 2021 Atlanta Braves, and recorded his first major league strikeout in his debut on October 1, 2021, against the New York Mets.
Dylan Lee Career Highlights
Dylan Ryan Lee’s career wins and key performances have come almost entirely in an Atlanta Braves uniform, where he has served as a reliable left-handed reliever. His most prominent victory remains his Game 4 start in the 2021 World Series, a historic outing even though he recorded only one out, and his first official regular season win came on June 13, 2022. He finished 2022 with a 5-1 record and a 2.13 ERA in 46 games, establishing himself as a steady middle-inning option.
MLB Career Highlights
Lee made his MLB debut on October 1, 2021, against the New York Mets, and went on to start Game 4 of the 2021 World Series for the Atlanta Braves. He earned his first career big league win on June 13, 2022, and closed that season with five total wins. Through the most recent verified statistics, he has accumulated 15 wins and 7 losses with a 2.58 ERA and 280 strikeouts, all of which reflect his growth from a minor league signee into a steady piece of the Atlanta bullpen.
Other Performances
Before reaching the majors, Lee posted strong numbers across the Marlins and Braves farm systems, including a combined 8-3 record with a 1.60 ERA across three affiliates in 2018, and a 5-1 mark with a 1.58 ERA for the Gwinnett Stripers in 2021. Those minor league seasons helped establish his consistency and set the stage for his major league opportunity with Atlanta.
Dylan Lee Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Dylan Ryan Lee’s family background is limited. He grew up in the Dinuba area of California’s Central Valley, where he attended Dinuba High School before continuing his baseball career at the College of the Sequoias and Fresno State. Details about his parents, spouse, and children are not publicly confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Outlook
Heading into 2025, Dylan Ryan Lee is positioned as a returning left-handed reliever for the Atlanta Braves, working his way back from the left elbow surgery he underwent in October 2023. The Braves have continued to count on him as a middle-innings option, and his career-best 2.13 ERA across 46 appearances in 2022 suggests the upside he offers when fully healthy. The 2025 season is expected to be a key test of his durability and effectiveness following his injury recovery.
With the Braves once again among the National League contenders, Lee’s ability to log quality innings against left-handed hitters and bridge the game to the late-inning core will be an important part of Atlanta’s bullpen plan. A strong, healthy 2025 campaign would reestablish him as a full-time major league reliever and add to the foundation he built during the 2021 championship run and his standout 2022 season.
