TODAY: The Twins have formally introduced Lewis’ IL placement, with a retroactive June 14 date. Outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was known as up from Triple-A within the corresponding transfer.
JUNE 14, 5:14pm: The Twins are planning to put Lewis on the IL, as relayed by Miller. He goes on to notice that the Twins are labeling Lewis’s pressure as “delicate.” That’s an encouraging framing for the damage, though it should be emphasised that as a result of Lewis’s lengthy historical past of decrease half points even a light pressure may go away him out of fee for a while.
2:52pm: Twins third baseman Royce Lewis suffered a left hamstring pressure in Friday’s 10-3 loss to the Astros that pressured Lewis out of the sport. The damage occurred within the ninth inning, as Lewis hit a line drive into the left discipline nook that resulted in solely a single, as Lewis got here up limping heading into first base. In line with the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Phil Miller and different beat writers, Lewis will bear an MRI at the moment to find out the extent of the injury.
An earlier pressure to that very same left hamstring sidelined Lewis throughout Spring Coaching and delayed his season debut till Might 5. The missed time clearly gave the impression to be having an impression on Lewis’ bat, as he has hit solely .202/.282/.303 over 110 plate appearances. With a 1.056 OPS over his final 33 PA, nevertheless, Lewis appeared like he was stepping into kind simply earlier than his balky hamstring could once more drive him to the injured record.
Accidents have hampered Lewis’ complete professional profession, limiting the previous first general decide to 546 video games (182 within the majors, 364 within the minors) since he was chosen within the 2017 draft. Two proper ACL tears have been essentially the most devastating of Lewis’ a number of well being points, and he has additionally missed time on the Twins’ injured record as a result of a quad pressure, an adductor pressure, and a less-serious left hamstring pressure late within the 2023 season that Lewis was in a position to overcome in time to return for a dominant playoff efficiency.
If the MRI doesn’t reveal something too severe, Minnesota may choose to present Lewis just a few days of relaxation in lieu of an IL stint, because the Twins don’t play on Monday anyway. A backdated IL placement would nonetheless “start” at the moment anyway if the Twins ended up sending Lewis to the 10-day injured record on Tuesday, although such a choice may additionally hinge if the membership is keen to play a person quick over an enormous weekend collection in opposition to the Astros.
Brooks Lee is the likeliest candidate to get the majority of third base time if Lewis does wind up on the IL, with such versatile choices as Willi Castro, Kody Clemens, or Jonah Bride additionally obtainable to rotate into the recent nook. A number of different infielders are on the 40-man roster and might be summoned from Triple-A, but naturally there’s not a lot substitute for the upside {that a} wholesome and productive Lewis can convey to the Twins’ lineup.
