Royce Lewis Returns to Action with the Twins
The Minnesota Twins have activated third baseman Royce Lewis from the injured list this Tuesday, after a 15-game absence due to a recurrence of the hamstring injury that delayed his season debut. Lewis rejoins the team for the start of a three-game series in Miami. The left hamstring injury occurred while running to first base in the ninth inning of a game on June 13. This injury was less severe than the one suffered at the end of spring training, which kept him out for seven weeks and cost him the first 35 games of the season. During his three-game rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul, Lewis went 0-for-8 with a walk. Since his debut in the Major Leagues in 2022, Lewis has participated in only 182 regular season games. This year, disruptions seem to have affected his performance. In 30 games this season, he is batting .202 with an OPS of .585 and two home runs. He had a 32-at-bat hitless streak between May 19 and June 3.However, just before his last injury, Lewis had found a rhythm, batting 9-20 with a home run and four RBIs in his last six games. The Twins have an 18-12 record in games Lewis has played this season, despite his struggles at the plate, and 22-32 without him.
The first overall pick of the 2017 draft was limited to 82 games last season due to a serious quadriceps injury suffered while running the bases in the first game, and subsequently by a groin injury. The previous two years, Lewis was limited by recovery from consecutive ACL surgeries.
