Get to Know Twins Draft Pick Brooks Lee

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Minnesota Twins didn’t have a good season in 2021 and they were rewarded with the 8th overall pick in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft. After a few seasons of later picks, they were in a position to draft a prospect of impact. When Cal Poly’s Brooks Lee fell into their lap, there’s no denying the organization’s excitement level reached unparalleled proportions.

 

 

Brooks Lee was considered to be a contender for the first overall pick at different points during the draft cycle. An elite hitter with incredible bat-to-ball skills, Lee could’ve helped any number of teams making a selection at the top of this draft. He was an incredible talent for Cal Poly, and he replicated the success in Cape Cod action. Playing for his dad, Larry, at Cal Poly always seemed to be part of the plan, but there was never any doubt that he’d be a top-tier big league prospect.

He has now agreed to an over-slot deal with the Twins, checking in at roughly $5.6 million. He still needs to sign the paperwork, but his big league career is set to begin. Before it does, I had the opportunity to check in with him.

Twins Daily: As someone that came into the draft looking like a top pick, how was the leadup and anticipation to draft day for you? What was the experience like?

Brooks Lee: It was a pretty different experience, unlike the one I had in high school, because in high school I was still deciding whether I wanted to go play for my dad or not. This draft I was already past that and super excited to see where I would land.

TD: You got to play for your dad in college and have been around a high level of baseball for quite some time. How has that shaped you as a player?

BL: I think it was super beneficial that I got to be around the game at such a young age. I feel like I see the game from a different perspective at times, in a good way. For much of my life I have been involved with college baseball so I believe it’s really helped in the areas of dealing with failure and learning how to create a winning culture. 

TD: Every publication has written about your elite bat-to-ball skills. What about your preparation and process make you so good at the plate?

BL: I have a unique way of hitting and have always been this way. I think the bat-to-ball skills is something that was developed from a really young age. I was forced to swing at every pitch no matter where it was in batting practice which later on helped hitting different pitches in certain areas, especially with two strikes. I love to hit and talk about that part of the game, so it’s super enjoyable to prepare in this area and learn ways to be more advanced.

TD: When looking at the next level, what are things about your game that you think will help ease the transition, and what areas are you most looking to develop?

BL: I think my understanding of the game is what will help in the biggest way. I will never say I know everything about the game but being around coach and dad who knew so much will definitely help. The areas I want to get better at are speed and arm strength.

TD: What do you know about the Minnesota Twins? Have you ever been to Target Field?

BL: I know that the Twins are in 1st place in the AL Central and I’m excited to help them keep trending in the right direction whenever that time may be. I played summer ball in Minnesota a couple of years ago and loved it, so I can’t wait to be back doing what I love there.

TD: As a person or player, what do you want Twins Territory to know about you?

BL: I am a hard-working, selfless kid from California who just wants to win.

 

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[Karbo]

Twins look like they got lucky this year. All reports I've seen about this kid are vey promising. Hopefully in a few years He can live up to those expectations at the MLB level!

[Dman]

Great bat to ball skills are generally the best predictor of hitting success and he has those in spades. He just needs to keep his body healthy and keep doing what he is already doing.  He was the player I wanted to fall to the Twins the most out of any other College player in the top 10 of the draft.  A switch hitting elite bat is very. very hard to find and with a chance at elite defense at third base he has a chance at All Star potential if it all clicks.  I really felt the Twins got lucky for once as it looked like they were going to get squeezed out of the top 7 bats only to have possibly the best bat fall to number 8.

[Thebigalguy]

You can never know anymore, but this player with his pedigree and skills will make a place for himself in MLB, whether eventually with the Twins or elsewhere. I'd trade him right now for a MLB-ready top shelf starting pitcher.

[cmoss84]

He really does seem like a great pick, but has there been any speculation as to why he dropped (minus the Kumar ordeal)?

[TwinsAce]

1 hour ago, cmoss84 said:

He really does seem like a great pick, but has there been any speculation as to why he dropped (minus the Kumar ordeal)?

BAL and ARZ were expected, so like you said, Rocker was the big twist at #3.  I'd imagine if Texas had gone a more typical approach, Lee might have been the pick.  But a college SS/INF doesn't fit a "need" (arguable since BPA) for them since they have Semien and Seager locked up along with Josh Jung as their top prospect at AAA (and Ezequiel Duran and Josh Smith and Justin Forscue....you get the point.)

PIT went with the HS player and great hitter, but I think they liked Termarr from earlier reports. (Also are similar to TEX with some higher prospects in the INF either at MLB level or still coming.)
WAS, MIA, and CHC were a bit surprising though.  WAS must be looking at replacing their Soto spot...going with the high upside.  They also just need prospects in general... MIA needs a big bat and fast, so Berry isn't that crazy to picture for them.  (Also 4 SS prospects in their top 15, all at A+ or lower.)  And Cubs going with Horton makes it seem like they had a crazy plan in place, kind of like TEX.

