Three Seasons In, I Still Have No Idea What to Make of Brooks Lee

[old nurse]

XWOBA was lower than WOBA  you predict falloff. BABIP  was lower than league average, thus predicting better hitting. The assumption of statistics shows 2 different outcomes

[StiltedGopher]

Let’s give Lee credit for incremental improvement though it has been a bit painful the past years having that development happen at the mlb level.  The Twins probably pencil Lee into third base next year.  He is satisfactory at that position.  The Twins need to figure out a lot of other needs that are not satisfactory.
 

However, there are options that may not fall off much and have an higher ceiling.  Assumption that Culpepper eventually moves off short for Marek Houston.  I hear 2B for Culpepper but he had a couple seasons at 3B in college.  Ben Ross was a 20/20 guy in St Paul - once settled in MLB wonder if he could exceed Lee.  The Morrisette guy at St Paul is interesting at 2nd - wonder if he could push Culpepper towards third rather than second. Fine if Clemens plays some second, I would not make him ‘the’ second baseman.  
 

I started this thinking Lee isn’t the Twins worry right now.  But thinking through this - they have options that would likely hold steady and possibly provide upside.  I certainly would consider trade options that might help other spots (bullpen, 2B, short term catcher), but wouldn’t give Lee away.  And if he is 3B to start next year, maybe he keeps on the incremental improvement.  

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

14 minutes ago, StiltedGopher said:

 Ben Ross was a 20/20 guy in St Paul - once settled in MLB wonder if he could exceed Lee.  The Morrisette guy at St Paul is interesting at 2nd - wonder if he could push Culpepper towards third rather than second. Fine if Clemens plays some second, I would not make him ‘the’ second baseman.

Crazy talk, Morrisette is a year older than Lee and has never played in the majors, Ross is 6 months younger has 21 plate appearances in the majors and they might push Lee off a position? You don't think if Lee was in the minors he would be putting up better numbers than either of them two. He hit more homers in the majors than either of those two did in the minors. Both of those two guys future are utility/bench guys. 🫣

[Trov]

Lee was drafted as a high floor but low ceiling kind of guy. This year he appears to be getting that floor up there. Might he regress, yes, might he build on it, yes. I doubt he will ever be a star, but if can be a solid average at bat, and put up average defense, where ever he lands, that is okay. Not all high picks turn out to be stars, some never play a major league game. 

[Mike Sixel]

16 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

The underlying metrics give pause for skepticism, totally fair.  But I think this kid's makeup is one worth betting on.  I think he's going to be a good player for us and one that we can pencil in the lineup everyday at 3B for the forseeable future.

This. There is room for skepticism.... But he's gotten better each year and he's finally at third. I expect slightly better results next year. 

[HerbieFan]

Man, the Raleigh season is one of the biggest mysteries of 2026.  On Brooks, I think we saw this year what he is.  Not an All-Star, but a guy who can play above average defense, give you a .740 OPS with 60 extra base hits and drive in 80 runs (Yes, I believe there is still value in driving in runs...it's the object of the game isn't it?  To score runs?...lol).  

[SE23]

His scouting report shows that he was expected to be better than a "high floor" player. I would argue that he is SLOWLY working his way towards his potential ceiling. A 65 hit tool suggests a .275-.300 hitter, which he has not yet attained. But if he continues to improve, he can reach that level. Maybe 25-30 HR satisfies the 55 Power number? So, is a .280 hitter with 27 HR and 88 RBI (who also fields his position more than dependably) a 60 Overall player.