2 weeks agoThe Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Minnesota Twins third baseman
Royce Lewis (hamstring) is expected to begin the season on the injured list. Lewis pulled up early, trying to beat out a grounder during Sunday's spring training outing, and immediately exited the game. The 25-year-old is set for an MRI on Monday, but the team expects him to start the year on the IL. It's unfortunate news for him, as injuries plagued Lewis' season in 2024, with a quadriceps injury and adductor strain robbing him of a significant portion of the year. The former first-overall pick was solid pre-All-Star break last season (.292 average), but his play suffered after the adductor ailment. Expect teammates
Willi Castro and
Brooks Lee to fill in at third base during his absence.
--Alex CiullaSource: Bobby Nightengale
2 weeks agoMinnesota Twins third baseman
Royce Lewis (leg) exited Sunday's contest with an apparent leg injury. The infielder sustained this injury while running to first base. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his status as the team will likely provide an update after the game. This is not a good sign as Lewis has had his fair share of injuries and could be in danger of missing time early in the 2025 campaign. Last season, the former first overall pick appeared in just 82 games and held a .233/.295/.452 slash line with 16 doubles and 16 home runs. He generated a strong 11.2 percent barrel rate with a 73.3 mph bat speed. However, he drew walks at a modest 8.6 percent rate and struck out at a high 22.8 percent rate. If Lewis were to miss time, fantasy managers should expect
Willi Castro or
Brooks Lee to see opportunities at the hot corner.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Betsy Helfand
2 months agoMinnesota Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said that infielder
Royce Lewis will play third base in 2025, but he will also mix in some at second base during spring training. While Lewis will be an option for the Twins at the keystone, it doesn't sound likely that he's going to gain eligibility at second base this year. With the Twins keeping the 25-year-old right-handed power hitter at the hot corner, it means that young infielder
Brooks Lee will probably open the regular season as the team's primary second baseman. However, he'll have to beat out the likes of
Edouard Julien and
Willi Castro. Lewis has elite power from the third base position, but he's torn his ACL twice already and missed another 58 games in 2024 due to a hamstring injury. He slumped to end the year but still finished with 16 home runs and a 108 wRC+ in 82 games. Lewis is an injury risk but could be worth it if you are looking for power.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Minneapolis Star Tribune - LaVelle E. Neal III
5 months agoMinnesota Twins third baseman
Royce Lewis could see more time at the keystone next year. Lewis started one game at second in 2024, but more playing time there in 2025 could allow infielder
Jose Miranda to spend more time at the hot corner if the Twins add a regular first baseman to replace free agent
Carlos Santana. "Some of that will depend on the personnel we acquire, don't acquire and how that all shakes out," president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said of Lewis at second base. "We want him to stay open-minded to that and we'll have that conversation." The former first overall pick in 2017 probably makes more sense from a defensive standpoint at second because of his poor throwing accuracy. Offensively, Lewis is one of the better young power bats in the game, although he's been extremely injury-prone in his first three MLB seasons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Minnesota Star Tribune - Bobby Nightengale
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