MN Twins Trying to Send Message with Brooks Lee Activation, Corresponding Demotion
When the Minnesota Twins opened their 2025 regular season, they did so without two recent first round shortstops, Royce Lewis (2017) and Brooks Lee (2022). Both suffered significant injuries at the end of spring training and both continue to individually work their way back to the big league lineup.
But with Lewis and Lee on the injured list, plan B, C and D infielders Mickey Gasper, Edouard Julie and Jose Miranda, all of which have limited MLB experience and incredibly underwhelming results.
And now 15 games in, the Minnesota Twins hold a dreadful 4-11 record, in part thanks to much of the same from all three, especially Gasper and Miranda, neither of which has an OPS over .420 or a batting average above the Mendoza line.
| Player | Age | WAR | G | PA | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OPS | OPS+ | Pos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| José Miranda | 27 | -0.3 | 12 | 36 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 13 | .167 | .417 | 18 | 3B, DH |
| Edouard Julien | 26 | 0.1 | 13 | 38 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | .286 | .714 | 105 | 2B, DH, SS |
| Mickey Gasper | 29 | -0.1 | 8 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | .118 | .403 | 21 | DH, 2B, 3B, LF |
Minnesota Twins ready to activate Brooks Lee; send message to others
Thankfully, there is one aforementioned reinforcement on the way. Former No. 8 overall pick, Brooks Lee, has been on a rehab assignment across the river with the St. Paul Saints for most of this week. Saturday night, news broke that Lee is ready to return to the big league lineup.
But instead of demoting Mickey Gasper or even outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr — who has yet to get a hit this season — either of which would have been more obvious moves, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli wants to send a message to his underperforming team with this roster move.
That’s why, according to Aaron Gleeman (The Athletic), after a brutal baserunning blunder yesterday vs the Tigers, the Minnesota Twins decided to demote Jose Miranda to Triple A, as the corresponding roster move for Lee’s activation, a transaction that became official Sunday morning.
Umpire called Jose Miranda safe, saying the fielder didn't touch the base to get the forceout. But then Miranda just walked away and got tagged out anyway. pic.twitter.com/rtgSBNKcDU
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) April 12, 2025
Source: #MNTwins are demoting Jose Miranda to Triple-A following his base-running blunder Saturday and .167 batting average in 12 games.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) April 12, 2025
Brooks Lee is expected to be activated from the injured list to take Miranda's place on the Twins' active roster.
“Jose has to do better on that play. The guy on the other side of the field was not on the bag, and Jose didn’t make it to the bag on the slide either way. And the umpire was clearly signaling safe. We have to be paying attention, to say the least. We have to be paying attention there and never allow something like that to happen.”
Rocco Baldelli (via The Athletic)
Of course, in order for Brooks Lee to help improve the MN Twins play (and hopefully their record), he’ll have to perform better at the plate than he did during his rookie season in 2024, when he struggled to adjust to the big leagues, hitting just .221 with a .585 OPS in 50 games (185 plate appearances).
Related: Minnesota Twins DFA Righty Reliever; Recall Lefty
But the 23-year-old former Cal-Poly star was drafted in the top 10 for a reason. All he has done his entire life, no matter the level of competition, is hit the baseball and hit it well. If he can get back to that in 2025, inserting Lee into the Twins lineup should immediately make it much more dangerous.
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