The injury bug has not been kind to the Minnesota Twins in recent weeks, but over the weekend, the team provided a fresh batch of updates on some key players working their way back to the field. While injuries have tested the club’s depth, there is cautious optimism that several contributors could rejoin the roster in the coming weeks. Let’s take a closer look at where things stand.

3B Royce Lewis
Injury: Left hamstring strain
IL date: June 15 (retroactive to June 14)
Expected return: Early July
When Lewis pulled up with a hamstring strain on June 13, it was a familiar frustration for a young star who has battled more than his share of health setbacks. But the 25-year-old third baseman has remained upbeat during this process, and the latest reports suggest he’s inching closer to a return.

Lewis has ramped up his running progression and started incorporating change-of-direction movements, an important milestone for an injury that requires caution. He’s also been active in other baseball activities, including fielding work and taking batting practice on the field. A return in early July appears realistic if he avoids setbacks.

“I think things are going really well,” Lewis said. “I’m taking this as a really good mental break, kind of like an All-Star break for me and my body and more so my mind. I feel really, really good right now.”

This is a much different tone from Lewis compared to last week when he said, “I’m tired of being the one who’s being bullied and picked on by this game.” His bat and energy remain sorely missed in a Minnesota lineup that has struggled for consistency during their recent poor play.

RHP Pablo López
Injury: Right teres major strain
IL date: June 11 (60-day IL, retroactive to June 5)
Expected return: August
Perhaps the most concerning injury development came earlier this month when López was diagnosed with a grade 2 strain of the teres major muscle near his right shoulder. The right-hander was placed on the 60-day IL on June 11 and will be shut down from throwing for at least four weeks, making a return before August unlikely.

The Twins’ rotation has been stretched thin without López, who has been the club’s most reliable top-of-the-rotation arm. Still, the front office believes this is a manageable injury as long as López progresses as expected.

“I feel confident that, based on the diagnosis we have, the multiple opinions we have on the return, that this is pretty straightforward in terms of what we should expect coming back,” said Twins President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey. “But you know, obviously, it remains to be seen how he progresses. … My expectation, as I sit here right now, is I have no reason to believe we aren’t counting on him down the stretch this season.”

The hope remains that López can build up in time for a meaningful late-season and potential postseason role. However, the Twins will need to stay in contention during his absence. 

2B Luke Keaschall
Injury: Right forearm fracture
IL date: April 26 (transferred to 60-day IL on May 18)
Expected return: July
Keaschall was a breath of fresh air to a Twins lineup early in the season but has been sidelined after fracturing his right forearm in late April. The 22-year-old was transferred to the 60-day IL in May but has started swinging a bat again and hitting off a tee as part of his rehab. 

Keaschall’s timeline points to a potential return sometime in July, but the team will likely take a cautious approach with one of its more promising young hitters. Complicating matters is his return from Tommy John surgery on the same arm that he broke. The Twins had hoped that he could progress to getting outfield reps later this season, but Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll said that Keaschall will now likely stick to infield for 2025. His offensive tools and versatility in the field could provide a second-half boost.

RHP Zebby Matthews
Injury: Right shoulder strain
IL date: June 8 (retroactive to June 5)
Expected return: July
Matthews, one of the Twins’ breakout pitching prospects over the last two seasons, landed on the IL earlier this month with a shoulder strain. The good news is that he has already resumed playing catch on flat ground.

This is a positive early step, and the Twins expect him to be ready to pitch again sometime in July, provided his progress continues uninterrupted. Minnesota’s rotation has suffered with inconsistencies in recent weeks, but there are no guarantees that Matthews can help those struggles. However, he adds another layer of depth that will be needed for the second half.

Injuries have disrupted the Twins’ depth on both sides of the ball, but the recent updates offer a reminder that help could be on the way soon. Lewis’s return could provide a needed jolt to the offense, while López looms as a potential second-half difference-maker for the rotation. Keaschall and Matthews could provide a much needed spark in the months ahead

For a team trying to stay afloat in the AL Wild Card race, every bit of health news matters, and this week brought more good news than bad.

Which player will have the most significant impact on the 2025 Twins? Leave a comment and start the discussion.