Make Or Break Players On The 2025 Twins: Brooks Lee

[Cody Schoenmann]

Will the former top prospect be able to rebound from his Jekyll and Hyde rookie campaign?

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images / © Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images

Second base was a revolving door for the Minnesota Twins last season. Then-second-year player Edouard Julien began the season as the presumptive starter. Unfortunately, he could not rise to the occasion, earning a demotion to Triple-A on June 2 after posting a 97 wRC+ over 194 plate appearances. Kyle Farmer struggled at the plate all season. Austin Martin and Willi Castro fit in as viable stopgaps. However, the magnetic pull of nomadicity pushed the utility players to other positions. That being the case, the club turned to former top prospect Brooks Lee to solve the instability at the keystone position. Unfortunately, Lee stumbled, hitting .172/.250/.276 with a 41 wRC+ over 32 plate appearances while patrolling the position.

Second base was a weak spot last season, as the collective group slashed a subpar .200/.282/.315 with a well-below-league-average 73 wRC+ over 419 plate appearances. The unit also hit only 10 home runs while generating a 29.8% strikeout rate. Evidently, witnessing the second base brass perform at a rate strikingly similar to Joey Gallo last season was cause for significant concern. The collective of Julien, Castro, Martin, and soon-to-debut infield prospects Luke Keaschall and Payton Eeles possess the offensive prowess necessary to guide the position group toward a more productive 2025 campaign. That said, Lee is positioned to make the most prominent impact as a sole contributor.

Lee has shined since being drafted eighth overall in the 2022 MLB Amateur Draft out of Cal Poly, generating a combined the following numbers over his first three seasons in the Twins minor league system:

• 2022 - .303/.388/.451, 139 plate appearances, four home runs, six doubles, 136 wRC+ (Florida Complex League (FCL), High-A, Double-A)
• 2023 - .275/.347/.461, 567 plate appearances, 16 home runs, 39 doubles, 107 wRC+ (Double-A, Triple-A)
• 2024 - .308/.368/.606, 114 plate appearances, eight home runs, ten doubles, 148 wRC+ (FCL (rehab), Single-A (rehab), Triple-A)

Lee has lived up to his priority draft status in the minors, showcasing his contact-skilled, switch-hitting profile. He also showcased flashes of his plus range and near-elite arm at second base, third base, and shortstop across four levels. Substantial optimism surrounding the young infielder is still warranted. He possesses the robust offensive and defensive skillset and astucity necessary to thrive in MLB.

Given his switch-hitting nature, there is reason to speculate he could become a platoon-proof fixture at the position, similar to Jorge Polanco seasons ago. That said, he struggled from both sides of the plate last season, evidenced by the numbers below:

• As a left-handed hitter: .211/.263/.317, 133 plate appearances, 26 hits, two home runs, five doubles, nine walks, 18 strikeouts, 60 wRC+
• As a right-handed hitter: .245/.269/.327, 52 plate appearances, 12 hits, one home run, one double, two walks, nine strikeouts, 67 wRC+

Lee performed better from the right side of the plate. That said, he netted those numbers through 81 fewer appearances as a right-handed hitter, meaning his superior performance can be chalked up to it being a small sample size. During his time at Cal Poly and the Twins minor league system, Lee performed better from the left side of the plate, giving merit to the notion that the prized young talent could develop into the team's everyday second baseman against right-handed starting pitching. If Lee struggles from the right side of the plate next season, he could transition into a platoon partnership with Castro or Martin early next season. Keaschall could also develop into a platoon partner by midsummer.

When talking to reporters last week, Lee proclaimed, "I just wanted to be (at spring training) a little earlier this year than the past and just get acclimated. Yeah, I was excited to get going pretty soon." Lee continued, noting his offseason routine has remained mostly the same. However, he revealed he has been adjusting his swing, stating, "(I've been working) on swing mechanics. That's the biggest thing, adjustments on that, not really focusing on pitches or anything, but just the way I enter the zone, the way my barrel is positioned. Those are big things. I think, you know, I always make contact, but it's just about how I impact the ball. And so I think that's gonna change a lot with better mechanics."

Alongside changing how he enters the zone and positions his barrel, Lee plans to improve upon his poor performance from last season by making core mechanical changes, stating, "(I'm working on) just like, stance stuff. Like my hands are relatively in the same area, but just the way that they go back in my swing and they load is the biggest difference. My hands would raise pretty high, and I always have had a flat bat path, but you know, when they get too high, then I just don't enter the zone very good, and it's not efficient, and I could only hit a few pitches. But, you know, I've always hit differently than I did last year, and so I just got to get back to that. That's what I've been doing."

