School: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Class: Junior
Position: SS; B/T: B/R
Height: 6-2; Weight: 205
Previously Drafted: San Francisco Giants, 35th round, 2019
High School: San Luis Obispo High School
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 60 | 50/55 | 40 | 55 | 55 | 60 |
Background: Despite a few notable alumni – like Ozzie Smith or Mike Krukow or Mitch Haniger – Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is far from a baseball hotbed. The Big West Conference school has produced just one player taken before the third round since 2015: Spencer Howard. In normal circumstances it would have been a bit odd for Brooks Lee, a top prospect in the 2019 draft, to withdraw his name from consideration due to his unusually strong commitment to the Mustangs. But this wasn’t exactly a normal circumstance.
Lee’s father, Harry, just happened to be the Head Coach of Cal Poly’s baseball team – and an alumnus of the school.
A tremendous athlete since entering San Luis Obispo High School, Lee, a switch-hitting shortstop, was limited to just a pair of contests during his freshman collegiate season – courtesy of a combination of injury (hyper-extended knee) and a pandemic. But after torching the Northwoods League competition that summer, Lee continued to swing a hot bat during his breakout follow up season in 2021.
In 55 games, the California native posted a whopper of a slash line, .342/.384/.626, with plenty of extra-base firepower: 27 doubles, three triples, and 10 homeruns. And he didn’t stop hitting that summer as he split time between Team USA’s national squad (.306/.342/.444) and the Cape Cod League (.405/.432/.667).
This season Lee continued to do what Lee has always done: hit.
In a career best 58 games, he slugged .357/.462/.664 with 25 doubles, one triple, and 15 homeruns. He also swiped three stolen bases in four total attempts.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2011, only nine Division I hitters batted at least .350/.450/.650 with at least a 1.5 walk-to-strikeout ratio and a walk rate north of 15% in season (min. 275 PA): Andrew Benintendi, Nick Gonzales, Seth Beer, James Ramsey, Peyton Burdick, Jameson Fisher, Tyler Locklear, Chase Chambers, and – of course – Brooks Lee.
Lee will have no issues sticking at the most important infield position. Explosive, agile, quick. He may not contend for an annual Gold Glove, but he’s going to provide value on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively speaking, he’s a tough at bat, fighting off pitcher’s pitches and capitalizing on mistakes. More power from the right side and more of a slashing approach from the left. Great bat speed. Great baseball instincts. He may have the highest floor among all prospects in 2022 draft.
Ceiling: 4.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
Grade: First Round
