Twins Daily 2023 Top Prospects: #2 Royce Lewis, SS

I also don’t get the anger/frustration with Rocco having put him in CF. You play your best athletes at short and center…if you like winning. There’s about 150 years of evidence proving the benefit in that and the same for proof that injuries occur all over the field.

He looked good. I agree that the plate discipline was a bit disappointing even with the low K rate. The defensive flexibility is very nice. I have no problem with Lewis breaking in as a supper-utility guy playing nearly every day.

FWIW…I see Farmer as the redundant roster guy when Lewis settles in…not Gordon. Gordon is more valuable than Farmer. With Lewis in the mix, I can put RH bats at two outfield positions, all four infield positions, and catcher…and still have a guy like Jeffers who can do real damage against lefties, remaining to DH…all without Farmer. That’s 8 RH bats in the lineup…providing a little wiggle room for injuries.

I love Lee a ton as a prospect, think he's the real deal, and believe he's got a great future in MLB...and soon...at either 2B or 3B. But Lewis is just so talented and has already flashed in 2022 at just how good he might be. He's still my #1 prospect. But honestly, doesn't it even matter which one is ranked #1?

Lewis is young, hard working and diligent. He made a great recovery the 1st time. This 2nd injury was not a complete tear, only partial. Also, it's being reinforced with the new "brace" technology that's been developed. I fully believe he just needs a little time and it's a "when" he's 100% and ready to go, and not an "if".

While Polanco is one of my favorite Twins and great ballplayer, and I am in NO hurry to move him, Lewis and Lee could both be some combination of the 3B/2B of the near future, while each being able to cover SS as well when Correa needs a day off. Further, nothing says Lewis can't be a tremendous OF, of play a combination of both. He's that talented, athletic, and potentially versatile. His skills play anywhere you want to put him. 

The future is looking pretty right on the dirt and the grass for the Twins.

Injuries happen. Royce Lewis could go injury free for the next dozen years. It is worth noting that Lewis was not injured while running into the center field wall, but rather in his planting move while running. 

Lewis, himself, has stated a desire to play in the dirt while simultaneously quipping that he will play wherever the team puts him; he just wants to play baseball.

The prospect rankings/posts are among the most anticipated lists in baseball today. TwinsDaily has done a great job. Lewis, as a #1-1 draft pick, is closely watched and we all look forward to him playing for the Twins. Lee is also a great choice as a top prospect. I would choose Emmanuel Rodriguez because he is that relatively untested or unknown prospect that we have only followed via print and a few random video clips that could seemingly become the next Julio Rodriguez or Juan Soto.

Every one of the prospects will get an opportunity to show their skills and talent. The mental strength to maintain a positive mind on a daily basis, focus on individual growth, and adjust to failure is very difficult in an industry where success is measured by statistics which must seem overwhelming to guys who dominated so completely growing up. 

Wow. Twins could be set for 3-5 years if Kirilloff and Lewis are injury free. Martin in the outfield. Gordon on he bench. And there has to be 2-3 NEW ghuys that will contribute, in the least, come 2025.

I can only hope(again) (because I don't remember any prayers) that Lewis comes in healthy and strong and we celebrate. 

3 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Zero, zero, zero, evidence CF is dangerous.

Well, the injury itself - and in just the first few innings of his appearance there - would suggest an evidence case count somewhat higher than zero.

We can speculate on what we think normally happens in these cases, but the only solid evidence we have for what was right-wrong for Lewis is what actually did happen.

Heck, don't take my word for it - take Royce's:

“I'm more excited to make those plays at the wall, but it's a little more dangerous,”

But, sure, the Twins can toss him right back out there when he gets to the bigs. I mean, what are the odds, right?

2 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

It is worth noting that Lewis was not injured while running into the center field wall, but rather in his planting move while running. 

I don't think this is accurate. The collusion with the wall is cited in multiple articles as the cause of the tear.

He has always seemed like a very mature person  , very positive as well ....

Can't wait to see him back in a twins lineup and hopefully he can replicate the small sample  he showed before his injury in 2022 ...

We need his offense in a twins lineup ...

22 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

I don't think this is accurate. The collusion with the wall is cited in multiple articles as the cause of the tear.

