MN Twins Optimistic About Royce Lewis Injury

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Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images

The Twins made it through just over a dozen games this season before losing Royce Lewis to injury. Despite having played a career-high 106 games last season, spending stretches of time on the injured list have become commonplace for the former No. 1 overall pick.

Thus, it wasn’t the biggest surprise when, after playing in 12 of the Twins’ first 13 games this season, Lewis found his way back onto the IL.

This latest injury occurred late in the fourth and final game of Minnesota’s home sweep over Detroit, when a swing and miss caused Lewis to tweak his knee. He stayed in the game and ran out an infield single on the very next pitch.

Unfortunately, the next day in Toronto, Lewis wasn’t in the lineup. After their loss to the Blue Jays, it was announced that he’d hit the injured list.

Royce Lewis expected to miss minimal time for Minnesota Twins

However, this time around, both the Twins and Royce Lewis appear somewhat optimistic that his latest injury won’t hold him down for long. On Saturday, Twins beat writer Dan Hayes (The Athletic) revealed the injury as a Grade 1 strain of the lateral collateral ligament, the best case scenario, given it could have been much worse.

“If I could, I’d be playing, probably (Sunday),” Lewis said. “But it just wasn’t smart to push it. … If I played through it, I probably would have made things worse long-term, and I’m looking ahead to the next 140 games.”

Given his injury history, Lewis and the Twins likely breathed a sigh of relief when his MRI revealed a Grade 1 strain, the least severe diagnosis.

Royce Lewis – The Athletic

At this point, Lewis has to feel relatively in tune with his body. He missed time last year with a. hamstring strain, and has torn the ACL in his right knee twice. There has also been a quad strain and oblique issue.

Lewis put in significant work this offseason to work on his body and fine tune his swing. His patience at the plate has generated a .378 OBP through 45 plate appearances. His 17.8% walk rate is more than double his career-average as well.

Should the Minnesota Twins fare better than their preseason projections, then someone like Royce Lewis factoring in substantially will be part of the equation. Retroactive to April 10, Lewis is first eligible to return on April 20.

Ryan Kreidler was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul to take Lewis’ spot on the roster. The veteran infielder was claimed this offseason from Pittsburgh.

Andrew Morris promoted to MN Twins

Lewis wasn’t the only player Derek Shelton lost on Friday. Relief pitcher Cody Laweryson hit the injured list with a right forearm strain as well. Although Minnesota Twins pitching prospect Andrew Morris has operated as a starter, he was promoted to take the roster spot.

Morris was initially slated to start for the St. Paul Saints on Sunday. Through his first two outings this year, he has allowed one run on five hits with a 5/2 K/BB in 7 1/3 innings. He’ll likely work in a piggyback or long-relief fashion in order to stay stretched out as a starter.

Whenever Morris takes the mound for the first time, he will be making his major league debut. As one of the Twins best pitching prospects, he is someone to keep an eye on. Kendry Rojas, who started the year injured, returned to the Saints roster and will instead start on Sunday in Morris’ spot.

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