The Keepers - #34 - SP - Dillon Gee

34. Dillon Gee

Here is the highlights of a local Texas article written the day Gee was drafted by the Mets:

“UT Arlington junior right hander Dillon Gee became the 12th Maverick player drafted since 2002 when the New York Mets selected him with the 663rd pick in the 21st round on the second day of the 2007 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft. Gee is the fifth UTA player to be selected by the Mets and the first since Matt Mize went in the 30th round in 1999.

Gee (Cleburne, Texas) ends his three-year career at UTA with a record of 15-25 and a 5.16 ERA. He ranks second on the all-time innings pitch list with 298.1, fifth in strikeouts (198) and eighth in appearances (58 ). His 111.2 innings pitched in 2007 ranks fourth on the single-season list, while his 96 strikeouts are tied for third.

The two-time honorable mention all-SLC selection burst onto the scene as a freshman. In just his fourth career start, Gee tossed a complete-game four-hit shutout against then-No. 12 Baylor.

As a sophomore, Gee tied a UTA record by starting 17 games and led the team with six victories. He would toss his second complete-game shutout of his career in a victory over Stephen F. Austin before closing out the regular season with a career-best 11 strikeouts in a nine-inning no decision against Dallas Baptist.

Last season, Gee overcame a slow start to become the ace of the staff. Gee tossed 53.1 innings with 58 strikeouts and only seven walks in his final seven starts. He had three double-digit strikeout performances over that span, including a complete-game three-hit shutout against Northwestern State. He would tie his career-high with 11 strikeouts in his final start against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.”

Gee signed with the Mets and played the 2007 season with Brooklyn. He had an outstanding season, going 3-1, 2.47, 1.06 in 14 games, 11 starts. He also had 56 Ks in 62.0 IP.

In 2008, Gee began the year with St. Lucie (8-6, 3.25), but ended with Binghamton (2-0, 1.33).
Gee won the Sterling Award as the the top Met player for the 2008 St. Lucie team.

2009 was not kind to Gee. He was off to a decent start (1-4, 4.10, 9 starts, 42-K, 48.1-IP) until he went down with a season ending injury. Even with the injury, Gee was ranked 29th in 2009, in the AAA out percentage leader poll, with a 0.658 0ut%,, 20.1 K%, and only a 7.7 BB% .

Gee’s professional stats over three seasons are: 14-10, 3.03, 1.09.

Forecast: No sick speed or 5- tools here. Just good old Tom Glavine-like control. And, it works. Gee still charts out as the SP5 in 2012 and he should prove his value again in 2010 for Buffalo.