Tommy John Surgery Will Send Chen Lee Back to Disabled List to Begin 2013

During Spring Training the DTTWLN staff will profile and examine the coaches and players that make up and are vying to be part of the 2013 Cleveland Indians—A Team With A New Direction. Today, we examine one of the players on the 40-man roster that is on the mend this spring.

By David Roberts

The Indians in recent years have turned out to have a knack for churning out talented, young relievers from the farm system. Vinnie Pestano set the gold standard for homegrown talent in the relief corps in his two years in Cleveland. Meanwhile last season Cody Allen made the jump from High-A Carolina to the big leagues where he made a splash of his own in relief.

Following in that same tradition Chen Lee appeared to be on the same meteoric rise as Pestano and Allen but an unfortunate setback in April 2012 has put a stunt in his growth but the youngster appears to be the kind of person who can come back. Lee was added to the Tribe’s 40-man roster this winter to avoid the Rule 5 Draft, however, Tommy John surgery last season will keep Lee from competing for a roster spot this spring. He will begin the 2013 season on the disabled list. Lee’s surgery was only eight months ago and heis progressing through a mound program with hopes to pitch simulated games during extended Spring Training.

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