Can Brooks Lee Solidify Himself as Minnesota Twins' Long-Term Shortstop in 2026?

Entering the 2025 MLB regular season, Minnesota Twins infielder Brooks Lee was considered one of the club's "make-or-break" players, sporting a key role in the club's ability to return to the postseason following a cataclysmic late-season collapse in 2024. Unfortunately, Lee missed the first 15 games of the 2025 season after being placed on the 10-day IL in late March with a lumbar strain. The former first-round pick returned to the club's lineup on Apr. 13, stepping in as the club's primary third baseman with Royce Lewis on the 10-day IL with a left hamstring strain and José Miranda being demoted to Triple-A following a dreadful start to his 2025 campaign.

Lee showcased minimal production for the largely sputtering Twins (sans a 13-game win streak in mid-May), hitting .252/.291/.382 with 78 hits, 10 doubles, 10 home runs, and an 85 wRC+ over 330 plate appearances from April 13 through July 31. During that stretch, the switch-hitting infielder shuffled between second base, third base, and shortstop, executing a utility infield role identical to the role he fulfilled during his 2024 rookie campaign. However, the second-year infielder's role quickly changed following the trade deadline mass exodus wherein Twins decision-makers traded starting shortstop Carlos Correa to the Houston Astros, making Lee the club's new primary shortstop in response.

Despite finding himself in a newfound full-time role, the 24-year-old continued to struggle at the plate, hitting .208/.274/.348 with 37 hits, five doubles, six home runs, and a 72 wRC+ over 197 plate appearances. Possessing an above-average 15.7% strikeout rate, Lee demonstrated a plus eye at the plate, similar to his first-half performance. Yet, he failed to make quality contact, sporting a well-below-average Exit Velocity and Barrel rate this season. He also struggled defensively at shortstop this season, netting -8 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) over 595 innings played at the position.

In an ideal world, the Twins' front office could scour the shortstop market this winter, intending to sign a touted veteran like Bo Bichette or Trevor Story to a multiyear contract in an effort to solidify the position long-term. Yet, given that team decision-makers will again be operating under significant spending restrictions this offseason, Lee will likely enter the 2026 season as Minnesota's primary shortstop.

Although this may be an inopportune short-term outlook over the position highest on the defensive spectrum, Lee could be demoted back to a utility infield role, contingent upon the development of the organization's second-ranked prospect. Posting a 138 wRC+ over 517 plate appearances between High-A and Double-A, Kaelen Culpepper was the recipient of the Sherry Robertson Award, crowning him the organization's 2025 Minor League Player of the Year. The 22-year-old earned this honor while sporting exceptional defense at shortstop, signaling he could blossom into a plus defensive shortstop at the major league level.

That being the case, Culpepper is likely to begin his 2026 campaign at Triple-A St. Paul, knocking on the door of making his major league debut. Lee will be rewarded a window of opportunity wherein he can supplant the club's long-term answer at shortstop early next season. Yet, his leash will understandably be short. If he continues to struggle at the plate while sporting below-average defense at shortstop, there is reason Culpepper could usurp him at the position early next season.

Interestingly, if Lee and Culpepper don't pan out at shortstop and transition to full-time roles at other positions or absorb utility roles, 2025 first-round pick Marek Houston could also develop into a long-term solution at the position. Despite undergoing one of the more dreadful seasons in team history, Minnesota possesses two top prospects who could blossom into long-term regulars at the position. If Lee continues to flounder at the major league level, the organization could quickly move on from the 2023 first-round pick, handing the position over to one of Culpepper or Houston.