TODAY: The Twins have officially announced Lewis’ IL placement, with a retroactive June 14 date. Outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was called up from Triple-A in the corresponding move.
JUNE 14, 5:14pm: The Twins are planning to place Lewis on the IL, as relayed by Miller. He goes on to note that the Twins are labeling Lewis’s strain as “mild.” That’s an encouraging framing for the injury, although it must be emphasized that due to Lewis’s long history of lower half issues even a mild strain could leave him out of commission for some time.
2:52pm: Twins third baseman Royce Lewis suffered a left hamstring strain in Friday’s 10-3 loss to the Astros that forced Lewis out of the game. The injury occurred in the ninth inning, as Lewis hit a line drive into the left field corner that resulted in only a single, as Lewis came up limping heading into first base. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Phil Miller and other beat writers, Lewis will undergo an MRI today to determine the extent of the damage.
An earlier strain to that same left hamstring sidelined Lewis during Spring Training and delayed his season debut until May 5. The missed time clearly seemed to be having an impact on Lewis’ bat, as he has hit only .202/.282/.303 over 110 plate appearances. With a 1.056 OPS over his last 33 PA, however, Lewis seemed like he was getting into form just before his balky hamstring may again force him to the injured list.
Injuries have hampered Lewis’ entire pro career, limiting the former first overall pick to 546 games (182 in the majors, 364 in the minors) since he was selected in the 2017 draft. Two right ACL tears were the most devastating of Lewis’ multiple health issues, and he has also missed time on the Twins’ injured list due to a quad strain, an adductor strain, and a less-serious left hamstring strain late in the 2023 season that Lewis was able to overcome in time to return for a dominant playoff performance.
If the MRI doesn’t reveal anything too serious, Minnesota could opt to give Lewis a few days of rest in lieu of an IL stint, since the Twins don’t play on Monday anyway. A backdated IL placement would still “begin” today anyway if the Twins ended up sending Lewis to the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, though such a decision may also hinge if the club is willing to play a man short over a big weekend series against the Astros.
Brooks Lee is the likeliest candidate to get the bulk of third base time if Lewis does wind up on the IL, with such versatile options as Willi Castro, Kody Clemens, or Jonah Bride also available to rotate into the hot corner. Several other infielders are on the 40-man roster and could be summoned from Triple-A, yet naturally there’s not much substitute for the upside that a healthy and productive Lewis can bring to the Twins’ lineup.
Grass is green and Royce Lewis to the IL
Or as folks in Minnesota are fond of calling it, the Byron Royce List. or is it the Royce Byron List?
Byron Royce Carlos List
Grass isn’t actually green. It absorbs most colors of light except for green, which it reflects. This reflected green light is what our eyes perceive, making grass appear green.
All color is reflected and refracted light, Paleobros
Grass in Green, Sky is Blue, and random commenters online will be pedantic
Likely out for the year. Sad.
This dude is made of glass. I honestly feel for him, he’s obviously got a lot of talent but he just cannot stay healthy.
Shocking
He’ll be healthy contract year.
Aren’t you a peach.
Aren’t you a peach? What are you, a 75 year old woman?
The original Tin Man.. 💀💀💀
Wouldn’t the Tin Man be the original Tin Man?
Apparently he was the Tin Man before the Tin Man
And I thought Satchel Paige competed in MLB as an old dude.
If there were ever to be a collision between Lewis and Buxton, I’m fairly certain they would both just turn into dust, and blow away.
That, or trigger a reaction in which they meld into a single baseball superman. Might be worth letting it happen to see how it goes?
So what would happen with a collision with two iron men? Create a mini-supernova that vaporizes the entire stadium with them only surviving?
I hate to be the editing police, but the first sentence in the third paragraph says twice that Lewis was the fifth overall pick when he actually went 1.1
Right. The Twins virtually tossed a coin between Lewis and Hunter Greene.
Lewis was picked #1 overall not fifth.
I agree with you.
But, rules are rules.
And he isn’t breaking any, so..
Mr. Glass from unbreakable has more stability than Lewis it’s gross.
I am absolutely stunned as I’m sure we all are.
Next time open with, “ I was speaking in discord back 3 months ago, to the skeptical crowd I flock with…” and save us all some time.
They all still do get tested for PEDs except specific thresholds are raised with a medical exemption. Since you admitted to knowing nothing, leave it at that instead of making further assumptions based on a false premise.
Between Buxton and Lewis the Twins might have two of the greatest “What If?” Players in MLB history
Jose Fernandez wants a vote.
Brien Taylor too.
Toe Nash
This!
Uh huh.
They are going to start calling it the RL.
Always best to stretch your muscles before you do any serious activities. I even stretch my muscles before I type on MLBTR, just to ensure I don’t injure myself…
It’s getting to the point where Lewis may currently be able to be considered the most injury prone player in all of baseball. And this is a guy who has Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa as teammates.
On the bright side, the Twins haven’t given Lewis a huge deal to hamstring them.
Wonder if DL games exceed games played for Buxton and Lewis.
Digerydoo you’re putting the LOL in stanozolol
Between Lewis and Buxton combined you might get a full season. Maybe, probably not.
I genuinely don’t understand how some players like Buxton and Lewis are so brittle.
“Mild” strain? Unfortunately, they generally try to put the best spin on his injuries but there’s never a quick return.
“We can rebuild him…”
Minnesota’s management REALLY needs to do a review of their strength, conditioning, team doctors, development programs, etc…. It seems like every good young player they bring up has a career of nagging injuries. It doesn’t matter if it is a pitcher or position player. There has to be something to it. This is WAY too many coincidences.
Your entire premise is false because they still test. The limits of acceptable levels are what gets adjusted with waiver and such. So everything else is just moot.
Detroit Lions and Minnesota Twins must share the same strength & conditioning staff between the sports seasons
Lewis’ bat was finally heating up a bit. I don’t think anybody was expecting Lewis to avoid the IL. Even if the Twins felt it was extremely minor, Lewis needed to go on the list as he’s got such a high likelihood of aggravating it.
Lewis aside, I can’t understand in any way shape or form how Keirsey gets called back up. Lewis is an infielder and Keirsey shouldn’t ever take a plate appearance.
Do you think the magic has worn off Clemens? 1.200 OPS fist 17 games. In 16 games since then .400 OPS.
Hopefully Keirsey doesn’t get many starts and is a larnach defensive replacement/pinch runner. Him being called up means extra playing time for Bride though, yuck
Twin fans have to be fed up with this guy. He is made of glass. More DL time then field TIME.
Can I say that he and Buxton have Hall of Fame talent for going on the IL? Then I think they paid Buxton like he would be the next hall of fame player to wear a Twins cap, but to me he is like a common player when I use to buy baseball cards in the 1990’s.