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Just a week ago it was announced that Minnesota Twins star prospect Brooks Lee was headed to the MLB All-Star Game, but a lot has changed since then.
Notably, Lee was called up to make his MLB debut just a few days after he was named to the All-Star Futures roster as a skills competition participant. He’s wasted absolute no time in carving out an important role in the Twins’ lineup and seems to be in the majors to stay.
He won’t, however, be heading to the All-Star Game anymore.
Because Lee was called up to the MLB roster, he’s ineligible to play in the Futures game or any of its events. He wasn’t going to play in the game itself, instead participating in the Showcase event that is essentially a skills competition. Minnesota won’t be left empty handed, though, as another top prospect was named as Lee’s replacement.
Twins prospect Luke Keaschall named as Brooks Lee’s replacement on All-Star Futures roster
With Lee no longer eligible to participate, Luke Keaschall will be replacing him as Minnesota’s representative. Having Lee on the roster was a sort of coronation for him and all that he’s done in his rise through the farm system, and the same can be said about Keaschall as well.
There’s an arguement to be made for Emmanuel Rodriguez as Lee’s replacement, but he’s starting a rehab assignment after coming off the IL.
It’s a well deserved honor for Keaschall, who has exploded onto the prospect scene this year for the Twins. He has separated himself from the pack in a pretty big way, getting named a Top 100 prospect just a few months into the season while hitting 314/.431/.482 between High-A and Double-A.
He was named as a potential trade candidate right around the time of his ascension and those rumors might intensify as he continues to do special things. There’s very much a place for him in Minnesota’s future, though, and the better he plays at Wichita the more the buzz around him will grow.
It’s just a testament to how deeply talented the Twins’ farm system is that Lee can so quickly and justly be replaced by another top prospect. Keaschall isn’t just the next-man-up, he’s truly one of Minnesota’s best young prospect and his rise is only further emphasized by the honor of heading to Texas and the All-Star Game.
