Brooks Lee

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Brooks Lee
Lee with the Minnesota Twins in 2022
Minnesota Twins – No. 72
Shortstop
Born: (2001-02-14) February 14, 2001 (age 23)
San Luis Obispo, California, U.S.
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 3, 2024, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.221
Home runs3
Runs batted in27
Teams

Brooks Thomas Lee (born February 14, 2001) is an American professional baseball shortstop for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Amateur career

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Lee attended San Luis Obispo High School in San Luis Obispo, California.[1] As a freshman, he batted .438, and as a junior, he hit .462.[2][3] As a senior in 2019, he batted .405 with 13 doubles and 25 RBIs over 23 games.[4] He was considered a top prospect for the 2019 Major League Baseball draft, but withdrew his name the day before, telling teams he would fulfill his commitment to attend California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo to play college baseball for the Cal Poly Mustangs.[5] He was still selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 35th round as a courtesy pick.[6] After graduating, he spent the summer playing in the West Coast League for the Corvallis Knights, and was named the league's top prospect after hitting .333 with three home runs, 35 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases over 43 games.[7]

Lee with Cal Poly in 2022

During the first semester of Lee's freshman year, he hyperextended his knee, and underwent surgery.[8] He missed the beginning of the 2020 season due to recovery, and appeared in only two games before the college baseball season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] That summer, he played in the Northwoods League for the Willmar Stingers.[10][11] In 2021, as a redshirt freshman, Lee played in 55 games in which he slashed .342/.411/.626 with ten home runs, 57 RBIs, and 27 doubles (a Cal Poly record).[12] He committed a total of six errors over the course of the season for a .974 fielding percentage.[13] He was named an All-American by various media outlets and was named the Big West Conference Co-Field Player of the Year as well as the Big West Conference Co-Freshman Field Player of the Year.[14][15] He was also a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award.[16][17] Following the season's end, he spent time playing in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox.[18][19][20] Over 21 games, he batted .405/.432/.667 with six home runs.[21] He was also named to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team with whom he spent part of the summer.[22] Lee entered the 2022 season as a top prospect for the upcoming draft.[23][24][25] Over 58 games, he slashed .357/.462/.664 with 15 home runs, 55 RBIs, and 25 doubles and was named Big West Field Player of the Year for the second straight season.[26] He was also awarded the Brooks Wallace Award.[27] Following the season's end, he traveled to San Diego where he participated in the Draft Combine.[28]

Professional career

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The Minnesota Twins selected Lee in the first round with the eighth overall selection of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft.[29] He signed with the team for $5.6 million.[30]

Lee made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Twins and was promoted to the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the High-A Midwest League after four games.[31] After 25 games with Cedar Rapids, he was promoted to the Wichita Wind Surge of the Double-A Texas League.[32] Over 31 games between the three teams, he slashed .303/.388/.451 with five home runs and 15 RBI.[33] To open the 2023 season, Lee returned to Wichita.[34] In early August, he was promoted to the St. Paul Saints of the Triple-A International League.[35] Over 125 games between the two teams, Lee slashed .275/.347/.461 with 16 home runs, 84 RBI, and 39 doubles.[33] He was assigned back to St. Paul to open the 2024 season.[36] Lee made his big league debut against the Detroit Tigers on July 3, 2024. In the fourth inning he recorded his first career MLB hit, a single off Keider Montero.[37]

Personal life

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Lee's father, Larry, is the head baseball coach at Cal Poly.[38] He is named after Brooks Robinson.[39]

