Brooks Lee is as Good a Fit at Third Base as He Was a Bad One at Shortstop

[Matthew Trueblood]

Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Athleticism spreads across a baseball diamond in predictable ways. There are always outliers, because some geniuses find ways to succeed in unexpected places via their savvy, and because teams sometimes align their talent in strange ways for any number of reasons, but we know where the best athletes need to be during baseball games—and which kinds of athletes are most needed in which places. For instance, your tall, languid guy usually shouldn't be at third base. Nor should your fast but underpowered guy play there. No, speed goes in the outfield, and it goes up the middle. Arm strength is important on the left side of the infield and in the outfield.

Those are extreme examples, and extremes always make things seem obvious. Most real-life cases are more nuanced. Take, for instance, Brooks Lee. A stocky but strapping switch-hitter, Lee entered professional baseball as a shortstop. That was where he played in high school and in college, where he was an elite athlete. Even in the minors, he was an above-average runner and thrower (and hitter, for that matter), relative to all the players around him. Eventually, though, he came to the big leagues, and compared only to the 50 or so best players at each position in the Western hemisphere, his profile becomes a bit less impressive.

As we know, the Twins tried Lee at shortstop. It didn't work. In fact, it didn't work twice, but the team only fully recognized the failure the second time, when he cost them several runs over the first month and a half of the 2026 season. That's when they moved him to third base, and everything changed.

In 400 innings at shortstop this year, Lee was worth -9 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), according to Sports Info Solutions. In 738 innings at third base, he's been worth 7 DRS. The change is enormous. Only J.P. Crawford and Trea Turner have hurt their teams more as shortstop defenders than Lee did, despite how short a time he spent there. Only Matt Chapman, Alex Bregman, Caleb Durbin and Maikel García have saved their clubs more runs at the hot corner than Lee has, despite 16 players logging more innings at the position than he has.

Lee, as it turns out, is an extremely good fit for third base, even though he was an extremely bad fit for the spot that neighbors it on the infield. The values are extreme; so is the difference in the eye test. Yet, the reason for it is that Lee isn't extreme, himself, in any regard; he's just above- and below-average at things that make him much better-suited to one place than to the other.

Here are the average sprint speeds and arm strengths of players at each position, for 2026. 

Position	Sprint Speed (ft./sec.)	Arm Strength (MPH)
Catcher	26.1	80.3
First Base	26.3	79.4
Second Base	27.7	79.2
Third Base	27.1	84.9
Shortstop	27.9	86.2
Left Field	28	87.6
Center Field	28.7	89.5
Right Field	28.1	90.5
D.H.	26.1	—
Pitcher	—	94.7

As you would have guessed if I had asked you to do so blindly, outfielders are the fastest players on the field. Catchers, first basemen and designated hitters are the slowest. There's also an interesting hierarchy among the three more difficult infield spots, though. Shortstops are the fastest, with second basemen close behind; third basemen can be (and are) slower.

Reading the arm strength column is trickier. As anyone familiar with the game already knows, outfielders need strong arms, but they also enjoy the benefit of being able to load up and fire on their most important throws, generating greater raw arm strength readings than one finds on the infield—where a quick exchange and release is paramount. The latter is even more true of catchers, whose most important throws come when trying to throw out basestealers. Thus, while infielders generate lower raw velocity readings, it's safe to say that shortstop and catcher are the positions (other than pitcher, of course) where arm strength is most important, and where teams put their strongest arms, all else equal.

Even between infielders, though, these averages are apples and oranges. Players who play both second base and third base tend to throw 5-7 MPH harder from third than from second, for the obvious reason: the throw is longer. That means that it takes more oomph to get the ball to the first baseman, and that the runner has a greater chance to beat out a weak throw from the left side than from the right. We see a lower average arm strength among second basemen than among third basemen for the same reason as that which leads the same player's average throw to be harder from third than from second.

Compare shortstops and third basemen, though, and the dynamic changes. As you can see, shortstops have stronger arms, on average. That's because, though the third baseman is all the way across the diamond, they're often playing shallower than a shortstop; they more often make relatively short throws with their momentum taking them in the general direction of first base; and their longest, toughest throws tend to come from more set positions and after ranging less far than a shortstop's longest and toughest throws. Yet, of the seven players who have spent meaningful time at both third and short this year, none throw harder when playing short than when playing third. On the contrary:

• Two (Willi Castro and J.P. Crawford) throw almost exactly as hard, regardless of position; 
• Three (Kevin McGonigle, Bo Bichette and Joey Ortiz) throw between 1 and 2 MPH faster when playing third base; and
• Two (David Hamilton and Lee) throw over 3 MPH harder from the hot corner.

