Brooks Lee is Built for the Big Moment

Brooks Lee has been a polarizing player over the last few years. The former No. 8 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft came with plenty of expectations, and when you’re selected that high, there’s naturally going to be pressure attached to every step of your development. Lee was viewed as one of the top prospects not only in the Twins’ system, but across all of baseball. Throughout his climb through the minors, he produced like it. The switch-hitting infielder batted .289/.360/.476 in the minor leagues, while showing the type of advanced approach at the plate that hinted at the upside of a steady middle-of-the-order bat in the majors.

Because of that, the expectations surrounding Lee became massive. While 2026 has been the best year of his major-league career so far, it still feels like there’s another level waiting to be unlocked. The overall numbers are solid—not jaw-dropping, but certainly not disappointing, either. Entering Wednesday’s game, Lee was hitting .259 with a .315 on-base percentage and 16 extra-base hits across 51 games. His .731 OPS is 77 points higher than where he finished last season, and overall, there’s been noticeable growth offensively. His at-bats look more competitive, his contact quality (while still not great) has improved, and he’s looked more comfortable against big-league pitching. All in all, Lee is taking legitimate steps forward at the plate.

But one thing that hasn’t gotten talked about enough is just how clutch he’s been. It feels like every time the Twins find themselves in a big spot with multiple runners in scoring position, Lee finds a way to come through. Considering the fact that he spent the first three-quarters of the season to date hitting eighth or ninth in the batting order, it’s pretty remarkable that he currently leads the Twins with 30 RBIs. That’s a player consistently delivering when the opportunities matter most.

Tuesday night in Chicago was just the latest example. The Twins and White Sox found themselves locked in an extra-inning battle that stretched into the 11th inning. Once again, Lee stepped to the plate in a massive situation, this time with the bases loaded.

After quickly falling behind 0-2 in the count, Lee stayed composed. He ripped a bases-clearing double off the wall in right field that broke the game open and sealed the victory for Minnesota. It was another huge moment, and at this point, it’s becoming expected. That wasn’t the first time Lee has delivered in a pressure-packed situation this season. As a matter of fact, he’s been at his best in those moments. Despite only having 17 high-leverage plate appearances so far this year, Lee is 6-for-15 in those situations with 11 of his 30 RBIs coming in key spots.

That’s an absurd percentage of run production coming in the biggest moments of games, and right now, there may not be anybody on this Twins roster more trustworthy when the pressure ramps up. What makes it even more impressive is that it hasn’t only shown up offensively.

Lee’s defense has been far from spectacular this season; there’s really no way around that. He’s been a pretty weak defender overall, and that’s the area of his game that clearly needs the most polishing. But even with some of the defensive struggles, he’s still managed to come through in huge moments in the field, too.

The play that stands out most came a few weeks ago in Cleveland. In another extra-inning game that went to the 11th inning, the Guardians hit a ball sharply up the middle that looked like it had a chance to tie the game. Lee ranged over, made a sliding stop, popped up quickly, and fired a strong, accurate throw to first base to end the game. It was a massive moment against a division rival, and once again, Lee was the player who delivered. Though it was marred by a questionable obstruction call against Royce Lewis, Lee also made a great stop and heads-up throw in a tense late-game situation against the Brewers earlier this month.

That’s the thing about certain players; even when their overall performance still has room for growth, they can rise to the occasion when the game is on the line. Some guys just seem to slow the moment down better than others. Increasingly, Lee feels like one of those guys. There’s absolutely still another level he can reach offensively. His power could continue developing, and his plate discipline can improve even more. Defensively, there are still plenty of adjustments to be made, especially as he moves from shortstop to third base. But those things can all improve with time and experience. The clutch factor is different, and that’s something not every player has.

For a Twins team that has struggled at times this season (and in years past) to capitalize in high-leverage situations offensively, Lee has quietly become one of the few players consistently providing exactly that. It’s easy to focus on the overall slash line or compare him to the expectations that came with being a top-10 pick. But what Lee is doing in the biggest moments deserves far more attention than it’s getting.

Whether it’s a bases-loaded at-bat in extra innings or a game-saving defensive play against a rival, Lee continues to look completely comfortable when the pressure is at its highest. For the Twins, that trait may end up becoming one of the most valuable parts of his game.