During the first semester of Lee's freshman year, he hyperextended his knee, and underwent surgery.[8] He missed the beginning of the 2020 season due to recovery, and appeared in only two games before the college baseball season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] That summer, he played in the Northwoods League for the Willmar Stingers.[10][11] In 2021, as a redshirt freshman, Lee played in 55 games in which he slashed .342/.411/.626 with ten home runs, 57 RBIs, and 27 doubles (a Cal Poly record).[12] He committed a total of six errors over the course of the season for a .974 fielding percentage.[13] He was named an All-American by various media outlets and was named the Big West Conference Co-Field Player of the Year as well as the Big West Conference Co-Freshman Field Player of the Year.[14][15] He was also a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award.[16][17] Following the season's end, he spent time playing in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox.[18][19][20] Over 21 games, he batted .405/.432/.667 with six home runs.[21] He was also named to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team with whom he spent part of the summer.[22] Lee entered the 2022 season as a top prospect for the upcoming draft.[23][24][25] Over 58 games, he slashed .357/.462/.664 with 15 home runs, 55 RBIs, and 25 doubles and was named Big West Field Player of the Year for the second straight season.[26] He was also awarded the Brooks Wallace Award.[27] Following the season's end, he traveled to San Diego where he participated in the Draft Combine.[28]
Lee made his professional debut with the Rookie-levelFlorida Complex League Twins and was promoted to the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the High-AMidwest League after four games.[31] After 25 games with Cedar Rapids, he was promoted to the Wichita Wind Surge of the Double-ATexas League.[32] Over 31 games between the three teams, he slashed .303/.388/.451 with five home runs and 15 RBI.[33] To open the 2023 season, Lee returned to Wichita.[34] In early August, he was promoted to the St. Paul Saints of the Triple-AInternational League.[35] Over 125 games between the two teams, Lee slashed .275/.347/.461 with 16 home runs, 84 RBI, and 39 doubles.[36] He was assigned back to St. Paul to open the 2024 season.[37] Lee made his big league debut against the Detroit Tigers on July 3, 2024. In the fourth inning he recorded his first career MLB hit, a single off Keider Montero.[38]
Personal life
Lee's father, Larry, is the head baseball coach at Cal Poly.[39] He is named after Brooks Robinson.[40]
References
^Denney, Jarrid (July 1, 2019). "Knights baseball: Lee chooses to fulfill promise to his father". Corvallis Gazette-Times.
^Gibson, Travis (June 24, 2021). "Talented son of Cal Poly baseball coach Larry Lee commits to Mustangs". San Luis Obispo Tribune.
^"Cal Poly recruits #2 prospect in California high school baseball". Paso Robles Daily News. November 16, 2018.
^Newman, Logan (June 5, 2019). "MLB or Cal Poly? For Brooks Lee, 'there's nothing as valuable as playing for my dad'". USA Today.
^"Son of Cal Poly baseball coach turns down $2 million to play for father". Cal Coast Times. June 4, 2019.
^Bailey, Joe (June 6, 2019). "San Luis Obispo's Brooks Lee turned down $3 million offers to play for dad at Cal Poly". Santa Ynez Valley News.
^"Knights baseball: Lee named top prospect in WCL". Albany Democrat-Herald. September 4, 2019.
^"GSA Spotlight: Rare Baseball Mind Makes Cal Poly's Brooks Lee Special". USA Baseball. April 16, 2021.
^"Cal Poly Opens Practice Friday Afternoon for 2021 Baseball Season". Atascadero News. January 27, 2021.
^Bernadeau, Patrick (July 16, 2020). "Northwoods League: This Stinger is a Cal Poly Lee". West Central Tribune.
^Ebert, Patrick (October 27, 2020). "Midwest Journey For Cal Poly's Lee".
^Burdick, Eric (July 12, 2021). "Lee, Thorpe honored as freshmen All-Americans". Santa Maria Times.
^"Brooks Lee, Drew Thorpe Invited to Play for Collegiate National Team". Santa Maria Times. June 21, 2021.
^"Cal Poly Shortstop Brooks Lee Collects Fourth All-America Award". Cal Poly Athletics. June 28, 2021.
^"Cal Poly's Brooks Lee, Myles Emmerson earn top Big West awards". Lompoc Record. June 2, 2021.
^"2021 Brooks Wallace Award finalists announced". MLB.com. June 2, 2021.
^"Shortstop Brooks Lee Named a Finalist for Brooks Wallace Award". Cal Poly Athletics. June 7, 2021.
^"#22 Brooks Lee". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
^"Cape Cod Baseball League roundup: Lee helps Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox to win". Cape Cod Times.
^Healy, Joe (August 19, 2021). "Brooks Lee Blossoms Into Top MLB Draft Prospect At Cal Poly Under Father's Tutelage". Baseball America.
^"2021 Cape Cod League Top Prospects 1-25". Baseball America. August 31, 2021.
^Buscher, Casey (June 24, 2021). "Cal Poly's Thorpe and Lee selected for the 2021 Team USA Collegiate National Team". KSBY.
^"Cal Poly baseball opens season with Brooks Lee projected as a top-5 MLB draft pick". San Luis Obispo Tribune. February 18, 2022.
^Blum, Sam (February 24, 2022). "Why Cal Poly's Brooks Lee passed up millions to stay home and prove he's a top-3 MLB Draft pick". The Athletic.
^Bailey, Joe (March 3, 2022). "'The smartest guy in the room:' Cal Poly's Brooks Lee has unique baseball talent. And it's taking him to the pros". Santa Ynez Valley News.
^"Brooks Lee wins Big West Field Player of the Year, Drew Thorpe brings home Pitcher of the Year to lead Cal Poly honorees". June 2, 2022.
^"Second straight stellar season earns Lee the 2022 Brooks Wallace Award". MLB.com.
^"Everything you need to know: Draft Combine". MLB.com.
^"BREAKING: Brooks Lee drafted No. 8 overall by Minnesota Twins in 2022 MLB Draft". July 18, 2022.
^"Twins sign top pick SS Brooks Lee - Bally Sports".
^"Twins' Brooks Lee: Promoted to High-A".
^"Minor League Report (9/17): Randy Dobnak Returns; Brooks Lee Promoted to Wichita".
^"Brooks Lee Stats, Fantasy & News".
^"Where the Twins' Top 30 prospects are starting season". MLB.com.