Whom Should Brooks Lee Replace on Twins Roster?

[Cody Pirkl]

The Twins' 2022 first-round pick has returned to Triple-A in his rehab assignment, and his return to the Twins is looming. With no shortage of candidates, which player on the current roster should be replaced?

Image courtesy of Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

Brooks Lee was never a lock to make the Opening Day roster out of spring training, and in different circumstances, he may have remained in St. Paul for some time, even after his rehab assignment ended. Given the Twins' poor start, however, the plan will likely be to get Lee back up as soon as he’s ready. Which player stands to lose their job? Unfortunately, there are a few viable candidates.

Mickey Gasper
Gasper is a great story, but we may be seeing why it’s taken so long for him to get a shot at the MLB level. His discerning eye at the plate is his calling card. To his credit, he’s walked 20% of the time. He’s also struck out 40% of the time and has only one hit, effectively canceling out the walks. Gasper hasn’t been able to punish pitches in the zone, as even his one hit was a dribbler that barely left the infield. If pitchers have no concerns filling up the strike zone, Gasper’s primary tool dries up.

If he were a stronger defensive player, Gasper would be a solid bench option, but that’s not proven to be the case. Despite being labeled a catcher when the Twins acquired him, the team clearly doesn’t see him that way. He’s played first base, but his size has already cost him on one occasion at that position. He also made a tough error on Tuesday night in Kansas City at second base, where he played for the first time this season. He doesn’t have much immediate utility to the roster or a track record to wait on, making Gasper the likeliest player to lose out upon Lee’s return.

Jose Miranda
While it’s a long shot, there’s certainly a world where Jose Miranda gets demoted back to St. Paul. Aside from a big three-run homer against Houston, he’s looked completely lost at the plate. Miranda’s free-swinging ways have been on full display. He's had, seemingly, no idea what’s a ball and what’s a strike. If the Twins feel like Miranda would benefit from seeing lesser pitching to get back into a groove, St. Paul could be an option.

Miranda has done a fine job filling in at third base, but Lee would be an upgrade defensively. He has rarely seen time at first base, and with the way Harrison Bader is being used, there are much better options for the DH spot. If the Twins decide Lee is going to play a lot of third base, a Miranda demotion becomes realistic.

Edouard Julien
The Twins’ view of Edouard Julien has soured, making him a sleeper pick of this trio. Julien is no longer a lock to start, even against right-handed pitching. While he’s barreled some balls so far this season, he doesn’t have the production to show for it. These barrels have also come at the expense of Julien’s plate approach. He’s chasing nearly 30% of pitches outside the zone and is whiffing over 35% of the time. This level of aggressiveness is a 180° from the passiveness he's shown in the past, but that seems to have been an overcorrection. There are reasons for optimism, but it may take time for Julien to hone this new plate approach, and it may be easier to do so in Triple-A.

Most concerning for Julien was Gasper starting over him at second base on Tuesday. Gasper learned this position on the fly in spring training, and the Twins preferred him there on Tuesday. while Julien served as the DH. Gasper made an error, but Julien has made plenty of those himself in the last two years, and he’s starting to look like a player without a defensive home. It may be more telling if Julien isn’t optioned back to Triple-A, as it would indicate the Twins are no longer prioritizing getting him everyday at-bats. Julien has found himself in a precarious spot.

These three all deserve a demotion in different ways, and to different degrees. It’s become clear that Lee needs to be up as soon as he’s ready, to shore up the defense and add a new face to an already stale roster. Which player should be the one headed back to St. Paul?

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[Mike Sixel]

Gasper. The others might have a future here. 

[jmlease1]

Gasper. yes, it's a small sample, but he hasn't looked good at the plate, and while I love his willingness to learn another position on the fly, he looks more like a guy without a position than Julien. 

I agree with Sixel: the others might have futures (even if they're scrabbling like so many Twins hitters), hard to see much with Gasper so far.

but the most important thing is getting Brooks Lee up here as fast as he's healthy. he'll improve the D at 2B and at 3B (if they slide him in there) and I still believe in his bat if he's healthy.

[miller761]

Lee better show he can hit first,

 

[miller761]

It won't take much to show he is better than the 3 mentioned above.

[miller761]

Time to change up the batting order. Wallner needs to be dropped to 3 or 4, How about Castro or Lee hitting leadoff?

[bean5302]

Nobody. He can't hit and he was weak defensively due to the lack of athleticism last year. He needs a solid 200 PA in AAA showing he's able to produce at the plate. Unless the Twins are ready to write him off entirely as a backup who gets sporadic playing time.

[Jocko87]

1 minute ago, miller761 said:

Lee better show he can hit first,

 

They just need the glove. Plenty of others around to not hit either.

And Gasper is the answer. Did we get any comments that they preferred him over Julien at second? Could also be a little bit of a continued try out for him or a lineup anomaly.

I see no reason to think he's better at second than Julien. Julien is just below average, Gasper is actively bad.

[Mike Sixel]

4 minutes ago, miller761 said:

Lee better show he can hit first,

 

So you'd rather have whom at second? Just call him up and see what happens until Lewis or Keaschell are ready.

[bean5302]

16 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Gasper. The others might have a future here. 

Gasper gets sporadic playing time. If you're okay with Brooks Lee being relegated to backup infielder who might get 100-150 PA for the rest of the year, it's fine.

[strumdatjag]

Julien.   Get him more at-bats in AAA.  Gasper had a decent Spring Training.  If he doesn’t produce at the plate, the Twins can then see if Julien is a reasonable option or maybe Luke Keaschall is ready to be called up.  

