After His First Ever Multi-Homer Game, Brooks Lee Feels on Top of the World

[Theodore Tollefson]

“It’s surreal, I feel like the guy walking down there, Matt Wallner." Brooks Lee is on one of the best power-hitting surges of his career. Read up on what he had to say about his first-ever multi-home run game on Thursday night.

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints

ST. PAUL–On Thursday night, Brooks Lee accomplished a feat he’d never done before, at any level of his baseball life.

He crushed two home runs in a decisive 8-5 Saints victory over the Toledo Mud Hens and helped extend the Saints' winning streak to nine games. Two nights before, Lee hit his first grand slam of the season and was modest about his power-hitting abilities. 

“I’m not usually a home run hitter,” said Lee after hitting a grand slam in the Saints 5-3 win on Tuesday night.

But his performance over the last three games has begged to differ, and Lee is starting to notice the difference. 

“It’s surreal, I feel like the guy walking down there, Matt Wallner," Lee said Thursday night. "That’s what I said in my postgame speech. It feels surreal. Hopefully, it was going to happen at some point, and I’m glad it happened now.”

The first home run came in the bottom of the fifth, as the Saints were trailing the Mud Hens 4-3. The Saints got a run back that inning from a swinging-bunt RBI single from Edouard Julien that scored left fielder Chris Williams. Julien and shortstop Will Holland sat on the corners as Lee crushed the first pitch he saw in his at-bat over the left field fence.

Homer number two came an inning later, with Holland reaching base on a walk and advancing to second on a stolen base. Lee took a called strike for the first pitch of the at-bat, but the next pitch was a fastball in, placed in the middle of the strike zone. Lee drove it 448 feet to center field, to extend the Saints lead to 8-4.

The final score ended up being 8-5, as Lee finished out his first game at second base for the Saints and a 2-for-5 night with five runs batted in. 

“My swing feels good. I just feel comfortable on that side (right side of the plate), on both sides. But I feel good, I’m seeing the ball well and it’s translating,” Lee said.

While Lee and his teammates celebrated his home runs together in the dugout and clubhouse, the first person to congratulate him on this accomplishment outside the Saints’ clubhouse doors was his father, Larry.

The bond Brooks Lee has with his dad is inseparable. Larry has had fewer opportunities to see him play in person since the Twins drafted Brooks in July of 2022, as his coaching duties at California Polytechnic State University take up a lot of his time. But Larry is taking any moment he can to be there in person for his son, as his career inches ever closer to the major leagues.

“No matter how I play, but especially in front of him, I’m just glad he’s here. Because he’s busy, a busy guy, but he puts a lot of time and effort into me," the younger Lee said. "I’ll never be able to thank him enough for that, I’ve just been so blessed to have him constantly, and that’s why I need him around all the time.”

Over his last three games, all but one of Lee’s hits have been for extra bases. On Tuesday night, his 3rd-inning grand slam won the Saints the game. Wednesday afternoon, Lee laced three doubles across CHS Field that helped the Saints to an 8-7 victory over Toledo. Finally, his first-ever multi-home run game on Thursday night propelled the Saints to nine straight wins. 

While Lee claimed after Tuesday night’s game he isn’t much of a home run hitter, Saints manager Toby Gardenhire said Lee isn’t kidding himself with his words and there’s a grander development with his swing.

“A lot of times, guys who aren’t necessarily home run hitters, the more at-bats they get in their careers, they start to develop into home run hitters,” said Gardenhire. “He squares the ball up a lot; he always has. The stronger he gets, the more home runs he’s going to hit and that’s what we’re seeing right now.”

Saints starter David Festa was also appreciative of the offense from Lee and his teammates that helped him cruise to a win. Festa threw 5 ⅔ innings on Thursday night.

“The lineup and defense has been tremendous,” said Festa. “I feel like it’s been contagious right now. We have not just a couple of guys, but a lot of guys up and down the order that are hot right now and it’s just a really talented team and to be able to have them behind me on defense and up at the plate. I think they’ve done a great job all around.”

The power is one thing, but Lee’s performance as a right-handed hitter has been a remarkable change from where he was a year ago. In 2023, Lee did not swing his best bat from the right side of the plate. He had a triple slash of .231/.266/.337 with a .603 OPS in 109 plate appearances as a right-handed hitter.

