BATON ROUGE – LSU coach Les Miles confirmed late Monday night that freshman quarterback Zach Lee signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“This was a very personal decision for Zach and his family,” Miles said. “This opportunity was just too difficult to pass up. We wish Zach and his family the very best. He’s an outstanding young man and we hope he develops into a great Major League pitcher.”
According to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick, Lee was offered a franchise-record $5.25 million, five-year contract. The previous record signing for a Dodgers Draft pick was $2.3 million for Clayton Kershaw in 2006. The slot salary recommended by MLB for the pick was $1.134 million.
The Dodgers signed 15 of their top 17 picks, but did not sign sixth-rounder Kevin Gausman, another high school pitcher also committed to LSU.
Lee was the 28th overall pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft over the summer.
7:47 p.m. CT Update
LSU coach Les Miles met with members of the media following today’s second practice and told the group that he has no new information regarding Zach Lee and his decision to either remain at LSU or join the Los Angeles Dodgers Organization.
“I’m certain he (Zach Lee) is looking at whatever offer that might well be presented by the Dodgers organization,” Miles said. “I have no information other than that.
“I’ve talked to Zach a couple of times since Saturday. Again, it’s a pretty personal decision anytime a young man passes on wealth or has an opportunity at a significant paycheck. It’s his decision. It’s certainly not mine. I gave it whatever I had, but I recognize that this is a very personal decision for him.”
Lee was drafted with the 28th overall pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft in June. Lee has spent the past two weeks practicing with the Tigers. Today is the deadline for those players selected in the baseball draft to make their decision on whether to go to college or sign a professional baseball contract.
Lee practiced with the team this morning but was given the afternoon off so that he could mull over his options.
“I don’t know of any offer on the table,” Miles said. “The only thing I can tell you is that there was expected communication between (the Dodgers) and Zach’s family. I suspect I’ll hear more later today.”