The Twins suffered a doubtlessly devastating blow immediately 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 damage is presently unclear, however it appears seemingly that Lewis will miss not less than a while with Opening Day lower than two weeks away.
Lewis, 25, is amongst quite a few immensely proficient however typically injured gamers on the Twins’ roster. The primary general choose within the 2017 draft, Lewis was a consensus top-10 prospect within the sport all the way in which 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 entire 2021 season for the teenager, and whereas he made his large 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 large league roster since that second call-up, although he’s missed time over the previous two years on account of indirect, hamstring, quad, and adductor strains. All of these damage woes have left Lewis with simply 140 video games performed and 564 plate appearances underneath 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 sphere.
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 seemingly been scuttled in the meanwhile now, although, as his newest hamstring damage seems more likely to hold him off the membership’s Opening Day roster given Lewis’s prolonged damage and, extra particularly, his historical past of decrease half points. It needs to be anticipated that the Twins will proceed with warning on the subject of dealing with the teenager provided that context, though it appears seemingly {that a} extra particular timetable for Lewis’s return received’t be clear till extra details about the severity of Lewis’s pressure is accessible.
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 good .284/.322/.441 in 121 video games final 12 months as he rebounded from a dreadful 2023 marketing campaign. If Miranda had been to stumble, nevertheless, they’d have additional flexibility as effectively. Brooks Lee is presently 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.
Apart from these potentialities, the membership additionally has a flexible choice 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 had been to play on the infield grime often, that would open up time within the outfield or at DH for potential outfield choices like DaShawn Keirsey, Austin Martin, and even prime prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez.
