When it comes to dominant bullpen arms in Atlanta Braves history, a few names immediately come to mind. From Mark Wohlers and Craig Kimbrel to Jonny Venters, Tyler Matzek, and the unforgettable Night Shift, the Braves have always taken pride in building elite relief corps capable of slamming the door shut late in games.
The 2025 bullpen has been a mixed bag so far. While it’s shown signs of progress, inconsistency has kept it from reaching elite status. With a 3.65 ERA (ranking 13th in MLB), the group has been serviceable—but not spectacular. If the Braves hope to contend deep into the season, GM Alex Anthopoulos may need to bolster the bullpen at the trade deadline.
But amid the mediocrity, Dylan Lee has emerged as a bright spot—and arguably one of the most underrated relievers in baseball.
Since debuting with Atlanta in 2021, Lee has quietly improved each year, and 2025 may be his best season yet. In 35.2 innings, the lefty boasts a 1.77 ERA with just eight walks and 37 strikeouts. A key to his dominance? His filthy slider—opponents are hitting a mere .075 against it, and he’s generating whiffs 41.3% of the time on that pitch.
Lee’s advanced metrics are among the best in the league, with only a few minor areas—like barrel rate and ground ball percentage—left to improve. But overall, his performance has been elite.
And this isn’t just a short-term surge. According to David O’Brien, Lee has posted a 1.98 ERA since the start of 2024, the only left-handed reliever with a sub-2.00 ERA across 75+ appearances during that span.
Even more impressive? Opponents are hitting just .139 against him in high-leverage moments, and a microscopic .120 with runners in scoring position in 2025. It’s no wonder he’s seeing more chances in the ninth inning.
His performance hasn’t gone unnoticed by his teammates either. Spencer Strider called him “one of the best lefty relievers in the game,” adding,
“He knows exactly who he is and never tries to be someone he’s not. He’s like a Swiss Army knife—plug him into any role, and he’ll get the job done.”
With that kind of praise—and those kinds of numbers—Dylan Lee absolutely deserves his first All-Star Game selection. And with this year’s Midsummer Classic at Truist Park, there couldn’t be a better time or place for his well-earned debut.
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