Royce Lewis hopes to be back with the Minnesota Twins as soon as this week. He was assigned to the St. Paul Saints last week on Major League Rehab Assignment for the second time this season.

 Royce Lewis Credit: Charles Hallman

“If it was up to me,” Lewis told the MSR last Saturday before he was scheduled to bat leadoff and DH in the first game of the doubleheader against Louisville, “I would’ve been playing on Tuesday when I got activated against the Mariners [earlier in the week].”

The fourth-year pro has been sidelined much of this season, first with a bad left hamstring strain, which he then reinjured again when he returned to action in May, getting placed on the 10-day injured list since June 15.

When healthy, Lewis is a top hitter and solid infielder, but sadly the California native has yet to play a full season since he was brought up to the parent club in 2022. Lewis is the Twins’ all-time leader in home runs through his first 100 career games, and tied for second all-time in postseason HRs (4). 

“Nobody wants to be hurt. Unfortunately, I have been that guy,” admitted Lewis. 

The Twins as of press time hadn’t determined how long Lewis’ rehab with the Saints will last before he is called back up.  

“They don’t let you out to play games unless you’re pretty darn close or feeling 100%,” explained Lewis, who told us that he “feels good.”

Since back in St. Paul, Lewis has been inserted in the Saints’ lineup at DH. “I treat DHing like I am a fan — I’m watching the game and watching every pitch,” he continued. “I want to play of course, but they are doing what’s right and best for me to keep me safe. I know I’ve been running really well and taking my at-bats seriously, trying to work on some things specific to timing.”

“To me a DH is like an off day, except you just do the fun part and just go hit,” said Lewis, who last Sunday played third base for the first time during his rehab stint. “I think they are going to wait and see how the body responds and go from there,” Lewis, who turned 24 on June 5, pointed out.  

The Twins on May 24 held a Royce Lewis bobblehead night at the ballpark, the first of two such nights that honors the team’s Black players. Byron Buxton will have his bobblehead available on July 12.

“I love it. Hopefully my family and friends were able to get some, too,” said Lewis. “Any bobblehead with Royce on it is really cool. This one is awesome with the eye black and the royal blue uniform that we have. It’s really cool.”

Royce was among several players who participated in an equipment giveaway for local youth, winning the 2024 Carl R. Pohlad Outstanding Community Service Award from the Twins Community Fund Board of Directors. “All the kids with their big smiles seeing the gloves, the shirts and bubble gum. They came straight from school. They had a great time,” he reported.

Lewis looks forward to rejoining the Twins and hopefully finishing the season healthy. “I will be better off for it in the long run,” he concluded.

It’s official

The University of St. Thomas is officially a full Division I institution after a vote by the NCAA Division Board of Directors that the St. Paul school has officially completed its reclassification process, school officials announced last week.

“We are proud to have them as a full member and look forward to all their teams being eligible to compete at Summit League and NCAA Championships in 2025-26,” said Summit League Commissioner Josh Fenton in a released statement.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

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