[CRF]

No brainer...Gasper.

[Jocko87]

1 minute ago, bean5302 said:

Nobody. He can't hit and he was weak defensively due to the lack of athleticism last year. He needs a solid 200 PA in AAA showing he's able to produce at the plate. Unless the Twins are ready to write him off entirely as a backup who gets sporadic playing time.

Can't hit. Except he's hit everywhere he's played. Weak defensively, except he's the second best infield defender anywhere near the 40 man behind Correa. Lack of athleticism or a back injury?

Did his dad cut you at some point?

He comes up and plays second base full time. Hits low in the lineup. Will be a stabilizer just with the glove.

[thelanges5]

This is a toughie. I’ve been on the #freemickey bandwagon since ST started. Probably has to be him although Miranda has looked the most lost at the plate. 

[jmlease1]

10 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Nobody. He can't hit and he was weak defensively due to the lack of athleticism last year. He needs a solid 200 PA in AAA showing he's able to produce at the plate. Unless the Twins are ready to write him off entirely as a backup who gets sporadic playing time.

He didn't hit last season in MLB because he was battling injuries. defensively, he was our 2nd best SS last season behind Correa, our best 3B (looked excellent there), and while he had a couple of errors at 2B it was a small sample of innings and otherwise looked good there.

he also hit the cover off the ball in AAA last season (hello, .974 OPS!), so I'm not sure what another 200 ABs in AAA are going to prove.

When he comes up, he's starting every day at 2B or 3B.

[shimrod]

**

[dberthia]

This is a typical Minnesota Twins problem. Which of many under-performing players do we swap out to make room for another under-performing player? I get the feeling we're just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

[Mike Sixel]

This idea that some people here have that players, especially rookies, are fully developed is truly mind boggling to me. 

[bean5302]

3 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

This idea that some people here have that players, especially rookies, are fully developed is truly mind boggling to me. 

This idea that every prospect you want to be good will be good because TD hyped them to the moon is equally mind boggling to me.

 

23 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

So you'd rather have whom at second? Just call him up and see what happens until Lewis or Keaschell are ready.

Castro or Julien.

[DJL44]

26 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Gasper gets sporadic playing time. If you're okay with Brooks Lee being relegated to backup infielder who might get 100-150 PA for the rest of the year, it's fine.

Lee gets Gasper's roster spot and playing time from Miranda and Julien who both go to the bench. I'm fine with Miranda and/or Julien each being relegated to backup infielder who might get 150 PA for the rest of the year.

[IndianaTwin]

12 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Lee gets Gasper's roster spot and playing time from Miranda and Julien who both go to the bench. I'm fine with Miranda and/or Julien each being relegated to backup infielder who might get 150 PA for the rest of the year.

Crud -- I shouldn't have gone to the break room to heat my lunch. You beat me to saying essentially this statement. 

Based on usage to date, it would point to Gasper or Kiersey, but sending Kiersey down would be demoting someone who has a specific talent (speed and defense) and would likely require some outfield time for Castro. Thus, I think it's Gasper.

What I think you're saying, and what I agree with, is that if Lee doesn't hit, it's still better to have his defense in the lineup than have Miranda or Julien not hitting and not helping the defense. And even on days when you want to start Miranda or Julien, Lee provides an opportunity for a late-inning defensive replacement that Gasper doesn't. 

[DJL44]

It is worth debating whether the best defensive alignment is Castro 2B, Lee 3B or Castro 3B, Lee 2B.

[DKrz56]

The right answer is Julien BUT only if Rocco leaves Gasper on the bench like he should. If he plans to play everyone, which seems to be his MO, then just send Gasper down. 

[jorgenswest]

I have no idea. I hope someone steps up starting today and gets their name off this list. 

[Linus]

9 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

It is worth debating whether the best defensive alignment is Castro 2B, Lee 3B or Castro 3B, Lee 2B.

Either is better than Miranda / Julien or Miranda / Gasper. 

[jorgenswest]

2 minutes ago, DKrz56 said:

The right answer is Julien BUT only if Rocco leaves Gasper on the bench like he should. If he plans to play everyone, which seems to be his MO, then just send Gasper down. 

Everyone but Keirsey. Anyone recall a game where he has started?

Unless Buxton is playing 162 they are going to need games from him this year. Maybe he is the one who needs to go and get some at bats before Buxton goes down. Alternatively they might try to get him a start once a series.

[Twins GFP]

Someone needs to bring Keirsey into this discussion.  3 PA in 11 games shows how much value he has to this team.  Castro would see more OF.

[bean5302]

24 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Lee gets Gasper's roster spot and playing time from Miranda and Julien who both go to the bench. I'm fine with Miranda and/or Julien each being relegated to backup infielder who might get 150 PA for the rest of the year.

I'm fine with Gasper going to AAA and Miranda getting traded and Julien going to the bench. In regard to Brooks Lee getting every day playing time, I'd rather not hand the keys to Matt Tolbert 2.0.

[RpR]

1 minute ago, bean5302 said:

I'm fine with Gasper going to AAA and Miranda getting traded and Julien going to the bench. In regard to Brooks Lee getting every day playing time, I'd rather not hand the keys to Matt Tolbert 2.0.

Send Julien away permanently.

[Linus]

Ideally I would like Lee to get as many plate appearances in St Paul as needed to be comfortable. He hasn’t hit yet in the bigs so I want to give him the best chance for that to happen. 
As far who goes down?  Pick a number, any number.