After Thursday night’s game, Lee’s numbers in 28 plate appearances as a right-handed hitter in 2024 already outshine his 2023 season. He has a triple slash of .375/.392/.730 and a 1.112 OPS against lefties.

“It’s always going to be up and down because that’s just how hitting is, but I put a lot of work in on that side. That was definitely something I put a lot of work in all off-season, and it’s always going to be a focus and it’s paid off so far."

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[BH67]

I'm sensing that Lee and Wallner have the same "X factor" that Jhoan Duran showed when he arrived in the majors. Lee's trajectory might be closer to that of Royce Lewis, but there's some amazing talent here that will be advantageous to the parent club after the All-Star break. And after that.

[Dman]

If he masters that right side he should be a monster bat having the platoon advantage all the time.  I just hope he keeps swinging the bat well the next month or so to be certain it isn't just a hot streak. His ability to play all infield positions makes him a very flexible player which helps when moving guys around.  If he is going to be good from both sides no reason to platoon him either. Lot's of things to like about Lee.

 

[Blyleven2011]

It's great news that Lee is contributing  since his return  from the IL  list  ...

A switch hitter that is honing his skills , hope he keeps it up and gets the call ...

[LA Vikes Fan]

I agree with all that I would give him a call now if Kepler is going to be down for a few days, and it looks like he will. I say bring up Lee for a look and have him play 2B pretty much every day while Kepler is on the IL. Castro can play LF with Martin or Larnach in RF. Castro's versatility is such that we don't have to call up an outfielder; let's call up the guy who looks like he has the best chance of being successful at the MLB level. I think that now that's Lee.

[Doctor Gast]

From the beginning, I saw Lee as a fixture in the Twins' INF. He has a glove that screams GG at 2B. The way that he's swinging the bat makes me very excited. Lee, Lewis & Martin have a great hitting approach & have a lot of positive energy that they can feed off each other & is very catchy. One word that sometimes defines the Twins is flat. Hopefully, that can change.

[RpR]

9 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

From the beginning, I saw Lee as a fixture in the Twins' INF. He has a glove that screams GG at 2B. The way that he's swinging the bat makes me very excited. Lee, Lewis & Martin have a great hitting approach & have a lot of positive energy that they can feed off each other & is very catchy. One word that sometimes defines the Twins is flat. Hopefully, that can change.

He has played a whole 2 games at 2nd Base and you think his glove is GG, LOL>

[Doctor Gast]

15 minutes ago, RpR said:

He has played a whole 2 games at 2nd Base and you think his glove is GG, LOL>

Move Siemen off SS to 2B he instantly became a GG. Lee is a good SS move him to 2B, no difference. Like Siemen, he has the talent & athleticism, he just has to learn the ropes.

[tony&rodney]

Lee looks much better since his return from the IL than he did at any point last season or the season before. The confidence in his current plate appearances is strong. Hopefully Lee can be a big addition to the Twins in time. Right now the sample is still small but who knows. I'm keeping an open mind to the possibilities.

Brooks isn't an athlete in the same sense as a Buxton, Lewis, Siemen, or other quick twitch fast guy. He does have solid fundamentals and plays a smooth shortstop. Right now it isn't clear at all that he will be as good at second base. The move is not a simple transfer, although it has been done often. If Lee is to be at 2B, then he will likely put in the time and effort to become a decent defender at the position. 

[RpR]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

Move Siemen off SS to 2B he instantly became a GG. Lee is a good SS move him to 2B, no difference. Like Siemen, he has the talent & athleticism, he just has to learn the ropes.

He may have a good  bat but is not a good fielder.

[JD-TWINS]

I guarantee that after 2 games Lee is no less a 2B than Julien was at this point last year!!! If he’s got it may be worth a look for a minimum of 3 weeks…….don’t see the downside?

[JD-TWINS]

Just now, JD-TWINS said:

I guarantee that after 2 games Lee is no less a 2B than Julien was at this point last year!!! If he’s got it may be worth a look for a minimum of 3 weeks…….don’t see the downside?

………..If he’s HOT it may be worth a look……..