The game demands that exceptional athletes with elite throwing arms play shortstop. It does not, however, demand that those players use every ounce of their throwing power on most plays. In fact, third base requires a stronger arm on a median play than shortstop does. The shortstop just has to be a better thrower in order to convert the occasional, fairly extreme play.

Lee is an interesting case study, then. His sprint speed (26.4 feet per second) is virtually untenable for a shortstop, but just barely below-average for a third baseman. His arm is far below the average shortstop's, but not far at all below the average third baseman's—not because he's unable to uncork a strong throw, per se, but because he throws so much harder from third than from short. And why is that? Now, we've arrived at the crux of it. It's because Lee isn't fast enough. A lot of the balls on which Lee should have had to make stronger throws from shortstop ended up in left field, because he never got to them. Some others ended up in his glove, but he didn't even make a throw because he'd had to leave his feet to make the play and felt he had no chance to get his man.

There were still times, even at short, where you could see that Lee is a fine low-to-the-ground athlete and has a strong arm, just as he has above-average bat speed and surprising power at the plate. He does, theoretically, have the arm for short; the raw strength and rotational capacity is there. He just needed to have the advantage of having been shaded into the hole, so he could actually reach a ball that otherwise would have eluded him, and so that he could set his feet to make that throw.

Shortstops, who tend to have both kinds of baseball athleticism bound up into one body, can make that same play after having started the play a step farther toward second base. They'd have the area to their left better-covered, and they could still flag down this ball, turn enough to be accurate, and uncork a strong throw without being in the strong position Lee enjoyed when he threw out Ernie Clement on this play. That's what's missing for Lee. When he must throw on the move, he can't get much on it. When he must move a lot to get to a ball in the first place, there's a good chance he won't reach it. At shortstop, those are fatal flaws. At third, they're fairly unimportant. Most of the throws he makes on the move some as he ranges to his left, and are therefore short and fairly easy. Most of the balls that test his range are to that side, too; he can use the foul line as an extra defender. 

For some players forced to move off shortstop, second base makes more sense. For some, playing third doesn't solve many problems, because they have extremely good arm strength (good enough for short, even) but not the hands or the decision-making ability to be any better elsewhere on the dirt than they are at short. Lee is not elite, because his arm is still average or worse, but he's a very good third baseman, because his only shortcoming as a shortstop is being a step too slow. He's showed the utility of his arm since moving to third, and even a slight reduction in the range required of him has turned him from subpar to superb.

In the long run, Marek Houston and Kaelen Culpepper might conspire to threaten Lee's playing time even at third. For now, though, he's entrenched, and his job security is well-earned. He's not a great hitter, but he looks to be above-average in the right role, batting higher in the lineup against right-handed pitchers and lower against lefties. He's already hit a career-best 22 home runs this year, and has a good chance to get to 25. On both sides of the ledger, having the right things asked of him has revealed the best version of Lee, lending us insight into what makes various roles on a team different and interesting. He began the year a fringe big-leaguer who was a drag on the team. He could finish it as a solid prospective piece of an evolving roster.

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[SE23]

If Brooks just keeps improving incrementally at his current pace, he has a chance to be a 3.0 WAR player and a pillar of this roster for many years. Third base fit him like a glove, if you'll forgive the pun.

[stringer bell]

Agree with assessment. Lee is a far better fit at third base. I’ll add that he’s got soft hands and makes a quick transfer and is accurate, negating much of his arm strength deficit. He’s been good at charging bunts and slowly hit balls and he’s made good decisions on which base to throw to. 

[Major League Ready]

I will say this for him.  His throws are very accurate.  He makes it pretty stress free on the 1B.  The power is ramping up too so I could see him being a 3 WAR player as he hits his prime.

[PuckettPond]

Lee is @ home playing 3rd. Houston @ SS, Culpepper @ his natural position 2nd and 1st with Lewis. Will be the Twins greatest infield offensively & defensively in History of the franchise.

[Linus]

A lot of supposition in this piece Lee is an average third baseman, maybe slightly better. His greatest strength is he turns balls that should be outs into outs very reliably. His arm strength is below average but his throws are accurate. He’s improving year over year as a hitter but his OBP is below average and OPS average. He pops some homers but makes a lot of weak outs. The best thing about him as a hitter is that he is getting a little better year over year. If he is your floor you have a good team. If he is your ceiling you are in trouble. 

[Wedman13]

28 minutes ago, PuckettPond said:

Lee is @ home playing 3rd. Houston @ SS, Culpepper @ his natural position 2nd and 1st with Lewis. Will be the Twins greatest infield offensively & defensively in History of the franchise.

Lombardozzi may disagree i but like how your thinking.....

