Name: Evan Lee
Born: Jun 18, 1997 in Bryant, AR
College: Arkansas
Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 200 lbs
Bats: L / Throws: L
Drafted in the 15th round of the 2018 draft by the Washington Nationals (461st overall). Added to the 40-man roster on November 19, 2021
2021: A+ (Wilmington): 4-3, 4.32 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 20 starts, 77 IP, 3.74 BB/9, 12.16 K/9,
https://www.mlb.com/prospects/nationals/evan-lee-681885 (pre-2021 season)
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40
Lee was a two-way player during his two years at the University of Arkansas, working as an outfielder on his days in the field. The Nationals were more interested in his pitching, however, even after he posted a 5.00 ERA in 15 appearances his final spring on campus. Washington took the 6-foot-1 southpaw in the 15th round of the 2018 Draft and put him on the slow road with assignments to the Gulf Coast League and Class A Short Season Auburn in his first two professional seasons. He pitched primarily out of the bullpen in the New York-Penn League, but after a strong instructional league, the Nationals hope to move him to a rotation full time in 2021.
The 6-foot-1 southpaw’s heater sits 92-94 mph in longer outings but was touching 95-96 at instructs. The fastball draws solid reviews for its high spin rate, and Washington was pleased with his ability to throw it with life up in the zone. The curveball looks like the pitch most likely to be plus with the way it can get swings-and-misses coming off the high fastball. Lee has worked on a cutter to give the fastball a different look, and his changeup is mostly just a show pitch right now.
Lee entered pro ball plenty raw for a college arm, allowing the Nationals to shape him in his professional development. It’s worth trying him as a starter when he moves to a full-season club for the first time in 2021, but the fastball and curve are good enough that he should move quickly if and when he slides back to relief, his likely destination in the Majors.
