Twins Promote Top Prospect Brooks Lee!

[Cody Christie]

Brooks Lee is getting called up to the Twins after mashing the ball at Triple-A over the last month. What can one of the team’s top prospects provide the lineup at this critical part of the season?

Image courtesy of Dave Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Brooks Lee made news early this week when he was picked to be the Twins representative in the MLB Futures Game. It’s more likely that he won’t be appearing in that game as the Twins are calling him up to make his big-league debut. Now that he’s here, what can fans expect from Lee? Where will he play defensively? How long will he be with the Twins? Let’s explore.

Lee is a 23-year-old infielder that the Twins took with the eighth pick in the 2022 MLB Draft from California Polytechnic Institute and State University. He could have started his professional career out of high school, but he was committed to playing collegiately for his father, the head coach at Cal Poly. Minnesota signed him for $5.675 million, the fifth-highest bonus handed out in his draft class. After starting his professional career, he almost immediately became one of baseball’s top prospects. 

In 2024, Lee impressed during spring training before a herniated disc in his back sidelined him in late March. He started a rehab assignment in late May and rejoined the Saints lineup in early June. In 20 Triple-A games, he hit .329/.394/.635 (1.029) with seven home runs and five doubles. Throughout the winter, the switch hitter worked to refine his right-handed swing since it was the weaker of his two sides. Last season, he posted a .603 OPS and had a 1.121 OPS in 37 plate appearances from that side in 2024. 

Defensively, the Twins drafted him as a shortstop, and he’s continued to play regularly at that position throughout his professional career. He’s made ten starts at third base over the last two seasons and two appearances at second base. Royce Lewis suffered a groin injury on Tuesday, so Lee will likely slot into third base during his debut. Many evaluators believe he has enough arm to handle the hot corner, which might be his best long-term position as he matures physically. 

Lee was considered the top collegiate-hitting prospect in his draft class, and the Twins have aggressively promoted him throughout his career. His hit tool is very advanced, which should help him avoid prolonged slumps at the big-league level. Minnesota’s offense has been performing well in recent weeks, so Lee can hit the bottom part of the lineup to get his feet wet. He doesn’t need to be a savior for the team in 2024. Instead, Lee can serve as a supplementary piece for a team in the middle of a playoff push. 

Only three players from the first round of his draft have made their debuts, and Zach Neto is the only player to play in more than 25 games. Groin injuries can be tricky, so there are no guarantees of how quickly Lewis can recover. Lee should have some time to get acclimated to the big-league level and can force the Twins to keep him on the roster with a solid offensive performance. Is he here to stay? Only time will tell. 

Congrats to Lee and his family. What are your thoughts on his call-up? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

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Check out the exact moment that Saints manager Toby Gardenhire let Brooks Lee know that he is heading to the big leagues. 

 

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[Dman]

Congrats to Lee and well deserved.  I hope he hits the ground running!

I thought the 40 man was full so does this mean Kirilloff is getting moved to the 60 day IL?  Or who is coming off to add Lee?

[Craig Arko]

Just now, Dman said:

Congrats to Lee and well deserved.  I hope he hits the ground running!

I thought the 40 man was full so does this mean Kirilloff is getting moved to the 60 day IL?  Or who is coming off to add Lee?

Probably Stewart. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

Good question on the 40 man and who is going on the IL to make room on the 26 man? I assume it's Lewis but haven't seen or heard anything. 

I hope Lee starts tonight at either 2B or 3B and stays in the everyday lineup through the ASB. Let's find out if he has the chops to hit at the MLB level. 

[NYCTK]

No word on the 40 man move? 

[NYCTK]

1 minute ago, Craig Arko said:

Probably Stewart. 

You were right. 

[chpettit19]

Looks like Stewart to the 60 day is the move they made on the 40-man. Lewis on the 10-day.

Congrats to Brooks. Let's hope he hits the ground running and makes it impossible for them to send him back whenever Royce is ready again.

[LA Vikes Fan]

Stewart to the 60 day IL makes perfect sense. He's at or almost at 60 days now and he's a least a couple of weeks away. Plus, I think he gets a rehab window. 

[BH67]

A guy named Brooks playing the hot corner for an American League team for years. The precedent is encouraging, but we'll need something other than a vacuum cleaner for a nickname.

[jmlease1]

Bummer for Royce going to the IL again, but good luck to Brooks Lee. I hope he plays so well they can't send him down. I think he's going to do just fine and it's going to be fun to see him up. I have tickets for sunday, hope he starts!

[Eric Blonigen]

I hate this Lee’s promotion comes due to another Lewis injury. It would be great seeing the two of them playing together with the resurgent Miranda, and the on-fire Buxton and Correa, but such is baseball. I’m excited to see what he can do over the next couple weeks (at least). If he looks ready offensively and defensively, maybe that opens leadership up to trading Farmer at the deadline? Anyway, let’s go Lee!