Lee excelled his first week in the majors, hitting .364/.371/.576 with 12 hits, two home runs, and a 165 wRC+ over 35 plate appearances. Unfortunately, the excitement surrounding the then-23-year-old top prospect waned as he hit .197/.280/.212 with 13 hits, zero home runs, one double, and a 43 wRC+ over his final 75 plate appearances. The former top prospect's late-season struggles were considerable. Lee suffered from various injuries last season, including a herniated disk that kept him out the first two months of the season and a shoulder injury that sidelined him from Aug. 8 through Sept. 1. These injuries likely played a role in his offensive woes last season. Yet, the Cal Poly product isn't employing last season's ailments as an excuse, stating, "My shoulders, whatever, I mean, yeah, I don't know if it did. If it did, and you know, it sucks, but it is what it is, I mean, I hit .221, so, I mean, either way, I think I could hit with, you know, half a body. So I should, I should be able to hit."

Lee's lackluster second-half performance was one of the many factors that played into the club's dramatic late-season collapse. That said, like every position player on the 26-man roster (excluding new additions Harrison Bader and Ty France), Lee will be one of the primary returning bats responsible for the team's ability to rebound from last September's wretched tumble. Lee is currently projected to be the team's Opening Day second baseman. Given the previously mentioned lack of depth at the position, Twins decision-makers should provide Lee substantial time to find his footing at second base, even if he struggles at the plate to begin the season. Even though his long-term outlook is promising, the switch-hitting infielder's safety net can only extend so far, considering the club's postseason aspirations.

Twins Daily's John Bonnes contributed to the reporting in this piece.

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[Cory Engelhardt]

I have to think if his back is feeling good he will be fine. Great write up!

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Not quite 100% make or break, but I do believe this is a pivotal year for Lee.  Playing a position of need for the Twins, if he fails there is a lot of pressure coming up behind him.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

16 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

Not quite 100% make or break, but I do believe this is a pivotal year for Lee.  Playing a position of need for the Twins, if he fails there is a lot of pressure coming up behind him.

Agreed.  I remembered his offensive game going poorly, but those really were brutal numbers.  I wonder if he would be better off making adjustments in St. Paul, where the pitching is less scary and the pressure is less.  It’s easier to do that when you’re not facing guys like Tarik Skubal.  

[Nashvilletwin]

Well, let’s face it, if Lee does “make” it, he’ll be the first “sure fire” Twins prospect to do so in years.  So the odds are stacked against him as long as he is part of this organization. 

If 2025 is truly “make or break” for Lee, he’s way better off getting traded as soon as possible.

BTW, feel free to insert Julien, Larnach, Miranda, Wallner, Martin and even Lewis in this category.  ERod and Keaschall are next in line.  
 

Just keepin’ things real….

[LambchoP]

Lack of depth at second base? We have Lee, Castro, Martin, Julien, Keaschal, Eeles, maybe even Ty France. I think Keaschal and Lee will be the long term answer but until Keaschal is ready, I hope Lee can get back to hitting like he did in the minors. It would be a big boost to this lineup, especially since I don't trust Julien one bit until he proves he can hit again in AAA.

[Blyleven2011]

52 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Well, let’s face it, if Lee does “make” it, he’ll be the first “sure fire” Twins prospect to do so in years.  So the odds are stacked against him as long as he is part of this organization. 

If 2025 is truly “make or break” for Lee, he’s way better off getting traded as soon as possible.

BTW, feel free to insert Julien, Larnach, Miranda, Wallner, Martin and even Lewis in this category.  ERod and Keaschall are next in line.  
 

Just keepin’ things real….

While I agree the twins haven't matured our prospects as we would like , the prospects have faired well at each level of the minors , but once here in the major leagues   , it seems the coaching staff doesn't bring the prospects up to play at this level , this is a new level and much harder , they have to teach them this , take the talent and make them a better talent here at MLB  ...

I don't agree with trading every one on your list , not yet anyway , they could stop hoarding the players that they don't play regularly and dont have a future with the twins ...

[sweetmusicviola16]

I would prefer to see Lee playing 3B. He's the best one we have in the org. Whether he can hit ML pitching on a consistent basis is another subject all together.

[ashbury]

I'd like to see Lee start the season at St Paul regardless of his hitting in camp this spring.  Unfortunately, I'm not sure the 40-man roster has enough plausible candidates to staff the infield without him!  If someone steps up, Lee goes down if I'm in charge.

[HelmetTip]

Given his pedigree & minor league stats, calling his sophomore season "make or break" after 185 ML at-bats is ridiculous. 

