Braxton Lee's journey continues on MLB opening day in Miami
The start of a new era in Miami Marlins baseball club history begins today at 12:40 p.m. Eastern time when the Marlins open the 2018 season with a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs. It will ring in the first game under new owners Derek Jeter and Bruce Sherman, the first game with practically an entirely new starting lineup, and the first game to see just where the Marlins stand.
While many Marlins fans have high hopes about the season, thousands of people in Pearl River County have a different reason to smile. Picayune’s Braxton Lee, the son of Russell and Jill Lee, will be on the Miami Marlins opening day roster. Lee, who was acquired by the Marlins last summer, won the Southern League’s batting title with a .309 average while splitting the season between Double A (AA) Montgomery and Jacksonville.
Lee was placed in the Arizona Fall League, a prestigious league for up and coming prospects, and Lee continue to excel, being selected for the league All-Star game last fall, while he also juggled getting married.
Lee was invited to the Marlins major league spring training and just last week was optioned to Triple A (AAA) New Orleans. However, things changed again for Lee, and he is now back on the opening day roster for the Marlins.
When Lee was told on Tuesday evening that he was back on the opening day roster, he called his mom Jill, who was at Pearl River Community College watching their youngest son, Trenton play. Jill said that she thought Braxton was pulling her leg at first.
She explained, “I thought he was confused, then he said he met with the manager and one of the owners just minutes before and they told him. I was floored. It’s been a whirlwind the past few days with Braxton being optioned to AAA (Triple A) New Orleans and now back to the Marlins.“
Despite the short timeframe of getting the good news, the Lee family was making preparations.
“We are driving down tonight (Wednesday). We have a lot of things running through our minds and I really can’t talk about it without being emotional. God has been with Braxton in every step of this journey,” Jill shared.
