“Still have some aches”: Brooks Lee opens up about lower back discomfort as Twins’ key infielders are on bench due to injuries | MLB News

Twins’ infielder Brooks Lee had good news for the fans, as he expected his time on IL to be shorter than anticipated. He opened up about his condition, saying he was feeling better. The Twins’ manager expressed displeasure over back-to-back injuries affecting the infield’s strength. Though struggling through falling numbers in the 2024 season, Lee prepared for multiple positions during the offseason to ensure his utility on the team.

Minnesota Twins’ Brooks Lee shared an update on his lower back injury

Minnesota Twins are facing a healthy players’ crunch on the infield as its key players, Brooks Lee, Mickey Gasper, and Royce Lewis, end up on IL ahead of the season. Brooks Lee offered a fresh update on his lower back comfort, hinting his time in IL would not be extended. Sharing a fresh update on his injury, he said:
“I still have some aches.” He elaborated on his return to the game, “But I think the spasm is most likely gone. I feel way better than last time. Hopefully, it shouldn’t take too long.”

The fresh update is good news for the Twins fans, who can pin hopes on Lee and anticipate a good show from him.
Another infielder, Mickey Gasper, suffered a laceration on his ankle. The injury happened because of his collision with shortstop Brandon Winokur. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told MLB.com about the incident and its aftermath.
“It was a pretty good laceration.” He said.
Expressing frustration, he continued, “Winokur is a mule. One guy will take the brunt of it when they go into each other. It was just [Gasper’s] ankle that was what was affecting him. We didn’t know that until we got out there. He would have kept himself in the game.”
The Twins’ injured infielders list is growing with back-to-back injuries, giving manager Rocco Baldelli sleepless nights. Apart from Lee and Gasper, third baseman Royce Lewis is starting the season on the bench due to a left hamstring strain, making the team’s infield vulnerable.

Overview of Brooks Lee’s performance in 2024 season

Brooks Lee delivered .265/.320/.585 slash line in the 2024 season and hit three homers. He struck out 27 times and scored 27 RBIs, with a batting average of .221. Lee struggled in the first half of the 2024 season and had to work hard for a spot on the Spring Training roster, according to a report by TwinCities.com. Talking to the reporter, he shared that he spent his offseason training for the shortstop, second base, and third base for the 2025 season.
Minnesota Twins stood 4th in the AL Central at the end of the 2024 season with an 82-80 record. They couldn’t make the postseason after their elimination from the wild-card race following the late-season showdown. They were officially eliminated from the postseason on September 27 after a 7-2 loss against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Twins need to develop a sound defensive strategy to stay safe until the end of the 2025 season. However, with the current situation of injured infield players, this is undoubtedly an uphill task.
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