The article didn't lean hard into the click-bait title, thankfully, 

[TheLeviathan]

I appreciate the article much more than the title.

23 year olds definitely shouldn't feel like this is their make or break year.  Even characterizing him as "former top prospect" feels weird.

Dude has 185 plate appearances....the hell are we doing here?

[TwinsDr2021]

38 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

I appreciate the article much more than the title.

23 year olds definitely shouldn't feel like this is their make or break year.  Even characterizing him as "former top prospect" feels weird.

Dude has 185 plate appearances....the hell are we doing here?

He turned 24 three days ago. I think him being the Twins top prospect two years, just must be the definition of former top prospect.

If he doesn't end the year as a full time starter somewhere on the field, he goes into his third major league season as a utility player, thus the might it or break it.

[bean5302]

1 hour ago, HelmetTip said:

Given his pedigree & minor league stats, calling his sophomore season "make or break" after 185 ML at-bats is ridiculous. 

The article didn't lean hard into the click-bait title, thankfully, 

Brooks Lee was very rough at the MLB level. He showed the limits of his athleticism matched criticism in scouting reports. If he puts up another 200+ plate appearances which look like last year, his MLB career will be limited to utility/spotty playing time and the clock will start on his opportunities going forward.

[bean5302]

Brooks Lee looks like an old-timey baseball player and I like it. Anyway, his back may have impacted his game last year, but honestly, it seemed like he was more limited by his swing speed and ability to catch up to MLB fastballs.

The biggest thing which may be holding Lee back is his conditioning. He could benefit greatly by adding some speed and strength to get that swing speed up. Have to wait and see on him. Adding some physical ability is much easier than adding the ability to recognize pitches and the skills needed for smooth fielding.

[Guest]

"Make-or-break" for a guy who was universally acknowledged to be one of the game's most-MLB-ready prospects one year ago after an injury-plagued 2024?  Give me a break....

[bean5302]

3 minutes ago, Minderbinder said:

"Make-or-break" for a guy who was universally acknowledged to be one of the game's most-MLB-ready prospects one year ago after an injury-plagued 2024?  Give me a break....

Austin Martin was acknowledged as one of MLB's most ready prospects a few years ago, and Martin is quite a bit more athletic than Lee.

[TheLeviathan]

1 hour ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

He turned 24 three days ago. I think him being the Twins top prospect two years, just must be the definition of former top prospect.

If he doesn't end the year as a full time starter somewhere on the field, he goes into his third major league season as a utility player, thus the might it or break it.

That depends on a lot of factors.  And even then he's only 24, hardly time to hit the panic button.

This is too much, too soon.  And we do this too often to our prospects.

[nicksaviking]

28 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Austin Martin was acknowledged as one of MLB's most ready prospects a few years ago, and Martin is quite a bit more athletic than Lee.

Martin's days as a top prospect were over when he was still in Toronto. These aren't the same caliber of potential and never have been.

I've never been as high on Lee most of the rest of the board has been, largely because he doesn't look like he'll have enough power to justify his prospect rankings, but he has exponentially more power than the offensively one dimensional Martin.

[Danchat]

6 hours ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Well, let’s face it, if Lee does “make” it, he’ll be the first “sure fire” Twins prospect to do so in years.  So the odds are stacked against him as long as he is part of this organization. 

Let's put this to the test, going back to 2019 let's look at our top prospects:

Royce Lewis - Hit

Alex Kirilloff - Miss

Brusdar Graterol - Mixed bag as he has been an above average reliever

Trevor Larnach - Mixed bag so far

Austin Martin - Poor debut

Brooks Lee - Rough debut

Eduard Julien - Great rookie year, terrible sophomore year

Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez - TBD

 

Looks like a mix of good and bad to me.

13 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Martin's days as a top prospect were over when he was still in Toronto. These aren't the same caliber of potential and never have been.

In hindsight perhaps, but few here had that opinion. He was Twins Daily's #1 prospect in 2022...

[Nashvilletwin]

15 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Let's put this to the test, going back to 2019 let's look at our top prospects:

Royce Lewis - Hit

Alex Kirilloff - Miss

Brusdar Graterol - Mixed bag as he has been an above average reliever

Trevor Larnach - Mixed bag so far

Austin Martin - Poor debut

Brooks Lee - Rough debut

Eduard Julien - Great rookie year, terrible sophomore year

Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez - TBD

 

Looks like a mix of good and bad to me.

In hindsight perhaps, but few here had that opinion. He was Twins Daily's #1 prospect in 2022...

