Brooks Lee is stepping into the 2026 season as the Minnesota Twins’ starting shortstop, a role he inherited after the team traded Carlos Correa back to the Houston Astros. This marks a pivotal moment for Lee, who needs to solidify his place in the lineup not just for now, but for the long haul.
Shortstop is no walk in the park defensively, and Lee’s performance last season was a mixed bag. In 64 starts and 77 games, he clocked in with a -1 outs above average and committed six errors.
Acknowledging his limited range, Lee dedicated the offseason to boosting his lateral quickness and strength. While coaches and scouts have noticed improvements in spring training, the jury is still out on whether this will translate into a defensive transformation.
Offensively, Lee’s potential is where the spotlight shines brightest. Over two seasons, his batting line of .232/.279/.357 with 19 home runs and a 75 wRC+ (where 100 is average) leaves room for growth. The Twins drafted him as a high-floor, low-ceiling prospect, and with shortstop prospects Kaelen Culpepper and Merrick Houston waiting in the wings, the clock is ticking for Lee to step up his game.
Jorge Polanco’s journey offers a blueprint for Lee. Despite defensive limitations, Polanco carved out a successful stint at shortstop thanks to his prowess at the plate.
Over his career with the Twins, Polanco posted a .269/.334/.446 line with 112 home runs and a 111 OPS+. His ability to deliver at the plate kept him in the lineup, even as his fielding prompted a move to second base.
In the minors, Lee showcased his potential with an impressive .836 OPS from 2022 to 2024. However, to emulate Polanco’s success, Lee must work on his exit velocity, which currently averages 87.8 MPH, below the league average of 88.8 MPH. His strikeout rate is encouraging at 16.7%, better than the league’s 22.2%, but his walk rate of 5.9% lags behind the 8.4% average.
Lee’s swing decisions are crucial. His 23.1% whiff rate is better than average, yet his aggressive 50.4% swing rate, coupled with a 32.7% chase rate, suggests he’s swinging at too many pitches outside the zone. As pitchers adjust by throwing fewer strikes, Lee needs to refine his pitch selection to drive more competitive offerings.
Fastballs are Lee’s bread and butter, as evidenced by a +8 rating against them in 2025. However, he struggles with off-speed pitches, showing a -7 rating against changeups and -9 against sliders. Polanco’s balanced approach, with a +3 rating across all pitches, underscores the importance of selective aggression.
A position change might be on the horizon for Lee, similar to Polanco’s shift to second base. But his future with the Twins hinges on his bat. By adopting a more disciplined approach at the plate, Lee can unlock the potential that made him a top draft pick.
As the Twins gear up for their season opener in Baltimore, Lee has the opportunity to cement his status. Prospects like Culpepper and Houston are nipping at his heels, but for now, the starting shortstop position is Lee’s to lose. To stay there, he’ll need to channel his minor league success and prove he’s the offensive force the Twins envisioned.