Umm, there is a video on this article that you can see. He planted awkwardly and thus the damage. It was talked about on tv when the play happened and Lewis also discussed his footwork the next day basically stating that he was unfamiliar with where the wall was at the time. You can see he is a little twisted (not direct) in his route to the ball. He did collide with the wall after the injury and catch but it was not pertinent to why he was hurt.

Lewis would be an excellent outfielder but he clearly needs repetitions and is surely raw at this time. I don't think he is more likely to get injured playing on the grass. In fact, the stresses are shorter and quicker on the dirt. 

I've said it in other threads as well, but I really believe that Lee and Lewis are really prospects 1A and 1B.  I don't care who is A or B.  They are both right up there in my mind.  But, in lists like these someone has to be #1 and #2.  In this case, I don't really see too much separation between the two rankings.  

I'm excited to see Lewis bringing his "A" games back to the Twins as soon as he's ready.  He's going to be a fun player to watch and hopefully be a fixture on the Twins for a long, long time.  

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

There isn't any evidence, solid or not, on what was right-wrong for Lewis. All we have is evidence that he got hurt. It doesn't have to be right or wrong. It can be, and is, simply sad. Otherwise, you better call the Mariners and let them know they have to move Julio Rodriguez out of CF immediately. I mean they just gave him a deal that could pay him nearly half a billion dollars. And they apparently are unaware that playing incredible athletes in CF is wrong because Royce Lewis got hurt doing it once. Matter of fact, better call the Angels, Braves, Mets, Pirates, Orioles, White Sox, and even the Yankees who used Aaron Judge out there. They all have great athletes who's ACLs are in incredible danger because they play CF. Then call the Twins a second time to tell them to move Buxton out of CF, too. Probably best we just play Gallo and Kepler there since we don't care if they get hurt.

I'm confused. How many of their CFs were drafted as SS and had spent the majority of their rehabs at SS coming back from a torn ACL that had delayed their careers? My guess is, not many.

Banging up against a wall while running and leaping is likely quite dangerous to already-injured knees. Not sure why its controversial to suggest that what the Twins did was unwise. Unless the default answer to all of the Twins misfortunes and mistakes should just be "darn the luck."

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

This is satire, right? 

Maybe we can skip the snark on this one. We disagree. That's all. But the results speak pretty loudly that the danger to Lewis' knees was more than "absolutely zero," as you oddly suggested in your earlier post. 

2 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Umm, there is a video on this article that you can see. He planted awkwardly and thus the damage. It was talked about on tv when the play happened and Lewis also discussed his footwork the next day basically stating that he was unfamiliar with where the wall was at the time. You can see he is a little twisted (not direct) in his route to the ball. He did collide with the wall after the injury and catch but it was not pertinent to why he was hurt.

Lewis would be an excellent outfielder but he clearly needs repetitions and is surely raw at this time. I don't think he is more likely to get injured playing on the grass. In fact, the stresses are shorter and quicker on the dirt. 

He did say collusion, not collision, in case that matters.😀

I am really excited to see Lewis back this year. And I think he will be in the OF quite a bit. Therefore, with his injury history, I want him playing OF with the Saints to get the reps in as he just hasn't played out there a lot in recent times (90% of people posting on TD were elated when Rocco was playing him in CF and now 50% seem to say it's Rocco's fault for even playing him out there). I think he will be very good in the OF and add to our great defense out there with Buxton, Taylor, Gallo, and Kepler (still think there is one too many). By the time Lewis gets back, injuries and bad hitting from someone will have sorted this out.

Same knee , same ACL tear as #1? 

3 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

Yeah, this isn't how things work. It wasn't his "first few innings" there. He played 8 innings in CF in 2019 at AA. Didn't tear any ACLs then. He played 46 innings in CF in 2019 in the AFL. Didn't tear any ACLs then. Played 10 innings in CF in 2022 in St Paul. Didn't tear any ACLs then. Played 18 innings in LF in 2022 in St Paul. Didn't tear any ACLs then. Played 3 innings in CF in 2022 in Minneapolis and tore his ACL. Is your stance that it's just Target Field's CF that is dangerous?