Royce Lewis is not a hit yet.  I sure hope he becomes one though! Not one of these position players, throw in Wallner if you like as well, is a regular, non-platooning major leaguer playing a set position at a high level.  Steer and Rooker are (but they made it playing on other teams).

I’m not trying to be a Debby Downer, it’s just that there doesn’t seem to be a willingness to invest the reps (in the field at one position and at the plate against lefties and righties) in these young players.  You can’t expect the big return, without putting in the investment.

I have big hopes for Jenkins, but, sadly, have the under on ERod and Keaschall.  The data is just not there to formulate a different opinion at this time. 

 

[nicksaviking]

17 minutes ago, Danchat said:

In hindsight perhaps, but few here had that opinion. He was Twins Daily's #1 prospect in 2022...

I remember, and it was frustrating. He'd already dropped 30 spots or so in the national prospect rankings and TD still had him #1 some how. I think most people here still had shiny new toy syndrome. He was always and only ever going to be a slap hitter, and that was clear even before the Twins traded for him.

[bean5302]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Martin's days as a top prospect were over when he was still in Toronto. These aren't the same caliber of potential and never have been.

I've never been as high on Lee most of the rest of the board has been, largely because he doesn't look like he'll have enough power to justify his prospect rankings, but he has exponentially more power than the offensively one dimensional Martin.

 

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

I remember, and it was frustrating. He'd already dropped 30 spots or so in the national prospect rankings and TD still had him #1 some how. I think most people here still had shiny new toy syndrome. He was always and only ever going to be a slap hitter, and that was clear even before the Twins traded for him.

Austin Martin
MLB #22 prospect 2021 (with Twins)
MLB #52 prospect 2022

In my opinion, you're both overvaluing Lee, and undervaluing Martin, historically in terms of how they were viewed from a scouting profile. Yes, Martin dropped a whopping 30 spots to #52 in all of MLB. 

a22 AA Lee 399 PA .292/.365/.476 OPS .841, ISO .183, wRC+ 120 
a22 AA Martin 418 PA .270/.414/.382 OPS .796, ISO .112, wRC+ 128

Both were considered to have elite hit tools, but Martin was also considered a potential plus runner. Lee was graded a little higher in power, and a much more sure fielder. At the EoY 2021, Fangraphs, MLB, Prospects1500 all had Martin #1. By the end of 2022, people had cooled on him, and 2023 was just as bad for Martin. Martin's exit velocities suggested he had some 45/50 grade power potential (probably where Lee really is), but his flat swing produces too many ground balls. Many people feel like the Twins were unfairly trying to turn Martin into a slugger in 2021, but it seems more like the Twins were just trying to get that 45/50 grade power to play into doubles and occasional home runs at this point. For Martin to hit more like Miranda in terms of power.

Lee was pretty miserable in 168 PA in AAA during 2023, but in 114 PA he was great in 2024, but Lee's .298 ISO driven by 8 HR in that tiny stretch suggested severe regression was on its way unless you believe he's a 30-40 HR slugger.

The book isn't closed on Lee, but there are plenty of rippling red flags at the beach at this point. Stuff which would be better off noted rather than risking being swept out to sea.

[LA Vikes Fan]

I'm not as high on Lee as others here. I would love to see him have the defensive chops to play 2B at a high level because I think that's where his bat profiles. From here, he looks like a .265/.335/.420 type guy with a below 20% SO rate IF things go well. Nothing wrong with that; that's a solid to above average regular at 2B and maybe even at 3B. His bat is certainly good enough for 2B but probably not good enough to play 3B because of the lack of power unless the team gets power from an unusual position like 2B or SS. You also have to add in the complete lack of any speed (man runs like a catcher) and the fact that he may have a chronic back issue to manage. I think his highest and best use is as a great glove, solid to good  bat 2B that hits in the 6 or 7 hole although I can see the temptation to make him the 3B and Lewis the 2B given their throwing arms (Lee good, Lewis erratic).  

Frankly this is kind of similar to the scouting report when Lee came out. Advanced bat, close to MLB ready, good chance to be a solid MLB regular, limited ceiling. And I'm just fine with that. Let's just not assume he will be more than a complimentary player on a good team if things work out. His "make" level is not as high as some others if we are realistic about what he brings to the table. 