Still, surprising to see Lee drop as well as Parada (or even Collier.)

[nicksaviking]

It was a great pick, the Twins got lucky he fell to them.

The one thing I wonder about is, if he's such a great contact hitter, and his dad is a well regarded college hitting coach, is there going to be an ability, or willingness to adjust as needed? The Twins have been fantastic about getting more power out of college hitters once they joined the system, but this does sound quite a bit like Joe Mauer, where no more tinkering or refining was going to occur.

Not that he's only a slap hitter or anything. Clearly he's able to put some over the fences as it stands now.

[RpR]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

It was a great pick, the Twins got lucky he fell to them.

The one thing I wonder about is, if he's such a great contact hitter, and his dad is a well regarded college hitting coach, is there going to be an ability, or willingness to adjust as needed? The Twins have been fantastic about getting more power out of college hitters once they joined the system, but this does sound quite a bit like Joe Mauer, where no more tinkering or refining was going to occur.

Not that he's only a slap hitter or anything. Clearly he's able to put some over the fences as it stands now.

It has been a couple weeks since the Mendoza line was where the rookies were at, let's see how this goes after two more weeks.

Wishful thinking about new rookies is just that, wishful thinking.

[wabene]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

It was a great pick, the Twins got lucky he fell to them.

The one thing I wonder about is, if he's such a great contact hitter, and his dad is a well regarded college hitting coach, is there going to be an ability, or willingness to adjust as needed? The Twins have been fantastic about getting more power out of college hitters once they joined the system, but this does sound quite a bit like Joe Mauer, where no more tinkering or refining was going to occur.

Not that he's only a slap hitter or anything. Clearly he's able to put some over the fences as it stands now.

Kirilloff had a similar situation, without hanging around a college program. I'll bet he hung around college and maybe all levels of players at his dad's hitting school. From my lense with AK, he came with the approach he is using still. Maybe the Twins aren't forcing a plan on well developed hitters. 

[nicksaviking]

8 minutes ago, RpR said:

It has been a couple weeks since the Mendoza line was where the rookies were at, let's see how this goes after two more weeks.

Wishful thinking about new rookies is just that, wishful thinking.

What rookies? I think you have your posts confused.

[nicksaviking]

4 minutes ago, wabene said:

Kirilloff had a similar situation, without hanging around a college program. I'll bet he hung around college and maybe all levels of players at his dad's hitting school. From my lense with AK, he came with the approach he is using still. Maybe the Twins aren't forcing a plan on well developed hitters. 

Yeah, I don't want anything forced, I just don't want to miss out on 30 HR potential if it's there.

[wabene]

Just now, nicksaviking said:

Yeah, I don't want anything forced, I just don't want to miss out on 30 HR potential if it's there.

Yep I was referring to the perception that TR's staff did just that. Big Papi of course as the cautionary tale. Plouffe weighed in etc. 

[RpR]

7 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

What rookies? I think you have your posts confused.

Any one who is new, or WILL BE  new, to pro-ball is a rookie; a prospect is a name on a business sheet of paper, a rookie is some who is/will be holding a bat for money.

Kirilloff, Miranda, Celestino, Larnach are all still rookies.

[nicksaviking]

2 minutes ago, RpR said:

Any one who is new, or WILL BE  new, to pro-ball is a rookie; a prospect is a name on a business sheet of paper, a rookie is some who is/will be holding a bat for money.

Kirilloff, Miranda, Celestino, Larnach are all still rookies.

I have no idea what you are talking about. I mentioned the organization has been good at finding more power with the college hitters, i.e. Steer, Isola, CES.

Your comment was completely off topic. 

[2wins87]

Awesome news!  Looking forward to getting to follow his career very soon.

[roger]

Great seeing them get the top pick signed and I for one was fearful it was going to require more than $75k over to get it done.  Now they can get to work signing all those guys in the top 10 rounds to pick up the dollars it is going to cost to get the pitcher from Tomah signed.  Hopefully, a bit over $2M will get it done.

[theBOMisthebomb]

14 hours ago, Dman said:

Great bat to ball skills are generally the best predictor of hitting success and he has those in spades. He just needs to keep his body healthy and keep doing what he is already doing.  He was the player I wanted to fall to the Twins the most out of any other College player in the top 10 of the draft.  A switch hitting elite bat is very. very hard to find and with a chance at elite defense at third base he has a chance at All Star potential if it all clicks.  I really felt the Twins got lucky for once as it looked like they were going to get squeezed out of the top 7 bats only to have possibly the best bat fall to number 8.

The switch hitting is intriguing. I didn't know that until watching this highlight reel. Although I personally don't get too excited about prospects sine all prospects are suspects and the impact from this kid is many years away. It seems the Twins did score big on this one.

[joefish]

12 hours ago, RpR said:

It has been a couple weeks since the Mendoza line was where the rookies were at, let's see how this goes after two more weeks.

Wishful thinking about new rookies is just that, wishful thinking.

Wishful thinking is one of baseball's greatest attributes.