Brooks Lee embraces the artwork of hitting. The son of longtime Cal Poly head baseball coach Larry Lee, the 23-year-old Minnesota Twins infielder approaches his craft diligently. Drafted eighth general by the Twins in 2022 after placing up a wholesome 1.073 OPS throughout three years in faculty — he performed for his father — Lee logged a 148 wRC+ over 114 plate appearances with Triple-A St. Paul final season previous to receiving his July call-up. The begin to the switch-hitter’s minor league season had been delayed by practically two months resulting from a herniated disc, which was recognized in early April.
Assigned a 50 FV and a no. 3 rating when our 2024 Minnesota Twins Prime Prospect checklist got here out final June, Lee slashed .221/.265/.320 with three residence runs and a 62 wRC+ over 185 plate appearances in his preliminary alternatives towards huge league pitching. He sat down to speak hitting when the Twins visited Fenway Park within the penultimate weekend of the season.
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David Laurila: How would you describe your self as hitter? Furthermore, how do you view your self going ahead?
Brooks Lee: “Finally, I need to evolve right into a pure hitter and have the ability to hit all pitches in all zones. I need to hit for common. I feel I can drive the ball, however most significantly, I need to get hits.”
Laurila: Lots of people will argue that batting common isn’t all that essential. Why is it essential to you?
Lee: “I’ve simply at all times cherished folks that hit .300. As a switch-hitter, I need to have the ability to get on base always, from either side of the plate. I actually get pleasure from getting hits. That’s most likely my favourite a part of the sport. For me, hitting over .300 is a benchmark. Should you try this, all the pieces form of takes care of itself.”
Laurila: With the ability to hit all pitches in all zones is an admirable trait, however on the similar time, it might imply placing balls in play that you just aren’t capable of drive. You may be higher off taking these pitches.
Lee: “Sure. That’s one thing I’m studying, too. Typically you may have strikes that aren’t essentially good pitches to hit, regardless that they’re within the zone. For me, the pitch must be elevated in an effort to drive it, due to the best way my swing works, and the best way I see the ball. So, when it’s up, then I am going. Most certainly, it’s a superb pitch for me to hit.”
Laurila: How does your swing work, and does it differ from one aspect to the opposite?
Lee: “I feel I’ve a quite simple swing. It’s fairly flat, though I’m a little bit extra vertical than I’ve been previously. I desire a quick hand-load. I need my barrel to remain quiet. I need all the pieces to imitate one another. I need each of my elbows to look the identical. I need my entrance foot and my again foot to be even. I need to be degree. That’s what helps me keep on pitches in several places, after which once I do get fooled, it helps with simply getting the barrel on the ball.
“As for all sides, there are some variations. The barrel is basically quiet right-handed; I simply form of attempt to contact the ball, simply get the barrel to it. I really feel like I’ve a little bit extra emphasis on swinging laborious and driving [the ball] left-handed. I’ve extra energy left-handed, as a result of I can let it unfastened extra and have extra loft on my swing. Proper-handed, it appears to work out higher if I’m quiet and simply attempt to contact the ball.”
Laurila: Is the left-right distinction noticeable to the bare eye?
Lee: “I feel to most individuals it seems the identical. I’d see my new stuff. Like, I might see the angle of my entrance foot, left-handed. It’s a little bit extra towards third base or shortstop, whereas right-handed I’m closed off. I feel my load is just about the identical. I’m simply form of right here, draw again a little bit bit, then go ahead. I most likely have the identical stride size.
“The most important distinction might be posture. I wish to bend over right-handed a little bit bit. Being a dominant top-hand hitter, right-handed, bending over permits me to not roll it over as a lot. I’ll hit the ball within the air extra. One other factor — and I assumed it wouldn’t work — is that the extra I bend over, the higher I’m at hitting elevated fastballs. I couldn’t contact a fastball that was above my belt final yr, right-handed. Left-handed, I might by no means miss it. It appears to virtually be the other this yr. Proper-handed, I’m driving pitches up within the zone into heart and right-center. That’s an enormous a part of my sport now.”
