Brooks Lee Moves to Third Base as Twins Shift Infield

Brooks Lee moved to third base after the Minnesota Twins optioned Royce Lewis to Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday. Lee had been at shortstop before the change, and he sat for two straight games before starting back-to-back games at third base.

Twins Shift Brooks Lee

The move gives Minnesota a different infield look right away. Lee posted -7 Defensive Runs Saved and -6 Outs Above Average at shortstop in 2026, and he had -8 Defensive Runs Saved and -1 Outs Above Average there in 2025. Last year at third base, he finished with -6 Defensive Runs Saved and 0 Outs Above Average.

Those numbers help explain why the Twins made the switch after Lewis went down to Triple-A St. Paul. Lee’s track record at third base gives Minnesota a cleaner option there while the club reshapes the left side of the infield.

Kaelen Culpepper Path

The change also lines up with Minnesota’s plan to give Kaelen Culpepper more playing time in Triple-A. Fans had wanted Culpepper to get the promotion over Orlando Arcia when Lewis was optioned, and the Twins are now likely preparing to bring him up soon.

Culpepper, MLB Pipeline’s No. 39 overall prospect, left Friday’s Saints game with a bloody lip and returned to the lineup on Saturday, leading off and playing shortstop. He has also logged innings at third base this season, but the Twins should plan to use him at shortstop once he reaches the majors.

Minnesota Infield Alignment

With Lee at third, Minnesota can rotate Ryan Kreidler, Tristan Gray and Arcia at shortstop. That setup should give the Twins better defense in the short term while Lewis stays in the minors for a while and Culpepper keeps getting reps at Triple-A.

For Minnesota, the immediate change is simple: Lee is no longer tied to shortstop, and the club is now building toward a potential Culpepper promotion with a clearer lane to shortstop at the major-league level.