In Fort Myers, the buzz of spring training is in full swing, and while it's a season filled with players boasting about their offseason transformations, Brooks Lee is letting his performance do the talking. The Twins' promising 25-year-old shortstop has caught the eye of many, and not just with his bat.
Twins infield coach Ramon Borrego noted, “He came in better shape. You can see physically he looks good.” It seems the sentiment is shared widely, with new manager Derek Shelton hearing it from multiple sources: “Probably 15 people have said to me, ‘Man, Brooks looks great.’”
Lee's offseason was all about speed and defense. After a candid exit meeting with former manager Rocco Baldelli, it was clear that to secure his spot as the Twins’ everyday shortstop, Lee needed to boost his defensive range.
Last season, some metrics weren't kind to him. Sports Info Solutions had him at negative-eight runs saved, highlighting struggles with balls hit to his left.
StatCast was slightly less harsh, placing him 23rd out of 37 qualifying shortstops, but still below average.
Standing at 6-1 and weighing in at 215 pounds, Lee is aware of his physical presence on the field. “I’m a bigger [shortstop], so I have to be able to use what I can to get certain balls, because I make the play usually when it’s in my glove,” Lee explained. His accuracy and hands are assets, but he knows those aren’t enough if he can’t reach the ball in the first place.
To address this, Lee focused on refining his first step after the ball is hit. Previously, he tended to lunge forward, which hampered his lateral movement. By honing this aspect of his game, he's working to ensure that those balls just out of reach last season are within his grasp this year.
With these adjustments, Lee is aiming to transform his defensive game and prove that he’s not just in the best shape of his life, but ready to make a significant impact for the Twins. As spring training unfolds, all eyes will be on how these changes translate onto the field.