Laurila: Not lacking elevated pitches from the left aspect appears a little bit counter intuitive. Since you’re dropping your dominant arm, a right-handed thrower usually handles low pitches nicely from the left aspect.
Lee: “My dad taught me to be a really distinctive hitter. I feel he wished me to work from the highest down, as a result of the most effective pitches to hit for me are elevated. Sliders aren’t going to interrupt as a lot. Changeups often gained’t have as a lot depth or fade. The fastballs are higher, however that’s one thing that I’ve at all times hit.
“Props to him, as a result of I feel that made me capable of simply search for one a part of the zone. I knew that I might get to these pitches, whereas I really feel like some hitters should work from the underside up. They’re actually good at hitting low pitches, and wrestle on the high. I’m form of the other. I feel it’s distinctive for a left-handed hitter to be like that.”
Laurila: Have been you naturally a right-handed hitter or a left-handed hitter?
Lee: “I’ve at all times switch-hit. My complete life. My first ever swing was left-handed, and my dad switched me over to right-handed. So, I’ve at all times switch-hit, though I’ve wished to stop a number of instances. I wished to stop in faculty. I wished to stop final yr. I didn’t need to hit right-handed, as a result of it simply wasn’t comfy. I felt like I couldn’t see the ball as nicely, and didn’t have the coordination. However then I made the small changes, and all the pieces fell into place. They made an enormous distinction.”
Laurila: Why do you see the ball higher from the left aspect?
Lee: “I feel I truly see the ball higher right-handed now. In my eyes, I’m like a yr and a half behind, right-handed, that means that you just get so many left-handed at-bats as a result of there are such a lot of right-handed pitchers. You simply form of accumulate these left-handed at-bats over time, whereas the right-handed ones are at all times making an attempt to catch up. However the extra I’ve confronted actually good arms within the minor leagues, and now up right here within the huge leagues, the extra I’ve been capable of adapt. Now I really feel as comfy as ever from that aspect.
“One factor that makes an enormous distinction is the mechanics of your swing. That adjustments the best way that you just decide up the baseball. Individuals discuss your eyes being degree, or not shifting an excessive amount of along with your head, while you stride. I consider that. There are different issues that come into play, however I feel the longer I stride out towards the pitcher, the extra time I’ve to select up a changeup, or decide if it’s a superb pitch to hit. The smaller my stride is, the tougher time I’ve selecting up offspeed pitches, and the much less versatility I’ve with the bat. I don’t know if that’s how it’s for everyone, however I do know that’s how it’s for me.”
Laurila: You talked about your swing being barely extra vertical. Is that from either side of the plate?
Lee: “So, my left-handed swing… what I might often do is, my fingers are form of low, then I might draw again, then they might elevate a little bit bit. I might be very flat attending to these elevated pitches, however now my bat is a bit more vertical. I often began at 45 [degrees], nevertheless it’s been little extra up. I feel the best way you maintain your bat will change the best way you enter the zone.
“Proper-handed, the extra I tilt… I’ll get a little bit extra vertical, nevertheless it’s a a lot better airplane for me. I used to face up tall, like I do left-handed, and I might roll all the pieces over, high hand dominating all the pieces. As quickly as I unfold out and bent over a little bit bit – bought form of old fashioned – it appeared to work lots higher. I stayed on balls higher.
“Left-handed, I wanted to get a little bit extra vertical in order that I can hit pitches down within the zone. Guys throw nice sliders now. They’ve numerous depth, and particularly after they’re in, they’re going to interrupt much more. I would like to have the ability to get to the within of the ball and get it up within the air. I couldn’t hit a slider inside in faculty for the longest time. You form of simply unlock these pitches in your swing.”
