The Twins have a sizable offensive void in the lineup, with the team’s two top players (Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa) on the concussion IL. With no assurances of either star returning quickly or being at their best when they do come back, Minnesota turns to its up-and-coming infield duo of Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis to shoulder the offensive burden. Concussions and the recuperation therefrom are unpredictable, so the Twins’ success over the next several games may hinge on whether Lee and Lewis can ignite the lineup in Correa and Buxton’s absence.
A $50-Million Collision
Last Thursday in Baltimore, Correa and Buxton collided while chasing a shallow pop-up, resulting in both players entering MLB’s concussion protocol. Unfortunately, Correa and Buxton were placed on the seven-day concussion injured list, a massive blow for a team on a hot streak.
Buxton had been arguably the Twins’ best player this season, leading the club with a 1.9 WAR through 173 plate appearances. His availability in center field has been one of the biggest bright spots after limited availability over the last two seasons. The Twins will need to turn to Harrison Bader or DaShawn Keirsey Jr. in center field, but Bader has also been dealing with an injury.
Correa’s campaign has been muted by a nagging wrist issue that has impacted his offensive output. Still, there were beginning to be signs of life with his bat. In 10 May games, he has gone 12-for-40 (.300), including a mammoth homer and a whole bunch of singles. His defense continues to be strong, making replacing him on that side of the ball challenging. Yet, concussions defy timetables, and the Twins cannot bank on either star’s swift return.
Brooks Lee’s Emergence
In the vacuum created by Correa’s departure, Lee has seized shortstop duties and has looked markedly different at the plate, compared to his rookie campaign. Through the early weeks of 2025, Lee’s process-centric approach has translated into tangible improvements: his average exit velocity is up to 89.7 mph, his hard-hit rate has climbed to 40%, and his barrel rate sits at an impressive 10.5%. Under the hood, xwOBA has spiked to .321, suggesting better contact is now fueling better outcomes.
Lee’s swing is no longer one-dimensional. He’s spraying line drives to right-center and cutting balls into the opposite field—a stark contrast to his debut in 2024, when he struggled to drive the ball consistently. His xSLG in 2024 was .340, 65 points lower than average. However, in 2025, he has posted a .439 xSLG, which is 46 points lower than his actual slugging percentage. The underlying metrics hint at a breakout in the making.
Defensively, Lee will be given every opportunity to stick at shortstop, because the Twins have few other options. Last season, he posted -2 Outs Above Average at shortstop, over 80 attempts. Those poor totals might mask some of the injuries he tried to play through. In 2025, his totals are improved, with 1 OAA and 1 Defensive Run Saved (DRS). He’s putting in the work before games, even if he feels he has too much weight on his frame right now.
“You have to do it repetitively to stay on top of it,” Lee said. “Just working the different angles of where you need to start the ball. … It’s different. If I lost five or 10 pounds, I’d be in better shape to play the position. I feel good, I just want to excel at it.”
Royce Lewis’s Resurgence
Lewis missed Minnesota’s first 35 games rehabbing a spring-training hamstring strain. Upon his May 5 activation, Lewis logged a week and a half of struggles, an expected hiccup for someone whose ramp-up began in earnest only weeks ago. Patience is necessary, especially for a player who has missed significant time throughout his professional career.
In recent action, Lewis has begun to show positive signs. On Sunday, he launched his first homer of 2025, a 417-foot blast off Freddy Peralta that registered at 109.5 mph off the bat. He nearly had another home run later in the game that Jackson Chourio robbed in the eighth inning. Over his last four games, he has gone 6-for-16 (.375 BA) with two extra-base hits and a walk.
“I feel great,” Lewis told reporters in Milwaukee. “I feel like I just had my spring training. Those first 40 at-bats, I was just trying to get back, and I still have a long way to go. There is a lot of season, thank goodness for that.”
Defensively, some thought the Twins would use Lewis more regularly at DH as he returned from injury. Unfortunately, the team’s extensive injury list has forced Lewis to be used regularly at the hot corner. Last season, some issues with his throwing at third base led to multiple errors. However, he has shown some improved mechanics this season and has been worth 1 OAA in limited attempts in 2025.
Concussion recoveries are notoriously fickle, and the return dates for Correa and Buxton remain murky. In the interim, the burden falls squarely on Lee’s ascendant bat and Lewis’s burgeoning power. If either (or preferably both) can deliver above-average offensive value, the Twins can weather this storm and extend their recent hot streak. Lewis and Lee are part of the team’s long-term plans, and the next few weeks will be an opportunity to prove they can carry the lineup.
Is Lee or Lewis more important to the team in Correa and Buxton’s absence? Leave a comment and start the discussion.