Twins Daily Draft Preview: Brooks Lee

[Jamie Cameron]

Brooks Lee has been a name at the top of big boards since the beginning of the pre-draft process. In recent weeks, some mock drafts have him falling to the Twins at eight. Read up on why the Twins should jump at the chance to draft the best hitter in college baseball.

As we get closer to the first round of the MLB Draft on Sunday, Twins Daily is wrapping up its individual player draft profiles. Today, we look at a consensus top five prospect who could slip to the Twins at eight, Brooks Lee.

Who is He?
Brooks Lee is a 6’2, 205-pound shortstop who plays for Cal Poly under the tutelage of his father (and prestigious hitting coach), Larry Lee. Lee places as high as second overall and as low as fifth overall on industry big boards. He is fourth overall in our consensus big board There have been sources linking him with the Twins in recent weeks. He will be 21 on draft day.

Why the Twins Will Draft Him
Lee is one of the few prospects who has been at the top of big boards since the beginning of the pre-draft process. This spring for the Mustangs, he put together a 1.125 OPS and hit 15 home runs. Not to be stifled by wonderings about the strength of his conference, this outstanding performance was on the back of a .677 SLG in the Cape Cod League during the summer prior to the 2022 season.

Lee is a switch hitter with a 65-70 grade hit tool and above-average power. Throughout his career, he has been able to generate more consistent power from the left side. Lee has incredible bat-to-ball skills and almost never strikes out. In 2022, he put together a 20 BB% and a measly 11 K%, making him one of the safest hitters in the class with an incredibly high floor.

Lee has a good arm and is solid defensively but has limited speed that impedes his range. It’s likely that he eventually moved to third base at the major league level. While Twins fans may not have considered him as a possibility at number eight overall, he has a skill set that will appeal to the Twins model-based approach and should hit for average and good power at the major league level.

Why the Twins Won't Draft Him
While it’s been an assumption that Lee would be gone by the time the Twins pick at eight, the early stages of the first round always produce curveballs. It will take one team ahead of the Twins to be enamored with a prospect who is not considered ‘consensus top seven’ to upset draft boards and make a mockery of three months of mock drafts.

That said, Lee is a relatively safe choice who should move quickly through the minors with an incredibly well-developed approach and skill set. I’d put the chances of him being around at eight overall at about ten percent. If he is, the Twins should be sprinting to the podium.

What are your thoughts on the Twins drafting Brooks Lee? Do you think he’s a good fit for Minnesota? Share your thoughts in the comments.

 

 

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[Dman]

Lot's of people on this board were hoping he might fall to the Twins from the very beginning of the Mocks this year.  He has been too good this year to fall to 8.  If he did fall out of the top 5 it would be almost impossible for MIami not to take him at number 6.  He would be an elite fast moving bat that can play 2nd or third at likely a plus level.  That is exactly what Miami needs and there is a chance he falls to 6 but I can't see him falling further than being Miami's dream scenario pick.  Even the Cubs would likely want him.  If he was one of the top 7 to fall to the Twins it would be an easy call even though we already have a glut of 2nd/3rd baseman type players.  The bat is just too good to pass up.

[roger]

Interesting, and a great first name for someone playing the left side of the infield.  How can he not be special, eh?

Seems different/better than some of the power bats the Twins have drafted recently, guys with little to no chance of playing defense.  Good news is that we will all know what happens in four days.

[DocBauer]

Reminds me somewhat of Turner when he slipped a few years ago after a so-so season with the bat. What a steal!

I can only assume Lee is being rumored to slip due to dis-belief in his sticking at SS.

[tony&rodney]

Lee should be gone by #8, but he would be the pick if available.

[The Mad King]

Sounds like our usual approach. Draft a SS knowing he has the athleticism to switch to another position in time. Let's hope it's a good one.

[ashbury]

Very prescient article.