The Twins suffered a doubtlessly devastating blow right now when third baseman Royce Lewis exited the sport after pulling up whereas working out a grounder. As relayed by Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Twins subsequently introduced that the infielder had been recognized with a hamstring pressure. The severity of the harm is at the moment unclear, however it appears possible that Lewis will miss a minimum of a while with Opening Day lower than two weeks away.
Lewis, 25, is amongst a variety of immensely gifted however usually injured gamers on the Twins’ roster. The primary total decide within the 2017 draft, Lewis was a consensus top-10 prospect within the sport all the best way again in 2019 and gave the impression to be on the verge of a giant league debut in 2021. Sadly, a proper ACL tear worn out your complete 2021 season for the teen, and whereas he made his massive league debut in 2022 he suffered a second proper ACL tear shortly thereafter that sidelined him till late Might of 2023.
He’s been a extra common fixture of the membership’s massive league roster since that second call-up, although he’s missed time over the previous two years as a consequence of indirect, hamstring, quad, and adductor strains. All of these harm woes have left Lewis with simply 140 video games performed and 564 plate appearances beneath his belt over the previous two seasons, although he’s remained an thrilling expertise by all of these points and slashed .265/.328/.493 with a 127 wRC+ and three.5 fWAR whereas taking part in third base for the Twins when wholesome sufficient to take the sector.
After his first totally wholesome offseason of his main league profession, it appeared as if Lewis was set to lastly have a shot at collaborating in a wire-to-wire MLB season. These hopes have possible been scuttled in the interim now, although, as his newest hamstring harm seems more likely to hold him off the membership’s Opening Day roster given Lewis’s prolonged harm and, extra particularly, his historical past of decrease half points. It ought to be anticipated that the Twins will proceed with warning on the subject of dealing with the teen provided that context, though it appears possible {that a} extra particular timetable for Lewis’s return gained’t be clear till extra details about the severity of Lewis’s pressure is out there.
If there’s a silver lining on this for the Twins, it’s that the membership in all fairness well-equipped to deal with the lack of Lewis. Jose Miranda is probably going the favourite to step in at third base in Lewis’s place and hit a decent .284/.322/.441 in 121 video games final 12 months as he rebounded from a dreadful 2023 marketing campaign. If Miranda have been to stumble, nevertheless, they’d have additional flexibility as effectively. Brooks Lee is at the moment penciled in because the membership’s second baseman however may slide over to the recent nook to make room for Edouard Julien or prime infield prospect Luke Keaschall on the keystone.
Except for these potentialities, the membership additionally has a flexible possibility with no set place at its disposal in Willi Castro. Castro is already slated to serve in an excellent utility function and will cowl any spot on the diamond as wanted. If Castro have been to play on the infield filth repeatedly, that might open up time within the outfield or at DH for potential outfield choices like DaShawn Keirsey, Austin Martin, and even prime prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez.
