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[h1]In an upset, Dodgers sign Zach Lee[/h1]
By Steve Henson, Yahoo! Sports 11 minutes ago
Thesupposedly unsignable player, drafted by the team that supposedlydidn’t want to sign him, signed Monday night. Zach Lee won’t playquarterback for LSU and will pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers, agreeing to a contract worth $5.25 million over five years.
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Leefell to the Dodgers at No. 28 in the first round of the June draftbecause of signability concerns. When the Dodgers didn’t contact himall summer, many observers concluded that financially strapped ownerFrank McCourt had no intention of offering a lucrative contract andwould take advantage of a compensation rule that would have given theDodgers the No. 29 pick in the 2011 draft.
But the Dodgers’ strategy all along was to remain low-key until thelast minute, then spring an offer on Lee that dwarfed the $1.2 millionslot amount for a 28th overall pick. Lee, 18, had come to realize thatthe soonest he could compete for a starting job at LSU would be 2012.No college quarterback had ever become a successful major leaguepitcher, so turning down the Dodgers’ offer now could have meant an endto any dream he had of becoming one.
The signing bonus is by far the largest the Dodgers have ever paid. The previous high was $2.3 million in 2006 to Clayton Kershaw(notes), who like Lee is a flame-throwing high school pitcher from Texas.
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[h3]McKinney's Zach Lee signs with Los Angeles Dodgers, leaves LSU[/h3]
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Kyle Whitfield / HS GameTime Editor
Former McKinney pitcher Zach Lee has signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, LSU's athletic department announced Monday night.
"This was a very personal decision for Zach and his family," LSU coach Les Miles saidin a news release. "This opportunity was just too difficult to pass up.We wish Zach and his family the very best. He's an outstanding youngman and we hope he develops into a great Major League pitcher."
LSU announced Lee's decision about five minutes before the 11 p.m. CT MLB deadline for draft picks to sign contracts with their respective teams. Terms of the contract were not immediately released.
Lee enrolled in summer school at LSU one day after being selectedNo. 28 overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers in this year's MLB First-YearPlayer Draft.
According to an LSU athletic department news release, Lee isscheduled to attend class on Wednesday and begin LSU's summerconditioning program on Wednesday too.
"[Lee] wants to come to LSU, get a degree and play football andbaseball for the Tigers," Miles said June 8. "I met with Zach and hisparents today and I think that they are looking at LSU as a greatopportunity both academically and athletically. Zach is an outstandingstudent and he's excited about the college experience."
A dual athlete at McKinney, Lee had 11 victories, a 2.15 ERA and 90strikeouts this baseball season. As a senior on the football field, Leepassed for 2,565 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also added nine rushingtouchdowns in 2009.
Logan White
I figure some of that money is McC hoping for positive PR
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