References

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  1. ^ Denney, Jarrid (July 1, 2019). "Knights baseball: Lee chooses to fulfill promise to his father". Corvallis Gazette-Times. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  2. ^ Gibson, Travis (August 31, 2016). "Talented son of Cal Poly baseball coach Larry Lee commits to Mustangs". San Luis Obispo Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  3. ^ "Cal Poly recruits #2 prospect in California high school baseball". Paso Robles Daily News. November 16, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  4. ^ Newman, Logan (June 5, 2019). "MLB or Cal Poly? For Brooks Lee, 'there's nothing as valuable as playing for my dad'". USA Today. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  5. ^ "Son of Cal Poly baseball coach turns down $2 million to play for father". Cal Coast Times. June 4, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  6. ^ Bailey, Joe (June 6, 2019). "San Luis Obispo's Brooks Lee turned down $3 million offers to play for dad at Cal Poly". Santa Ynez Valley News. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  7. ^ "Knights baseball: Lee named top prospect in WCL". Albany Democrat-Herald. September 4, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  8. ^ Spratling, Shotgun (April 16, 2021). "GSA Spotlight: Rare Baseball Mind Makes Cal Poly's Brooks Lee Special". USA Baseball. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  9. ^ "Cal Poly Opens Practice Friday Afternoon for 2021 Baseball Season". Atascadero News. January 27, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  10. ^ Bernadeau, Patrick (July 16, 2020). "Northwoods League: This Stinger is a Cal Poly Lee". West Central Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  11. ^ Ebert, Patrick (October 27, 2020). "Midwest Journey For Cal Poly's Lee". The Grind Baseball. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  12. ^ Burdick, Eric (July 12, 2021). "Lee, Thorpe honored as freshmen All-Americans". Santa Maria Times. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  13. ^ "Brooks Lee, Drew Thorpe Invited to Play for Collegiate National Team". Santa Maria Times. June 21, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  14. ^ "Cal Poly Shortstop Brooks Lee Collects Fourth All-America Award". Cal Poly Athletics. June 28, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  15. ^ "Cal Poly's Brooks Lee, Myles Emmerson earn top Big West awards". Lompoc Record. June 2, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  16. ^ "2021 Brooks Wallace Award finalists announced". MLB.com. College Baseball Foundation. June 2, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  17. ^ "Shortstop Brooks Lee Named a Finalist for Brooks Wallace Award". Cal Poly Athletics. June 7, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  18. ^ "#22 Brooks Lee". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  19. ^ "Cape Cod Baseball League roundup: Lee helps Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox to win". Cape Cod Times. July 27, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  20. ^ Healy, Joe (August 19, 2021). "Brooks Lee Blossoms Into Top MLB Draft Prospect At Cal Poly Under Father's Tutelage". Baseball America. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  21. ^ "2021 Cape Cod League Top Prospects 1-25". Baseball America. August 31, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  22. ^ Buscher, Casey (June 24, 2021). "Cal Poly's Thorpe and Lee selected for the 2021 Team USA Collegiate National Team". KSBY. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  23. ^ Wilson, Nick (February 18, 2022). "Cal Poly baseball opens season with Brooks Lee projected as a top-5 MLB draft pick". San Luis Obispo Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  24. ^ Blum, Sam (February 24, 2022). "Why Cal Poly's Brooks Lee passed up millions to stay home and prove he's a top-3 MLB Draft pick". The Athletic. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  25. ^ Bailey, Joe (March 3, 2022). "'The smartest guy in the room:' Cal Poly's Brooks Lee has unique baseball talent. And it's taking him to the pros". Santa Ynez Valley News. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  26. ^ Righetti, Derek (June 2, 2022). "Brooks Lee wins Big West Field Player of the Year, Drew Thorpe brings home Pitcher of the Year to lead Cal Poly honorees". Mustang News. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  27. ^ "Second straight stellar season earns Lee the 2022 Brooks Wallace Award". MLB.com. College Baseball Foundation. June 16, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  28. ^ Callis, Jim (June 15, 2022). "Everything you need to know: Draft Combine". MLB.com. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  29. ^ Sandoval, Diego (July 18, 2022). "BREAKING: Brooks Lee drafted No. 8 overall by Minnesota Twins in 2022 MLB Draft". Mustang News. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  30. ^ Schwerzler, Ted (July 21, 2022). "Get to Know Twins Draft Pick Brooks Lee". Twins Daily. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  31. ^ "Twins' Brooks Lee: Promoted to High-A". CBS Sports. August 9, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  32. ^ Braun, Matt (September 18, 2022). "Minor League Report (9/17): Randy Dobnak Returns; Brooks Lee Promoted to Wichita". Twins Daily. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  33. ^ a b "Brooks Lee Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  34. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (April 4, 2023). "Where the Twins' Top 30 prospects are starting season". MLB.com. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  35. ^ Wilson, Nick (August 4, 2023). "Former SLO High, Cal Poly baseball star gets step closer to big leagues with team promotion". San Luis Obispo Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  36. ^ Miller, Phil; Nightengale, Bobby (March 23, 2024). "Brooks Lee 'had a great camp' before Twins sent top prospect to St. Paul". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  37. ^ Miller, Phil (July 3, 2024). "Brooks Lee shines, David Festa struggles as Twins get thumped by Tigers". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  38. ^ Baker, Dusty (March 19, 2021). "Father and son leading Cal Poly Baseball to elite level". KSBY. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  39. ^ Tsai, Stephen (May 28, 2021). "Cal Poly phenom Brooks Lee has a legendary name to live up to". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
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