When is Royce Lewis Coming Back? Fantasy Baseball Injury Return Update

Royce Lewis's major league debut was delayed thanks to his unfortunate injury history.  A twice-torn ACL in his right knee caused him to miss all of 2021 and most of 2022. His breakout in 2023 was interrupted by injuries twice. While his knee held up, an oblique strain in July and a sore hamstring in September cost him almost seven weeks.

While he was healthy in 2023, Lewis wowed baseball fans in his abbreviated season. In 239 plate appearances, the 24-year-old hit 15 home runs, recorded 52 RBI, and had a .309 batting average to boot. The phenom returned for the playoffs and continued his impressive run, hitting a home run in each of his first two postseason at-bats, making him only the third player in MLB history to accomplish that feat.

The potential Lewis flashed last season juiced his ADP up to 48.86, higher than fellow third basemen Manny Machado, Alex Bregman, and Nolan Arenado. In the 2024 season opener, Lewis picked up where he left off and hit a home run in his first at-bat and a single in his second turn. It seemed that the high hopes placed on the young star were coming to fruition but disaster struck as Lewis sustained a quadriceps injury while running the bases and had to leave the game. He was placed on the 10-day injured list on March 30.

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Royce Lewis Injury Update for Fantasy Baseball

In postgame comments, Lewis remained optimistic about the injury and focused on the grandeur of his first Opening Day experience and the Twins' victory. After seeing results from the ensuing MRI, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey qualified the injury as a "severe quad strain."

"He has a severe quad strain ... He is going to have some significant time down."

Derek Falvey provided an update on Royce Lewis' injury. @Audra_Martin | #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/CIATJKcH6i

— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) March 30, 2024

Falvey went on to say that the injury was significant enough that the initial plan would be for Lewis to be shut down for a month. After that recovery period, the Twins will have a better idea of what kind of rehab process Lewis should undertake and when he can return to the field.

Royce Lewis Fantasy Baseball Outlook

Falvey did not mention the specific class of strain Lewis suffered, but his language suggests that it is a Grade 2 or Grade 3 strain. The former requires several weeks of rest while the latter can take months. The fact that Lewis seemed to be in high spirits and on his feet during postgame interviews suggests he was not dealing with the pain associated with a Grade 3 strain. 

A one-month recovery period followed by reevaluation suggests that the best-case scenario is a return at the end of May. In leagues that have multiple IL slots, he is an easy stash for now. Managers whose IL spaces are already crowded or who have none at all have a hard decision to make. Unless pressed, consider holding until more can be learned about the injury. Grade 2 would equate to more watching and waiting, while Grade 3 would mean a return so late in the season that Lewis could be dropped.

In the meantime, utility players Willi Castro and Kyle Farmer will take over at the hot corner for Minnesota. Castro swiped 33 bags in 2023 and would do well for a team looking for stolen bases. As a switch-hitter, he may have an easier time finding his way into the lineup than the right-handed Farmer. The Twins' current top prospect, third baseman Brooks Lee, would be a natural fit but he is on the Triple-A IL with a sore back. His recovery should be ahead of Lewis's though, so he may get called up once healthy.

Willi Castro practiced playing third base today so it’s all good pic.twitter.com/QR4ezArgoH

— David Brown (@answerdavebrown) March 30, 2024

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