It’s safe to say that switch-hitter Brooks Lee has disappointed so far in his young career. Just two years ago, MLB Pipeline ranked the young infielder No. 18 among MLB prospects. In 189 games with the Twins over the past two seasons, Lee has posted -1.0 bWAR and a modest .232/.279/.357 (75 OPS+) slash line with 19 home runs and 91 RBI, and has struggled defensively.
It’s important to remember that Lee is still very young and turns 25 this week. There are also reasons to believe he will turn his career around; the shortstop doesn’t score much after posting a 17.5% strikeout rate (74th percentile) last season, and in 2025 he also had a solid 28.7% squared-up rate (28.7%).
Despite his ability to limit strikeouts and make contact, Lee’s 2025 baseball savant page is riddled with blue. He doesn’t run much at all (5.9% walk rate), often makes weak contact (average exit velocity of 90 mph) and has defensive issues (-4 outs above average). He is also a below average runner.
Defensively, Lee is probably better suited as a full-time second baseman than as a shortstop. He wasn’t great at second base either, but it would be easier for him to improve at the center infield position located next to first base.
JJ Cooper drew national attention to Lee’s defensive struggles a recent episode of Baseball America’s Prospect Podcast.
Baseball America gives harsh but accurate assessment of Twins shortstop Brooks Lee
“The Minnesota Twins are currently without a shortstop‘, said Kuiper.And I mean really, Brooks Lee is not a shortstop. I’m sorry, but there’s no logical path to saying Brooks Lee will be defensively what you want to get from an MLB shortstop.”
Lee has the tools to improve offensively, but it’s doubtful his defense at shortstop will improve, which is likely a big reason Minnesota signed strong defensive shortstop Orlando Arcia to a minor league deal this offseason. But while Arcia could be a solid shortstop option for Minnesota in 2026, he shouldn’t be an everyday starter or in Minnesota’s long-term plans.
Kaelen Culpepper could be the shortstop of the future for the Twins. Cooper said he doesn’t think Culpepper is an MLB-caliber shortstop, but the 2024 first-round pick likely has a better chance than Lee to succeed at the position. MLB Pipeline notes Culpepper’s lack of reach and suggests he will likely play third and second base in the Majors. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Copper noted that Minnesota’s 2025 first-round pick Marek Houston is a great defensive shortstop. However, Cooper said:We don’t know how much [Houston is] going to hitLast season, Houston dominated at the plate in 12 games for Low-A Fort Myers, hitting .370/.424/.444 in 59 at-bats, but struggled in 12 games with High-A Cedar Rapids, hitting .152/.220/.239 in 51 at-bats.
Even with Lee’s issues last season, he deserves patience from Twins fans regarding his bat. But when it comes to his shortstop defense, it’s highly unlikely the former top-20 prospect will improve. Therefore, either Culpepper or Houston will likely be Minnesota’s starting shortstop at some point in the near future.
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