[LA Vikes Fan]

1 hour ago, Linus said:

A lot of supposition in this piece Lee is an average third baseman, maybe slightly better. His greatest strength is he turns balls that should be outs into outs very reliably. His arm strength is below average but his throws are accurate. He’s improving year over year as a hitter but his OBP is below average and OPS average. He pops some homers but makes a lot of weak outs. The best thing about him as a hitter is that he is getting a little better year over year. If he is your floor you have a good team. If he is your ceiling you are in trouble. 

Well put. Lee is very good complimentary player on a good team. Hits 6th or 7th, provides 20+ HR power, above average but not elite in the field. And he's only 25 so he might get better. No reason to be looking hard to replace him or move him for somebody else. Having said that, he isn't going to be one of the tent poles anchoring the team.

And that, in a nutshell, is our problem. We don't have any tent poles other than a fully healthy Byron Buxton. Jeffers is the only other position player that I would call it elite, i.e., in the top five or six in baseball at his position. Lopez and Ryan are potential tent poles on the pitching side as #2 and #3 starters (not as #1s) , but that's it over there. Let's be honest, we're not that many players away from being a truly contending team. The problem is the players we need are a true #1 starter, consistent #3 and #4 hitters, and a dominant closer. You know, the hardest things to find. Hey, maybe some of the young guys will become those players quickly.

[ashbury]

He's 25.  He's under team control through 2030.  Chances are we haven't seen his best season as a Twin yet.  If that's right, then there will be a place for him in the lineup and on the field.

I appreciate analytics but sometimes the analysis doesn't need to go very deep.

[S Bart]

Yes

[TJSweens]

Lee's play at 3B is good relative to his play at SS. I wouldn't call his play great at 3B great. I think he is a more natural 2B with his combined range, arm and IQ. If Houston ultimately claims SS, I like Culpepper with his reflexes and cannon arm at 3B.

[jimbo92107]

Spot on analysis. Brooks Lee was a step slow at short, but fits almost perfectly at the hot corner. He's a smart ballplayer, positions himself well, and almost always makes the right play. That's the profile of a solid MLB fielder. Frankly, now that he has found a position, I would not be surprised to see Lee start rounding out his game at the plate, too. 

Hard to say what will happen after Houston arrives, sometime in 2027. Lee is a good fit, right where he is. You don't change that unless you really need to. 

[USAFChief]

I'm pretty comfortable with the idea of Lee as the Twins regular 3ed baseman for the next few seasons. He's looked  very good defensively. And as oothers have noted, he's improving steadily as a hitter. 

 

[Nashvilletwin]

Don’t care for some of the negativity from a handful of posters.

Lee is already a legit  major leaguer who is only going to get better over the next four years he’s under control.

Houston won’t be ready until mid next year at the earliest to step in at SS and move Culpepper to 2B.  Until then, let Lee and Culpepper play 3B and SS, respectively.  They will improve and, by ‘28, we should have the core of our infield - other than 1B - set for the following three years at a minimum.  With Keaschall and Jenkins plus hopefully one or two more (Lackey, ERod, Gonzalez, Winokur, etc,), we should be excited about the future.

We just have to invest the innings and ABs to get these players whete they need to be.  Look what that has meant for Lee and Keaschall this past season.  That investment might mean some pain, especially in ‘27.  But it’s pain we must endure to compete for a World Series again.  It’s the only business model that has a chance.

[Jeff K]

8 hours ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Don’t care for some of the negativity from a handful of posters.

Lee is already a legit  major leaguer who is only going to get better over the next four years he’s under control.

Houston won’t be ready until mid next year at the earliest to step in at SS and move Culpepper to 2B.  Until then, let Lee and Culpepper play 3B and SS, respectively.  They will improve and, by ‘28, we should have the core of our infield - other than 1B - set for the following three years at a minimum.  With Keaschall and Jenkins plus hopefully one or two more (Lackey, ERod, Gonzalez, Winokur, etc,), we should be excited about the future.

We just have to invest the innings and ABs to get these players whete they need to be.  Look what that has meant for Lee and Keaschall this past season.  That investment might mean some pain, especially in ‘27.  But it’s pain we must endure to compete for a World Series again.  It’s the only business model that has a chance.

I could not agree with you more!  The team has to commit to the youngsters with promise.

[Nashvilletwin]

3 minutes ago, Jeff K said:

I could not agree with you more!  The team has to commit to the youngsters with promise.

The Tigers traded their stud starter at the deadline and started six rookies last night.  They are taking their lumps but were under no delusions about their ‘26 season.  Instead, they are investing in the future now - even if it means they played like a minor league team the past three games.  Those six rookies are getting valuable ABs and innings that will pay off next season and beyond.  Smart.