Laurila: You’ve discovered lots out of your father…
Lee: “Sure. He’s a hitting coach, and he desires all the pieces to be easy. He desires you to be quiet, with a little bit little bit of rhythm. He desires you to take a superb stride with the bat at 45 levels. A small hand-load. At all times be prepared for the fastball. However I’ve additionally discovered lots about myself in my few years of professional ball. On the lookout for pitches inside once I’m hitting right-handed actually helps me with my method. I feel it additionally makes my swing a little bit tighter, and I gained’t chase pitches outdoors the zone an excessive amount of.
“Once I hit left-handed, I like to go to left-center. I need to keep within the reverse discipline hole. That helps me keep on offspeed pitches, and provides me… perhaps I’m not as fast to inside fastballs, however each as soon as in awhile, your physique is simply going to react and be on time. I don’t need to be on time to drag a fastball down the road. I need to be on time to hit it to left-center on a line.”
Laurila: To shut, do you take into account hitting to be extra of an artwork or extra of a science? And what about your father? How would he reply that query?
Lee: “I feel he would say artwork. I might say it’s artwork, too. I’m the identical individual he’s while you’re speaking about hitting. There’s the science a part of it, however there are additionally guys on the market who simply know the way to get the barrel to the ball. They’ve nice hand-eye coordination. They do no matter they need with their stance, or with their backswing, and when the pitch comes, they put a superb swing on it. I hit with Jeff McNeil within the offseason — he’s such a gifted hitter — and he simply is aware of the way to get the barrel to the ball. That’s what I need to do, get the barrel on the ball. The way you make one thing work is your artwork.”
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Earlier “Talks Hitting” interviews can discovered via these hyperlinks: Jo Adell, Jeff Albert, Greg Allen, Nolan Arenado, Aaron Bates, Jacob Berry, Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, Justice Bigbie, Cavan Biggio, Charlie Blackmon, JJ Bleday, Bobby Bradley, Will Brennan, Jay Bruce, Triston Casas, Matt Chapman, Michael Chavis, Garrett Cooper, Gavin Cross, Jacob Cruz, Nelson Cruz, Paul DeJong, Brenton Del Chiaro, Josh Donaldson, Brendan Donovan, Donnie Ecker, Rick Eckstein, Drew Ferguson, Justin Foscue, Michael Fransoso, Ryan Fuller, Joey Gallo, Paul Goldschmidt, Devlin Granberg, Gino Groover, Matt Hague, Andy Haines, Mitch Haniger, Robert Hassell III, Austin Hays, Nico Hoerner, Jackson Holliday, Spencer Horwitz, Rhys Hoskins, Eric Hosmer, Jacob Hurtubise, Tim Hyers, Connor Joe, Jace Jung, Josh Jung, Jimmy Kerr, Heston Kjerstad, Steven Kwan, Trevor Larnach, Doug Latta, Royce Lewis, Evan Longoria, Joey Loperfido, Michael Lorenzen, Mark Loretta, Gavin Lux, Dave Magadan, Trey Mancini, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Marcelo Mayer, Hunter Mense, Owen Miller, Colson Montgomery, Tre’ Morgan, Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins, Daniel Murphy, Lars Nootbaar, Logan O’Hoppe, Vinnie Pasquantino, Graham Pauley, David Peralta, Luke Raley, Julio Rodríguez, Brent Rooker, Thomas Saggese, Anthony Santander, Drew Saylor, Nolan Schanuel, Marcus Semien, Giancarlo Stanton, Spencer Steer, Trevor Story, Fernando Tatis Jr., Spencer Torkelson, Mark Trumbo, Brice Turang, Justin Turner, Trea Turner, Josh VanMeter, Robert Van Scoyoc, Chris Valaika, Zac Veen, Alex Verdugo, Mark Vientos, Matt Vierling, Luke Voit, Anthony Volpe, Joey Votto, Christian Walker, Jared Walsh, Jordan Westburg, Jesse Winker, Bobby Witt Jr. Mike Yastrzemski, Nick Yorke, Kevin Youkilis