How Brooks Lee Became the Bat the Twins Needed Him To Be
Brooks Lee has transformed from a struggling shortstop to a productive third baseman in Minnesota.
Minnesota Twins infielder Brooks Lee thought he was well prepared for the 2026 MLB season. Realizing he needed to increase his speed on the basepaths and at shortstop, he worked in the offseason to build speed and muscle to become a more well-rounded player. As a switch-hitter, Lee also worked to improve his contact skills from the left side to become a more balanced hitter.
But sometimes the best plans go awry. As the season progressed, Lee’s hitting was still inconsistent, and his play in the field had not improved. But the demotion of another player to Triple-A opened up an opportunity for Brooks that he has taken full advantage of. He now resembles the player the Twins projected him to be when they first drafted him.
Brooks Lee’s Meteoric Rise Through the Minors
The Twins drafted Lee with the eighth overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft after an outstanding career at Cal Poly. He was considered the steal of the draft, as many experts ranked him among the top five prospects available. He started his pro career with Minnesota’s Rookie League team.
Lee wasted no time acclimating to pro ball. He produced a slash line of .303/.388/.451, splitting his time between Minnesota’s Rookie League, Single-A, and Double-A teams. And he kept producing in his first full pro season. Splitting time between the Double-A Wichita Wind Surge and the Triple-A St. Paul Saints, he hit 16 homers, drove in 84 runs, and scored 83 times.
Entering the 2024 season, Lee was ranked as the third-best Twins prospect by Just Baseball. After missing the first two months of the season with a back injury, he caught fire. He sported a slash line of .331/.391/.570, with the majority of his time spent with the Saints.
Major League Struggles
Lee was scheduled to play in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game, but on July 3, the Twins promoted him to the majors. After a hot start, he hit the wall. Brooks hit .182 with a .503 OPS in the last 44 games of the season, as he tasted disappointment for the first time in his professional career.
Hopes for a revival in 2025 went south in a hurry. Lee struggled in the field and had a hard time making good contact on off-speed pitches. He hit a paltry .236 with 16 homers and a .654 OPS. His contact was poor, he was slow on the basepaths, and he had limited range at shortstop. All of a sudden, the Twins brass had doubts about Lee’s future with the club.
A Noticable Turnaround
Even with his preparation for the 2026 season, Lee’s play was again a disappointment. In 400 innings at shortstop this season, he recorded -9 Defensive Runs Saved and -6 Outs Above Average. Although inconsistent, he contributed offensively, slugging five home runs and knocking in 17 runs in the first month of the season.
But with Kaelen Culpepper tearing up Triple-A pitching and 2025 first-round draft pick Maren Houston impressing in Double-A, Lee no longer fit the role of the Twins’ shortstop of the future. Then, on May 19, an underperforming Royce Lewis was demoted to the Saints. In a corresponding move, Minnesota shifted Brooks over to third base.
Since then, Lee has ripped 18 homers, driven in 55 runs, and scored 45 times. More importantly, defensively, he has posted +9 DRS and +4 OAA in nearly 800 innings at third base this season. His range is no longer an issue, and his throws have been more accurate. Since the switch to third base, Brooks has committed just seven errors, and only four since June 1.
Lee’s Future in Minnesota
With his maturity as a power hitter and his improvement in the field, Brooks Lee’s future with the Minnesota Twins looks bright. He has turned himself into a run-scoring machine, and he is a big reason why Minnesota has stayed competitive all season.
It’s not hard to envision a Twins infield of Lewis at first, Culpepper at second, Houston at short, and Lee at third staying intact for the next several seasons. Brooks continues to work on improving his game, and with his switch to third base, he is now deployed at a position that suits his body type and capabilities to a tee.
He has gone from a shaky ballplayer with an uncertain future to a powerful middle-of-the-order hitter with solid defensive skills. The Twins are being rewarded for the patient handling of their budding star.
Become a Member of Just Baseball
Subscribe and upgrade to go ad-free!
* Save 25% by subscribing annually.
Written by