[Eris]

There was never an expectation that Brooks Lee would stick at SS. One of the flaws in the Twins player development is not identifying the best MLB position for some of their prospects and making sure they get lots of minor league experience at that position. Players who have played most of their minor league at SS for the Twins include Lee, Martin and Lewis. I don’t think this is a good strategy. 

[TJSweens]

9 hours ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Don’t care for some of the negativity from a handful of posters.

Lee is already a legit  major leaguer who is only going to get better over the next four years he’s under control.

Houston won’t be ready until mid next year at the earliest to step in at SS and move Culpepper to 2B.  Until then, let Lee and Culpepper play 3B and SS, respectively.  They will improve and, by ‘28, we should have the core of our infield - other than 1B - set for the following three years at a minimum.  With Keaschall and Jenkins plus hopefully one or two more (Lackey, ERod, Gonzalez, Winokur, etc,), we should be excited about the future.

We just have to invest the innings and ABs to get these players whete they need to be.  Look what that has meant for Lee and Keaschall this past season.  That investment might mean some pain, especially in ‘27.  But it’s pain we must endure to compete for a World Series again.  It’s the only business model that has a chance.

Wow. I said he better at 3B than SS, but would probably be a better fit at 2B. What negativity.

[Old Twins Hat]

Lee is the type of solid overall player and stable emotional performer that will one day end up playing for the Yankees.

The short porch in right at Yankee Stadium will result in an additional 5-10 HRs.

He will be much esteemed and loved by their fans.

I guarantee it.

[Woof Bronzer]

One of my goals for 2026 was giving Lee, Lewis, Keaschall, Wallner a full season - just let 'em play, and see if they are part of the future.  And to the Twins credit I think they accomplished this, at least for 3 of the 4 (Lewis is an open question IMO).   The team needs to develop and utilize its own talent and I still think there's room for Lee to grow both offensively and defensively.  I'm very happy that the Twins gave him the full season there, even when he started slow.  He's locked into 3B for me.  I doubt he's ever going to be a star but as folks have mentioned, a 3 WAR player is within reach and that would make him above average.  

Frustrating year in many aspects but for me Lee's progress is a very positive development.

[jmlease1]

There's something to be said for a player being able to just make all of the plays they're expected to make at a position. At 3B, Brooks Lee is definitely on that path; at SS his lack of range simply had too many balls going past him that he couldn't get to, as explained quite well in this piece.

It's also quite a good sign that Lee has improved significantly every season as a hitter, and it's not like this year's stats are inflated by an unsustainable and uncharacteristic BABIP or something like that. There are definitely still areas in which he could improve, and after this season's general success hitting fastballs I would expect he'll see a lot fewer of them next year, so that will be an important adjustment. If he can figure out his RH swing that's probably the area where we could see the most impact.

Another positive: he's not put up these numbers by having one outstanding month and then 2 crappy ones. He's been fairly consistent all season, regardless of the position he's played or what's going on for him in the field. Take a few more walks, chase fewer of those off-speed pitches low and away, be less crappy against LHP, and continue to hone your game at 3B...that's a quality starter.

 

[Road trip]

17 hours ago, PuckettPond said:

Lee is @ home playing 3rd. Houston @ SS, Culpepper @ his natural position 2nd and 1st with Lewis. Will be the Twins greatest infield offensively & defensively in History of the franchise.

I love the optimism, but check out this group from what is ancient history for many on the board.  You won't find many infields that generate 20 WAR:

Rk	Player	Age	Pos	WAR	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	rOBA	Rbat+	TB	GIDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos	Awards
1	John Roseboro*	36	C	0.4	115	406	361	33	95	12	0	3	32	5	5	39	44	.263	.333	.321	.654	81	.308	76	116	6	0	3	3	12	*2/H	AS
2	Rich Reese*	27	1B	3.1	132	451	419	52	135	24	4	16	69	1	5	23	57	.322	.362	.513	.875	139	.394	141	215	6	5	1	3	3	*3H/7	MVP-29
3	Rod Carew*	23	2B	5.5	123	504	458	79	152	30	4	8	56	19	8	37	72	.332	.386	.467	.853	134	.411	148	214	7	3	6	0	0	*4/H	AS,MVP-10
4	Leo Cárdenas	30	SS	5.1	160	665	578	67	162	24	4	10	70	5	6	66	96	.280	.353	.388	.741	104	.349	106	224	19	4	8	9	12	*6	MVP-12
5	Harmon Killebrew	33	3B	6.2	162	709	555	106	153	20	2	49	140	8	2	145	84	.276	.427	.584	1.011	177	.454	180	324	16	5	0	4	20	53

Nobody threatened to win a Gold Glove, but they sure could hit.  The '69 Twins also had Cesar Tovar as a utility man, and he put up another 4.6 WAR playing about a third of his games in the infield.