![\"Brooks](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MLB-Minnesota-Twins-at-Philadelphia-Phillies-27195013-scaled-e1770592039306.jpg\")
Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
At last season\u2019s trade deadline, the Pohlads mandated<\/a> a Minnesota Twins selloff that featured the salary dump<\/a> of once-ballyhooed free agent signing Carlos Correa, who was dealt back to the Houston Astros.<\/p>\n Since the former Platinum Glove winner was pushed out the door, it\u2019s been 2023 No. 8 overall draft pick<\/a> Brooks Lee who has operated as the Twins\u2019 starting shortstop. The results defensively, so far, have not been ideal.<\/p>\n Last season, Lee played 77 games<\/a> at shortstop, most of which came after Correa was traded. Before that, he split time between third base (43 games), and second base (37 games).<\/p>\n Minnesota Twins have a shortstop crisis with Brooks Lee<\/p>\n While Brooks wasn\u2019t great at 2nd (-2 DRS) or 3rd (-6 DRS), his defensive numbers fall off a cliff at shortstop. He racked up six errors, five of which came while fielding the baseball, not throwing it.<\/p>\n The advanced metrics aren\u2019t any better. In 595 innings at SS in 2025, Lee owned a -8 DRS (defensive runs saved), with a -1 OAA (outs above average) and FRV (fielding run value). <\/p>\n J.J. Cooper<\/a> is the Editor-In-Chief at Baseball America and when he looks at the Minnesota Twins\u2019 depth chart for 2026, Brooks Lee at shortstop is a concern that stands out like a sore thumb, defensively. In his view, the Twins do not even have an MLB shortstop on their roster right now.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019m just going to say right now, the Minnesota Twins do not have a shortstop right now. And I do mean, Brooks Lee does not play shortstop. There\u2019s no logical path where you say Brooks Lee is going to be defensively what you want to get from an MLB shortstop.<\/p>\n J.J. Cooper \u2013 Baseball America<\/a><\/p>\n The issues for Brooks Lee at shortstop continue to pile up, the deeper you look. He has a sprint speed in the 19th-percentile<\/a>. Thus, it\u2019s no shock his range is limited.<\/p>\n Throw that on top of his 28th percentile arm strength\u2026 and the Twins have a recipe for defensive disaster, entering Spring Training. If Lee was an offensive juggernaut, it would be easier to swallow his inefficiency on defense.<\/p>\n But last season, he slashed .236\/.285\/.370 (.655 OPS) in 139 games<\/a>. While most good MLB teams have a shortstop who is a plus player on both offense and defense. Going into 2026\u2026 the Twins\u2019 shortstop is the opposite of that.<\/p>\n No alternatives shortstops for Minnesota Twins?<\/p>\n Presenting an even larger problem for Minnesota, is the lack of alternatives they have to replace Brooks Lee at shortstop. They started the offseason by claiming 28-year-old infielder Ryan Kreidler<\/a>. He owns a career 11 OPS+<\/a>, but can play defense, at least.<\/p>\n The Twins also traded for Tristan Gray<\/a>, who posted a 91 OPS+ across 30 games<\/a> last season for the Tampa Bay Rays. Only nine of those games came at shortstop, however.<\/p>\n Orlando Arcia is another options expected to be in camp<\/a>. He has more than 1,000 big league games<\/a> under his belt, and 859 of them have come at shortstop. There was a time Arcia posted positive defensive numbers<\/a>, but at 31 years old, that hasn\u2019t been the case of late.<\/p>\n The only player in the minors to post 20 HR, 20 SB, & a K% below 18%:<\/p>\n Kaelen Culpepper<\/p>\n The 23-year-old, 6’0\u201d\/185 SS, shows a calm presence in the box w\/ minimal movement in his load & easy power. Most damage is pull-side, but there\u2019s still room to unlock more loft (50.0% GB%). pic.twitter.com\/zunfco3djP<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) January 31, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Arguably the best scenario at shortstop for the Minnesota Twins would be for top prospect Kaelen Culpepper to earn a promotion and stick. That\u2019s not something new manager Derek Shelton can afford to rely on, though.<\/p>\n While Culpepper is expected to start the 2026 season at Triple A, he hasn\u2019t gotten there yet. Nonetheless, he\u2019s a better defender than Lee, by quite a bit, and his .844 OPS<\/a> across two levels last season gives the Twins a glimmer of hope that, at 23 years old, he could make the big league jump in 2026.<\/p>\n Lee still has three minor league options remaining. If he doesn\u2019t hit, it\u2019s not impossible we see Brooks Lee back at St. Paul at some point this spring\/summer.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Brooks Lee<\/a> Kaelen Culpepper<\/a> Orlando Arcia<\/a> Ryan Kreidler<\/a> Tristan Gray<\/a> <\/p>\n More About:Minnesota Twins<\/a><\/p>\n Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google. \t\t\t![\"Add](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/google_preferred_source_badge.png\"){kind=icon}
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