There isn't any evidence, solid or not, on what was right-wrong for Lewis. All we have is evidence that he got hurt. It doesn't have to be right or wrong. It can be, and is, simply sad. Otherwise, you better call the Mariners and let them know they have to move Julio Rodriguez out of CF immediately. I mean they just gave him a deal that could pay him nearly half a billion dollars. And they apparently are unaware that playing incredible athletes in CF is wrong because Royce Lewis got hurt doing it once. Matter of fact, better call the Angels, Braves, Mets, Pirates, Orioles, White Sox, and even the Yankees who used Aaron Judge out there. They all have great athletes who's ACLs are in incredible danger because they play CF. Then call the Twins a second time to tell them to move Buxton out of CF, too. Probably best we just play Gallo and Kepler there since we don't care if they get hurt.

100!

But just to add to this, the Lewis quote of: "I'm more excited to make those plays at the wall, but it's a little more dangerous" is clearly speaking to contact with the padding on a hard rundown of the ball. NOWHERE is there any sort of reference to being injured, or any cause of his injury, which again, came from an awkward leap and planting of his leg, and was not caused by any contact with the wall itself.

Twins Daily, dispelling myths, one myth at a time. 

Who gets 3B? Lee, Lewis, Correa or Miranda? Who gets 2B? Lee, Lewis, Julien or Polanco? Who gets SS? Correa or Lewis? Who gets 1B? Kirilloff or Miranda? The Twins are loaded with good young infielders. 7 very promising young players. Does one or two get moved to the OF...say Lewis, who may be the second best fielding SS on the team, or will Martin make this decision difficult? I know the national "experts" may disagree, but the Twins are loaded. Vasquez and Jeffers at C. Plus the Twins currently have the best 4 fielding OF'ers in the majors. 6-7 good major league ready SP's, a solid relief staff led by "Mr. Dynamite", Johan Duran, and I'm going to stop typing this post now and contact a guy named Bruno in Las Vegas and lay down some money on the Twins winning the World Series. 

On 2/16/2023 at 8:57 AM, Doctor Gast said:

Lewis has shown that he can play SS, hit at the MLB level & excel. Plus he has proven that he can come back from a torn ACL better than ever. With all the tangible & intangible qualities that he has & that he has nothing more to prove. He is still my #1.

By rights he shouldn't be still a prospect & like Jeff I'm still mad at Rocco.

A fluke collision with the CF wall?

On 2/16/2023 at 9:43 AM, Cris E said:

Lewis is a very good ballplayer and I like his future better than most, including Julien who I expect to be another Arraez in 2025. I believe Lewis will be the fill-in 2B/SS for any longer Polanco/Correa outages we may suffer over the next few years, and his permanent position is probably as Polanco's heir at 2b. That means he has to fill a couple years with mixed duty around the field. I'm OK with that I guess, because if he's made of glass he'll break no matter where he plays.

As an aside, I think Gordon's got some serious roster space problems as soon as Royce is ready to come across the river. He'll be the first one pushed out until some injury gives him a chance to get back in. And he'll be pushed from that spot if Lee is ready and there's a long-term injury hole to fill. Wallner's bat erupting in April and May could also make him uncomfortable.  I bet he's traded before Kepler.

I like Gordon - like him a lot! I’ve often wondered why nobody has mentioned him as trade material for pitching in the past……he’s got a better upside than many of our other options for other teams. It seems that even though he started almost 70% of games last year and 65% in OF, people see him as a Utility IF. As you mention, Gordon could be part of a trade just because he’s of more value than any other OF except Buxton. I think it would be short sighted!

I see Gordon playing LF (80 games) & backing up Buxton in CF (50 games) v. RH pitching for the next 3 years or more!! He’s all upside, from 28 doubles & 9 HR in 405 AB’s & first healthy season (gained 25 lb in ‘22) & first season in OF. He’s a potential 20 HR & 40 double guy with 575 AB’s as he gains strength & experience. He’s got all the upside any of the RH hitting IF’s that we want to convert to OF.

Excited for Lewis to join Big Club - I see him displacing Kepler or Gallo around the trade deadline on the roster. If either of those 2 aren’t performing or if they are both performing, one will be traded to help somebody else with OF needs.

I’m looking forward to Lewis getting off this list and establishing himself in the lineup for 150+games!  He is overdue for some healthy seasons. Long term he would look great on the hot corner!!