[nicksaviking]

2 hours ago, bean5302 said:

 

Austin Martin
MLB #22 prospect 2021 (with Twins)
MLB #52 prospect 2022

In my opinion, you're both overvaluing Lee, and undervaluing Martin, historically in terms of how they were viewed from a scouting profile. Yes, Martin dropped a whopping 30 spots to #52 in all of MLB. 

a22 AA Lee 399 PA .292/.365/.476 OPS .841, ISO .183, wRC+ 120 
a22 AA Martin 418 PA .270/.414/.382 OPS .796, ISO .112, wRC+ 128

Both were considered to have elite hit tools, but Martin was also considered a potential plus runner. Lee was graded a little higher in power, and a much more sure fielder. At the EoY 2021, Fangraphs, MLB, Prospects1500 all had Martin #1. By the end of 2022, people had cooled on him, and 2023 was just as bad for Martin. Martin's exit velocities suggested he had some 45/50 grade power potential (probably where Lee really is), but his flat swing produces too many ground balls. Many people feel like the Twins were unfairly trying to turn Martin into a slugger in 2021, but it seems more like the Twins were just trying to get that 45/50 grade power to play into doubles and occasional home runs at this point. For Martin to hit more like Miranda in terms of power.

Lee was pretty miserable in 168 PA in AAA during 2023, but in 114 PA he was great in 2024, but Lee's .298 ISO driven by 8 HR in that tiny stretch suggested severe regression was on its way unless you believe he's a 30-40 HR slugger.

The book isn't closed on Lee, but there are plenty of rippling red flags at the beach at this point. Stuff which would be better off noted rather than risking being swept out to sea.

I frankly put little stock into prospect rankings, as they don't take a practical approach to these evaluations. I understand the real world value of high contact, but the player market does not. Every team in the league can afford to pay Luis Arraez. Or Denard Span or Luis Castillo (Marlins/Twins, not Reds/Mariners). If you have a guy pop up on these lists who looks to be an 1980's archetype hitter, good for you, but he's not nearly as valuable as the guys you'd otherwise not be able to afford should they hit the free agent market.

And I'm not overvaluing Lee, I have also been the low guy on this site on him as well. I was always just that much lower on Martin who not only can't hit it out of the park, he rarely hit doubles either.

[Jocko87]

I’m not concerned about his ability to adjust to the majors and expect him to break camp as a fixture.  

You know how we say prospect development is not linear? He kinda has been so far.  He has struggled immediately after every promotion but every month got better and better with the last month of 1.000 OPS prior to being promoted.  His month to month progression is pretty funny to look at.  Like chutes and ladders.  It’s easy to forget he crushed AAA before he got called up.  It’s even easier to forget he OPS .656 his first month in AAA after 1.000+ in AA the month before.

He’s been in a whirlwind for 2+ years but he was born to play baseball at a very high level.  I am bobo. 

[dxpavelka]

MIGHT be a bit premature to say that a guy with less than a thousand plate appearances above A ball is at the make or break point.  Just sayin

 

[Guest]

9 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Austin Martin was acknowledged as one of MLB's most ready prospects a few years ago, and Martin is quite a bit more athletic than Lee.

True, but I wouldn't classify Martin as "make-or-break" either.  I'd classify Martin as a guy for which I need to find a place on my roster....

Martin's upside is an inexpensive replacement for an AS utility guy we should sell high.

[TL]

I have to believe that injuries played a big factor last year in his disappointing results. With his background and an offseason to get healthy I’d expect a ~750 OPS with above average defense this year. That’s the “high floor” we all expected out of him and a good outcome. And he still has a chance for more. 

[Fatbat]

20 hours ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Well, let’s face it, if Lee does “make” it, he’ll be the first “sure fire” Twins prospect to do so in years.  So the odds are stacked against him as long as he is part of this organization. 

If 2025 is truly “make or break” for Lee, he’s way better off getting traded as soon as possible.

BTW, feel free to insert Julien, Larnach, Miranda, Wallner, Martin and even Lewis in this category.  ERod and Keaschall are next in line.  
 

Just keepin’ things real….

Joe Ryan was a sure fire prospect and Lewis who has already made it. Neither will be optioned back to AAA. 

[TwinsDr2021]

15 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

That depends on a lot of factors.  And even then he's only 24, hardly time to hit the panic button.

This is too much, too soon.  And we do this too often to our prospects.

The only factor that could matter is health and not something serious. He tweaks something and Julien or Eeles are so damn good and Lewis at 3B and CC at short are healthy and raking, that the only place Lee can get regular playing time is AAA. He rakes in AAA and makes a tough decision next off season on what to do with him and the others (since everybody's trade value will have went up)

If he ends up in the minors because he needs to figure stuff out or isn't better than the guys in the majors, IMO he turns into another top pick that might not be a failure but isn't the plug and play type of player you hope out of your top 8 first round pick, and yes he could become a full time player on some other team but it won't be in MN, because recent history has shown that is not it happens here.