In Another Lost Season, Royce Lewis Is Reminding Us Who He Is

[Nick Nelson]

When you talk to people about Royce Lewis and what makes him special, you will invariably hear about his intangible character and leadership qualities. While difficult to quantify, there is undoubtedly value in having the 'it' factor. 

Even in another season wrecked by injury, the former No. 1 overall pick is finding ways to show up. 

Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker, USA Today Sports

In a parallel dimension of the multiverse – where there was no pandemic-ruined season, no ACL tear suffered on a freak offseason incident, no ACL re-tear suffered on an outfield wall collision – Royce Lewis would already be an established MLB player. He finished 2019 in Double-A before all that went down. He's a big-league talent, as we saw in a limited glimpse this year.

Alas, just as he was getting going, calamity struck and Lewis had another season wiped out. He never pouted about it. And here as this lost season winds down, it's been noticeable to me how present he's been in the dugout. Whenever the camera flashes down in that direction during a game, you seem to see Lewis – with his whole 12 games of major-league experience – leaning over the railing, smiling, engaged in a conversation with some veteran teammate he's barely shared the field with. Somehow it's like he's been there for years. He's a natural.

But as we discussed, Lewis hasn't been there for years. He's been sidetracked and derailed at every turn. So he can relate to anyone trying to savor that moment of triumphant accomplishment. The trials he's gone through give him a unique empathy and relatability to so many players throughout this organization, which is a strength he shares with the manager.

I tend to think Lewis is gaining a lot of value from spending so much time around the big-leaguers and soaking in the experience. It will help prepare him for a role he's set to inherit that seems equally unfilled as starting shortstop: the more energetic and active clubhouse leader to counterbalance Byron Buxton's quiet confidence.

A genuinely humble former first overall pick who's gained the perspective of going through hell injury-wise, and seems equally comfortable talking to an MVP-caliber veteran or a fringy minor-leaguer. That's Royce Lewis. He can become the connective glue of a clubhouse that figures to soon begin transitioning from a veteran core featuring the likes of Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler to an emerging young wave headlined by Lewis as well as fellow former first-rounders Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach, Brooks Lee, and Austin Martin. 

The timing of his knee rehab, which will carry over into the 2023 season, makes things a bit challenging, but the Twins would be silly not to make Lewis a central part of their plan. With a central locker location in the clubhouse.

[EDITOR'S NOTE; This story was updated to remove a mistaken reference to Royce Lewis and Caleb Hamilton embracing in the dugout. Turns out they just look similar from behind.]

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[The Mad King]

Great write up!

[Nick Nelson]

Note: I updated the story to remove the erroneous reference to Lewis hugging Hamilton. Thank you to a reader for pointing it out! When you don't have an editor it is nice to have an audience that can quickly fact-check you. 

Anyway, point still stands. Lewis is that guy.

[jmlease1]

12 minutes ago, Nick Nelson said:

It has been brought to my attention that the person hugging Caleb Hamilton might have in fact been Mark Contreras.

In which case.... the overall point of the piece stands but I apologize for misrepresenting the example! 

Regardless, Royce Lewis is super easy to root for. I hope he gets to have the injury-free season we all want for him. 

[LastOnePicked]

"the Twins would be silly not to make Lewis a central part of their plan. With a central locker location in the clubhouse."

I get exactly what you're saying here, but there is a danger in building a clubhouse around a player with serious injury concerns. I think we've seen this play out already with Buxton and how much his repeated injuries deflate the team's morale. And, according to an article one of the TD folks shared at the time of his OF incident, the rates of ACL re-tears after two tears already is ... not encouraging.

I love Royce Lewis. I feel sick inside about what's happened in his career. He deserves better. Long-suffering Twins fans deserve better. I hate even acknowledging this, but there is actually a chance he won't ever play baseball at this level again, and if he does he likely won't be at full speed, The Twins really need to start building around a more reliable, durable core. 

Here's hoping he bucks the odds, and that Twins fans finally get their next generation all-star. 

[tony&rodney]

I'm hoping Lewis becomes everything the Twins fans (myself included) are waiting for in a star player. 

Why do I feel like this is a re-write of Byron Buxton's rising status just a few years ago?

They are different people with separate life paths. Right?

[Seth Stohs]

1 hour ago, Nick Nelson said:

Note: I updated the story to remove the erroneous reference to Lewis hugging Hamilton. Thank you to a reader for pointing it out! When you don't have an editor it is nice to have an audience that can quickly fact-check you. 

Anyway, point still stands. Lewis is that guy.

Lewis would have been hugging Hamilton too. Very high character... 

Also, Mark Contreras... high character also, and apparently a pretty solid hugger. 

 

[DocBauer]

Lewis is an amazing talent, and IMO, a pretty awesome person. He weathered his top draft status and some mild injuries and poor production as a very young man to just keep plugging away and just keep working. And just when it looks like things might be coming together, he looses 2 full years due to covid and a knee injury. And what does he do? He comes back better and faster than he was before.

