Royce Lewis, the talented young third baseman for the Minnesota Twins, is nearing his return to the field after being sidelined with a severe right quadriceps strain since Opening Day. The Twins announced that Lewis has been cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul.
The 24-year-old Lewis worked out in front of the Twins’ training staff at Target Field and will join the Saints on their road trip to Buffalo, New York. He is scheduled to start as the designated hitter in his first game action since leaving the season opener on March 28. Initially expected to miss about two months, Lewis is on track to meet that timeline.
During Lewis’ absence, Jose Miranda has stepped up as the Twins’ main fill-in third baseman. Miranda has started in that position for 28 out of the team’s 49 games since Lewis’ injury. However, the collective performance of the Twins’ third basemen this season ranks 14th out of 30 teams in OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). Lewis’ return will undoubtedly provide a boost to the lineup.
Lewis has faced numerous setbacks in recent years, including back-to-back season-ending knee injuries in 2021 and 2022. He also missed time last year due to oblique and hamstring injuries. When healthy, Lewis has proven himself as a valuable asset to the Twins’ lineup. In 71 games, he has posted impressive numbers with a batting average of .313, an on-base percentage of .369, and a slugging percentage of .564. He has hit 18 home runs and driven in 58 RBIs, along with an additional four homers in six playoff games.
Teammates and coaches have noticed Lewis’ eagerness to return to the field after this lengthy rehab process. The 24-year-old has described it as mentally challenging, especially because it disrupted what he hoped would be his first full, healthy season with the Twins. Bench coach Jayce Tingler remarked on Lewis’ restlessness and how excited everyone is for his return.
While Lewis may be pushing to return as soon as possible, the Twins are likely to take a cautious approach. They will want to see how his quadriceps responds to multiple games of base running and fielding. Tingler believes that Lewis has the ability to quickly find his rhythm at the plate, as demonstrated by his previous returns from extended absences.
Manager Rocco Baldelli has had to mix and match the lineup in Lewis’ absence, both at third base and in general. His return would provide more flexibility, allowing Miranda to play more first base and DH, and enabling Castro to play more left field. These are positions where the Twins have struggled to find consistent production.
Overall, Lewis’ imminent return is highly anticipated by the team and fans alike. His impact bat and defensive skills will undoubtedly make a difference for the Twins as they aim to improve their performance for the rest of the season.