Brooks Lee celebrates a home run with his Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox teammates during a Cape Cod League game in the summer of 2021.
Brooks Lee Singles in First Game with High-A Cedar Rapids Kernals
8/11/2022 2:30:00 PM | Baseball
Lee's single led off the sixth inning and his walk was in the third frame. Cedar Rapids fell to Quad Cities 6-5 in 10 innings inside Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa.
With the FCL's Twins, Lee went 6-for-17 (.353) over four games at the plate with two runs scored, a pair of doubles and three RBIs before leapfrogging past Low-A Fort Myers and heading to Cedar Rapids to play with the Kernals.
Lee was the eighth overall selection in the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft, chosen by the Minnesota Twins. Prior to playing four games in Florida, Lee visited Target Field in Minneapolis to address the Minnesota media for the first time and to greet the Twins players, including Carlos Correa, Minnesota's current shortstop.
Many draft analysts predicted that the switch-hitting Lee would be a quick riser through the Minnesota organization -- and he seems to agree. After signing for an above-slot $5.675 million, Lee was interviewed by MLB.com.
"It's been a fantasy," Lee said. "I was down in Fort Myers [at the Twins' Minor League complex] last week, and ever since I've been there, it's felt like home, really. It's been amazing."
So, what does he think of the notion that his polished approach from both sides of the plate could have him in Minneapolis sooner rather than later?
"I would say just arm strength, foot speed, those are probably the two main things [to work on]," Lee said. "The rest, I think I do at a Major League level already."
After playing in college under his father, longtime Cal Poly head coach Larry Lee, the newest first-rounder in the organization said that it would be "awesome" to remain a shortstop, but would do what the team asked of him. He expressed plenty of confidence in his advanced skillset.
"I'll never be where I really want to be," Lee said. "Hopefully by the end of my career, I've done exactly what I want to do, but I know there's areas to improve in. I think I'm the most sophisticated and well-off player in this Draft."
Ted Schwerzler of Twins Daily published a Q&A with Lee earlier this week.
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 first 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.
Photo at top of page of Brooks Lee in the Cape Cod League last summer courtesy of Ron Schloerb/Cape Cod Times; Videos courtesy of TwinsDaily.com (with commentary from Tom Froemming) and the Cedar Rapids Kernals
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