Nick

Lee

Lee was designated for assignment by the Nats earlier this week and passed through waivers unclaimed. He owns a 4.54 ERA in 35 2/3 innings this season in the minors.

Lee was sporting a 4.54 ERA through 35 2/3 innings this season with Double-A Harrisburg. The 25-year-old left-hander will probably pass through waivers unclaimed.

Lee was forced to exit Sunday’s Grapefruit League due to pain in his elbow. The young left-hander said that the initial MRI showed his elbow is okay structurally, but more should be known after the follow-up exam. “I’ll be out for a quality amount of time,” said Lee. “It could have been worse. So it sounds - I’m not a doctor. They’re throwing all these words at me I’ve never heard.” Lee, 26, posted a 4.32 ERA and 55/42 K/BB ratio over 50 relief innings at the Double-A level last year.

The good news is that there’s no ligament damage, but he’s still expected to miss significant time. Lee is scheduled to travel to Washington, D.C. for further evaluation, after which will should have a better idea about the timetable involved.

Lee served up a game-tying home run to Patrick Wisdom of the Cardinals in the ninth inning and then was lifted one pitch later. The left-hander has his elbow wrapped in ice after the game. “That’s the extent of it,” manager Dusty Baker said. “We just hope that it’s nothing.”

Lee owned a 3.12 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 52 innings between High-A and Double-A last season. The 24-year-old won’t be exposed in next month’s Rule 5 Draft with the move.