Should Brooks Lee Be Sent to Minority Status Now That Kyle Farmer Is Back with the Twins?
Rookie infielder Brooks Lee has sufficed as a defensive replacement for Carlos Correa. However, he is undergoing substantial struggles at the plate. Should he get demoted to Triple-A once Kyle Farmer returns from the 10-day IL?
Twins infielder Brooks Lee jumped onto the scene earlier this season, slashing .364/.371/.576 with 12 hits, one double, and two home runs over 35 plate appearances to begin his career. The 23-year-old rookie’s underlying metrics confirm his hot start at the plate, as he posted a 14.3% strikeout rate, .212 Isolated Power (ISO), and 163 wRC+ in that stretch. Lee performing this well while filling in for then-injured star third baseman Royce Lewis was vital to helping the team enter the All-Star break strong, still within striking distance of the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians.
Lee’s contributions were admirable, and there is still plenty of excitement about the consensus top-50 prospect’s long-term potential. That said, he has fallen into an alarming lull at the plate, which could bode poorly for his short-term outlook on the team’s 26-man roster. Since the Twins returned from the All-Star break on Jul. 20, Lee has hit .236/.306/.255, with 13 hits, one double, zero home runs, and a 60 wRC+ over 62 plate appearances. His ability to drive the ball and hit for power has suddenly diminished, evidenced by a .018 ISO. The switch-hitting infielder has struggled, particularly from the left side of the plate, posting a mere 75 wRC+ and a .272 wOBA over 78 plate appearances, compared to a 96 wRC+ and .303 wOBA over 32 plate appearances from the right side.
Despite lacking the present ability to produce at a plus level at the plate, Lee has provided significant value, stepping in as roughly the full-time shortstop during Carlos Correa’s extended absence from the lineup. He’s acquitted himself nicely with the glove, especially in contrast to how shaky utility player Willi Castro was at the position. The rookie infielder once again stepped in at a position typically occupied by one of the team’s leaders and best players, but this time, it was at the most demanding defensive position on the field. Lee’s flexibility and contributions have helped the team whittle Cleveland’s divisional lead down to just 3 1/2 games, and he deserves his flowers. Still, his struggles at the plate are concerning, and he could be well-suited for an approach and mechanics refinement at Triple-A.
Earlier this week, the Twins didn’t have enough organizational depth to consider demoting Lee to Triple-A. However, veteran utility infielder Kyle Farmer wrapping up his rehab assignment could theoretically permit the organization to demote their second-ranked prospect back to St. Paul. Admittedly, Farmer didn’t perform well before landing on the 10-day IL in mid-July with a shoulder injury, posting a .189/.291/.265 with 25 hits, ten doubles, zero home runs, and a 64 wRC+ over 151 plate appearances. Farmer was the Twins’ worst offensive player during the first half of the season. However, he provided defensive flexibility at second base, third base, and shortstop, plus the veteran leadership necessary to make it through a 162-game season.
Swapping out the 33-year-old wily vet for the young and upcoming Lee would be disappointing. Yet, the transaction could occur without Lee getting demoted. Lee has been managing shoulder soreness lately, which led to him sitting out the final game of the Chicago White Sox series and the first game of the Chicago Cubs series on Aug. 6 and 7, respectively. Before the White Sox series ended, Lee had been playing exclusively shortstop. However, he has played exclusively second base since the announcement of his shoulder injury. According to Dan Hayes of The Athletic, the team has shifted him to the right side of the diamond to “reduce the potential for long throws.”
Assuming Farmer returns from his rehab assignment before the conclusion of the Cleveland series, the team could place Lee on the 10-day IL to rest his shoulder. If this is the course of action they take, Farmer could play the same role Lee did after the All-Star break, shifting between third base, second base, and shortstop. Although Farmer has a weaker arm and can’t cover the same amount of ground as Lee, he would still be a functional infielder who could complement Castro, Lewis, José Miranda, and Austin Martin.
If Lee isn’t placed on the 10-day IL, Farmer could still take Martin’s spot on the 26-man roster. Despite providing defensive flexibility, a contact-skilled bat, and an innate knack for scoring when getting on base, Martin has struggled to produce at the plate and could be better suited to play every day and get more plate appearances at Triple-A. As noted earlier, Farmer has struggled at the plate this season. Yet, in a recent piece by Twins Daily’s Theo Tollefson, he noted that he is adjusting his swing, specifically by closing his front hip a bit longer, similar to what he did in 2021. The organization won’t designate Farmer for assignment, meaning they will have to make a tough roster crunch, assuming injuries don’t make his addition to the 26-man roster a moot point. Lee and Martin are the most expendable players on the roster, meaning the corresponding move will likely be demoting one of them to Triple-A. While Lee has more long-term upside, his role is redundant with what Farmer offers, meaning team decision-makers could elect to keep Martin instead.