[JD-TWINS]

Line-up not posted yet …..RH starter for Tigers with one start this year and a 9.35 ERA….gotta think they let Lee get a piece of that opportunity!!

Guesswork:

Lee - Miranda - Larnach - Correa - Kepler - Santana - Buxton - Castro - Vazquez

[bighat]

I told you. I TOLD YOU! Where's that Assistant GM job opening, Falvine? Gimme gimme gimme. 

In all seriousness it's horrific news about Royce but this does add a level of excitement back to the team. Lee is here to play every day, let's sit back and enjoy the show. HOF career starts NOW!

[Craig Arko]

5 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Line-up not posted yet …..RH starter for Tigers with one start this year and a 9.35 ERA….gotta think they let Lee get a piece of that opportunity!!

Guesswork:

Lee - Miranda - Larnach - Correa - Kepler - Santana - Buxton - Castro - Vazquez

Posted now; Lee at 3B, batting eighth.

[IaBeanCounter]

29 minutes ago, Eric Blonigen said:

 maybe that opens leadership up to trading Farmer at the deadline? Anyway, let’s go Lee!

Someone is getting traded before the deadline.   The Twins have 20 position players on the 40 man, which is high.   

[Patzky]

50 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Good question on the 40 man and who is going on the IL to make room on the 26 man? I assume it's Lewis but haven't seen or heard anything. 

I hope Lee starts tonight at either 2B or 3B and stays in the everyday lineup through the ASB. Let's find out if he has the chops to hit at the MLB level. 

He's at 3rd and batting 8th

[Patzky]

28 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Line-up not posted yet …..RH starter for Tigers with one start this year and a 9.35 ERA….gotta think they let Lee get a piece of that opportunity!!

Guesswork:

Lee - Miranda - Larnach - Correa - Kepler - Santana - Buxton - Castro - Vazquez

He's at third base and batting 8th.

[Patzky]

Now let's get him a real uniform. A great second baseman wore 11..

[Fatbat]

Stewart is now on the 60 IL

[Fatbat]

25 minutes ago, IaBeanCounter said:

Someone is getting traded before the deadline.   The Twins have 20 position players on the 40 man, which is high.   

Farmer and Margo

[gman]

Good luck to both Lee and Lewis. I think Lee could take the third base position, with Lewis moving to first base full time next year. Lewis would probably be a great third baseman, but playing first may be easier on his legs and he does seem to have quite a few leg problems. Lewis may need a personal leg trainer.

[Beast]

Great news.

Would be better news if he were coming to man 2B with Lewis at 3rd.

Not feeling great about Royce’s long-term outlook.  If you can’t do a routine baseball activity like running the bases without a soft tissue injury in your early/mid 20s, I cant see it improving with age.

I was holding out hope the injuries were bad luck that would turn.  That hope is fading.

[jorgenswest]

I would be surprised if Lewis is back before deadline and more likely September. He was out from March 28 to June 4 with his grade 2 quad strain. The grade 2 adductor strain can have a shorter recovery time than the quad but I expect they will be making deadline decisions without knowing when he will return.

Lee should get a long run to show he is ready.

[Doctor Gast]

Excited for a long over-due call-up for Brooks Lee. We are desperate for more hitters on the left side. Would have loved to see Lewis together with Lee. My heart's heavy for Lewis wish this wouldn't the reason for Lee's call-up. A miraculous healing for Lewis. Pray for good fortune to both of these guys & long, healthy & successful careers.

[bean5302]

1 hour ago, Beast said:

Great news.

Would be better news if he were coming to man 2B with Lewis at 3rd.

Not feeling great about Royce’s long-term outlook.  If you can’t do a routine baseball activity like running the bases without a soft tissue injury in your early/mid 20s, I cant see it improving with age.

I was holding out hope the injuries were bad luck that would turn.  That hope is fading.

Yep, getting absolutely insane with the Royce Lewis injury train at this point.

[jimbo92107]

First hug from Wallner. You'll be up pretty soon too, bud.

Congrats to Brooks Lee. You'll like Minneapolis. Dirt's a little cleaner on the west side of the river.

Skol, young man.

[bean5302]

The adductor strains generally take 3-6 weeks to heal up. Given how the team handles him, Royce is probably out until after the trade deadline. Makes sense to call up Lee, with Julien still struggling at AAA.

Yes, I'm aware Julien is technically above average production down there thanks to a .462 OBP, but he has absolutely zero power. Has literally 1 extra base hit in his last 13 games (a double). Clearly, that's not going to cut it with his profile at the MLB level.

[Melissa]

Here at Target Field to see Brooks Lee and David Festa. The future is now!

section 107 

[weitz41]

Congratz to Brooks Lee. Find a locker you like and stay there for 7-15 years!

 

[SotaSports in NM]

Gosh what tough luck for Lewis. It's brutal for us to be stuck with another high-level glass player. My big wish is that Lee produces at a solid level and forces the team to DFA farmer in a monthish.