Twins Cut Bait With Infielder, Prepare Royce Lewis’ Return

The Minnesota Twins went to Detroit for a weekend series against the Tigers. After grabbing the first game, they dropped the next two, and were easily disposed of by reigning Cy Young Tarik Skubal.

Now four games under .500 at 40-44, they have an off day before visiting the Miami Marlins. Although the NL East foe has just a 37-45 record this season, they have won seven-straight and 8-of-their-last ten.

Minnesota is also making the trip to Florida with one less player after Jonah Bride was left on the tarmac in Detroit. Royce Lewis seems destined to take his ticket as well.

Jonah Bride DFA’d by Minnesota Twins

In mid-April the Minnesota Twins struggled to field a healthy roster of infielders. With options waning they made a trade with the Miami Marlins for Jonah Bride. Now a little more than a month later, he’s sent back to the waiver wire.

#MNTwins DFA’d Jonah Bride. Would appear Royce Lewis will join them Tuesday.

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) June 30, 2025

The Marlins DFA’d Bride after just 12 games in which he went 4-for-45. Minnesota hoped he could provide a spark after batting .276/.357/.461 across 71 games last season. Unfortunately he flopped and will be better remembered for his pitching appearances with the Twins.

Through 32 games Bride tallied a .214/.282/.243 slash line with 23 strikeouts and six walks. He had just two extra-base hits (both doubles) and served little purpose in the utility role he was cast for.

He pitched for the first time in his career during a blowout loss, and then wound up as a punchline making three more appearances. Across six innings he gave up 14 hits and 10 runs while striking out two. Had he been pitching to himself, he may have been able to stick on the roster longer.

Royce Lewis returning for MN Twins?

A corresponding move was not made following the DFA of Jonah Bride. It doesn’t take much to believe it will be Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis assuming the roster spot.

Minnesota’s starter at the hot corner suffered a second hamstring strain on June 13. He began a rehab assignment two weeks later with St. Paul that started on June 27. Now three games in, after going 0-for-8, he’s headed back to the big leagues.

Royce Lewis was rocking the Ghostly Gangsters uniform for the @StPaulSaints tonight as he began his rehab assignment. pic.twitter.com/ZOTVABay6j

— Ted (@tlschwerz) June 28, 2025

The production with St. Paul isn’t positive, but he played seven innings at third base on Sunday after appearing in two as the designated hitter. Minnesota is hoping they get the guy who had a .393/.485/.571 slash line over his last nine games before the injury.

Lewis has had two stops and starts now this season. He owns just a .202/.282/.303 line with a pair of home runs across 30 big league games. It hasn’t been pretty, and he won’t be the answer to the Minnesota Twins pitching problems. It’s plausible that he helps the lineup though, and Rocco Baldelli will take anything for a team struggling to stay afloat.