Injured Minnesota Twins Infielder on His Way Back

The Minnesota Twins hosted the Houston Astros at Target Field on Thursday afternoon for their 2025 home opener… and it did not go well. With temperatures in Minneapolis sitting at a balmy 41 degrees for first pitch, the Twins jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but failed to score again for the next eight, eventually losing 5-2, and falling to 2-5 on the season.

Thanks to an early 0-4 hole they dug themselves into, a trenching that started with a three game sweep in St. Louis at the hands of the Cardinals last weekend. Since then, the MN Twins have just been trying to get their season back on track, before it goes too far off the rails.

Their only wins so far this season came vs the Chicago White Sox, who posted the worst season in MLB history in 2024. But thankfully, there was a little bit of good news on Thursday for Minnesota Twins fans who might be looking for some.

Brooks Lee begins road back to Minnesota Twins lineup

According to Darren “Doogie” Wolfson (KSTP), 24-year-old former No. 8 overall draft pick Brooks Lee is feeling healthier. The 2022 1st rounder out of Cal-Poly — who was placed on the injured list back on March 23 due to a lumbar strain that got him scratched form the MN Twins’ spring training lineup just a couple of days earlier — has gotten back to full baseball activities, including participation in exhibition scrimmages and games down in Florida.

While it'll still be a bit until INF Brooks Lee is back playing games here, he's making good progress (on I.L. with lumbar strain). Today he'll start playing in rehab scrimmages/games. #MNTwins https://t.co/oSz469ekCi

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) April 3, 2025

Brooks Lee is trying to get back onto the field so he can begin his mission to prove he’s the big leaguer Minnesota drafted him to be four years ago. This, after a disappointing rookie season where Lee hit .221 with a .585 OPS (3 HR, 27 RBI) in 172 at bats.

Twins desperate to get Lee back in the infield

Of course, 2024 would appear to be a blip on Lee’s professional and collegiate offensive career. At every other stop in his professional career, Brooks Lee has been the same reliable hitter. He has a .290 batting average and .841 OPS in 860 minor league plate appearances. In the spring, Lee hit .238 with a .654 OPS (44 PA), before he got hurt.

Per Spring Training rules, Gerrit Cole was able to re-enter the game in the 3rd inning. Brooks Lee shortly followed that up with a home run

(via @Twins)pic.twitter.com/cOsI30790R

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 6, 2025

Entering Spring Training, Brooks Lee’s spot on the MN Twins Opening Day roster was far from guaranteed. Then, Royce Lewis went down with a hamstring injury, leaving third base wide open for the taking. Lee’s injury happened one week later.

Related: Why the MN Twins Chose Not to Trade Chris Paddack… and How it Could Bite Them

But Lewis is still weeks away from a rehab assignment, and Jose Miranda is carrying a .158 batting average (.316 OPS) to start the season at third base. In other words, the Minnesota Twins are desperately waiting for Brooks Lee to return, no matter what their plans for him entering spring training were.