FAYETTEVILLE — Cliff Lee went into spring training in 2008 competing to be the Cleveland Indians’ No. 5 starter.
By the season’s end, Lee not only was Cleveland’s No. 1 pitcher, he was the best in the American League.
Lee, a Benton native who pitched for the University of Arkansas, finished 2008 with a 22-3 record, 2.54 ERA and 170 strikeouts with 34 walks in 2231/3 innings.
It was sweet redemption after a 2007 season in which Lee suffered an abdominal strain that caused him to miss spring training, was demoted from Cleveland to AAA Buffalo in July after a four-game losing streak, finished the season 5-8 with a 6.