The Minnesota Twins currently sit at 3-5 through the first eight games of the 2025 MLB season, with some of their early struggles linked to an Opening Day roster that wasn’t fully healthy.
Randy Dobnak joined the team in St. Louis after Brock Stewart was placed on the injured list near the end of Spring Training. Louie Varland was also added to the bullpen following Michael Tonkin’s injury. On the position player side, two key young infielders—Brooks Lee (lumbar strain) and Royce Lewis (hamstring strain)—were left behind in Florida to continue their rehab from injuries sustained during the Grapefruit League.
Brooks Lee Starts Rehab Assignment for the Twins
Both infielders are expected to return before the summer, though their timelines differ. Brooks Lee has already begun his rehab assignment, playing his first game on Sunday with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. While he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, he played all seven innings at shortstop without any issues, which is a positive first step toward his return to the majors.
Lee, who was expected to compete for the second base job this spring, didn’t rush into that role. He made it clear that his injury wasn’t as severe as last year’s herniated disc. Lee, now 24 and a Cal-Poly product, didn’t impress in Spring Training, posting a .238/.273/.381 slash with two home runs and an 8/2 K/BB ratio. However, he performed better in Triple-A last season, hitting .308/.368/.606 in 25 games with St. Paul, which is more in line with the production the Twins expect from him.
Although Lee had a solid start to his MLB career, he finished with a .221/.265/.320 line in 50 games last season. He struggled to adjust to major league fastballs and worked on tweaking his approach in the offseason.
With Carlos Correa—Minnesota’s $36 million shortstop—having dealt with plantar fasciitis injuries in both of the last two seasons, Lee’s eventual return is crucial for providing depth behind Correa, who may need more rest as the season progresses.
Royce Lewis Still on the Sidelines
In contrast to Lee’s quicker return, Royce Lewis’ injury is more long-term. Twins president Derek Falvey confirmed that Lewis, the 2017 No. 1 overall pick, is currently three weeks into a 6-8 week recovery period. This puts Lewis’ potential return at the end of April or more likely in mid-to-late May.