He won't be 24 until June of next year. Seems he's been around for a while now, but he's still very young and at the age where you would normally expect most prospects to reach MLB, despite his setbacks. Maybe, this time, his 75-80 Buxton speed lowers to 65-70. I hope not, but have to be realistic. I've seen enough in his milb hilights and ST games and his early MLB introduction to believe he can be a good to great SS. Maybe not right away, and maybe not GG, but he's got everything to settle in as a quality ML SS. And he can hit, get OB, run, provide good power, and just play the game the way it's supposed to be played. The kid is a "gamer" in the very best sense of the word.

And I wouldn't bet against him coming back STRONG. (Even with some rookie growing pains).

I'm still amazed, going back to Kubel and Mauer and so many other top prospects over the past 20yrs that have had serious injuries that seem to come out of nowhere. Lewis has already overcome one. I'm willing to bet he overcomes this one as well, even though, POSSIBLY, he has to slide to 3B or another spot. Not saying that will happen, just wondering.

[Game7-91]

51 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

POSSIBLY, he has to slide to 3B or another spot. Not saying that will happen, just wonderin

Lewis and Lee coming up together, its not hard to imagine these two combo 3B/SS.....seems like a promising left side of the infield.

Lee had a serious knee reconstruction as freshman at college, more involved than Lewis's ACL. He's fine, gotta believe Lewis will be fine. I'm pumped to see these two together.

[mikelink45]

I can only hope - I need evidence on the field.  This team has disappointed to much to let my imagination go.  I did see this week that Lee is rated much higher than Lewis although both at top 100.  So yes I would like to see both in Minneapolis soon.  

[TwinsDr2021]

9 hours ago, DocBauer said:

He won't be 24 until June of next year. Seems he's been around for a while now, but he's still very young and at the age where you would normally expect most prospects to reach MLB, despite his setbacks

Royce seems like an amazing person that should be considered a role model for all youths (and adults) for getting though adversity and tough times like a champion. I hope he goes onto to have a amazing career, hopefully for the Twins.

Yes, he missed a year covid and has had two nasty injuries, but can we get over the he is still young. He'll likely will be 24 when he sees target field and in no time in history of baseball is that considered young for a prospect (unless you are a catcher). He needs to get healthy and start producing for the Twins ASAP.

For reference (age of their first full season) Gary Sanchez 23, Miranda 23, Correa 20, Polanco 22, Urshela 23, Kepler 23, Arraez 22, Buxton 22, Sano 22, Jeffers 24, Larnach 24, Gordon 25.

 

[TopGunn#22]

I'm not in the camp that it's a fait accompli that Correa doesn't come back.  But Lewis is a guy every one of us is rooting for and I don't think he'll let us down.  Remember, Paul Molitor had all sorts of injury woes early in his career and became a Hall of famer and World Series MVP.  Maybe the same fate awaits Royce Lewis.  Even if Correa comes back, there is certainly a role for Lewis to have significant playing time in 2023.  

[roger]

Cannot tell you how excited I am to see Lewis playing for the Twins in 2023 and beyond.  I guess the good news for Lewis is that he was injured while playing for the Twins and went on their injured list.  That meant he got his MLB salary, rather than his minor league salary?

For all of you putting Lewis at short and Lee at third, where does Miranda play?  And if he is at first, where is Arraez?

[Doctor Gast]

46 minutes ago, roger said:

For all of you putting Lewis at short and Lee at third, where does Miranda play?  And if he is at first, where is Arraez?

Yes, it's an inevitable future dilema, with Lewis, Lee, Miranda, Kiriloff & Arraez. That'll be compounded if they sign Correa. The temporary fix is having Arraez at DH.

[Doctor Gast]

What keeps Lewis going is his faith. Therefore it's very hard not to have faith in him when he keeps coming back stronger than ever. Lewis will be a very valuable asset for the Twins if Baldelli repents of his decision of putting Lewis in CF & statement that we'll see Lewis back in CF.

Lewis is MVP & HOF material. I see him overcoming all obstacles & visualize all his  goals 

[MN_ExPat]

2 hours ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

,,,but can we get over the he is still young. He'll likely will be 24 when he sees target field and in no time in history of baseball is that considered young for a prospect (unless you are a catcher). He needs to get healthy and start producing for the Twins ASAP.

It's also NOT considered old either.  He'll be fine.

[TwinsDr2021]

8 minutes ago, MN_ExPat said:

It's also NOT considered old either.  He'll be fine.

I am good, getting plenty of hugs at home. Did I say he was old? maybe I implied he was getting old for a prospect and he is? I also believe/hope he will be fine and wish him the best. I guessed your missed the part where I typed I understood why he is where he is.

[MN_ExPat]

21 hours ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

I am good, getting plenty of hugs at home. Did I say he was old? maybe I implied he was getting old for a prospect and he is? I also believe/hope he will be fine and wish him the best. I guessed your missed the part where I typed I understood why he is where he is.

Wouldn't be the first time I glossed over something .  All good either way, wasn't meant as snark in any way, shape or form.  Just having a little fun doing some ribbing.