A WORRYING UPDATE: Twin Head Coach Issues a Troubling Update Concerning Twin Prospect Brook Lee That Teammate so Troubled.

Brooks Lee would have likely debuted and played extensively on the left side of the infield at this time in the season if he had been healthy, as both Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis were nursing ailments. Instead, Lee is battling with an injury of his own, which will likely keep him out for another month.

When he was withdrawn from a spring training game in late March with back spasms, the Twins announced on Tuesday that the top prospect’s injury was really a herniated disc in his back.

“I’d say he’s in the same midrange of what we’ve heard is the return-to-play protocol,” said Derek Falvey, president of baseball operations. “He is approximately a month into the first phase of the problem. The following month will be spent gradually returning to baseball. So you’re probably looking at that kind of timeline.”

Lee is being treated by expert Dr. Robert Watkins, and Falvey said he is currently following Watkins’ process for returning to play.

Falvey stated that Lee has begun to engage in light baseball-related activities, such as taking light swings.

“With this, you’ve just got to get it taken care of on the front end and then make sure when you’re building him up, you’re building him up pretty slowly,” he said.

It’s difficult timing, especially since Lee, the No. 17 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, is coming off a strong spring at the plate. The Twins have used a combination of Willi Castro and Kyle Farmer, both off to sluggish starts, at third base and shortstop, with Jose Miranda blending in at third.

Rehabbing relievers
Jhoan Duran began his rehab assignment in St. Paul on Tuesday night, and Justin Topa is following closely behind. The two Twins relievers have been on the injured list all season, but they are almost ready to return.

Topa, who was struggling with patellar tendinitis in his left knee, threw approximately 20 pitches at Target Field on Tuesday. It was his first live batting practice; previously, he had thrown two ordinary bullpens and one with Royce Lewis filling in for pitch monitoring.

He then plans to travel to St. Paul and begin his rehab assignment on Thursday. He also plans to throw for the Saints on Sunday.

“I kind of lightly pencilled in the L.A. series as sort of a goal to be back,” Topa said of the next weekend series in Anaheim. “I think we knew going in, talking with the doctor, talking with (head athletic trainer) Nick (Paparesta) and everyone, that was kind of the plan.” Let’s allow it a couple of weeks to cool down, then build up, and I believe we’re quite close to what we expected.”