After a difficult twelve months of rehab, Twins infielder Royce Lewis returned to the Majors on Memorial Day — and did so with a bang. The top pick from the 2017 MLB Draft went deep in his first game back, and he looks like a strong option in fantasy moving forward.
Related: 2023 MLB Fantasy: What to Expect from Braves Starter Mike Soroka
A Look at Lewis
Six years ago, the Minnesota Twins bypassed both Hunter Greene and Brendan McKay in the 2017 MLB Draft and instead took California prep star Royce Lewis with the top pick. It was a bit of a surprise at the time, but Lewis shined in his first two seasons as a pro.
The now-23-year-old batted .279 over 54 Minor League games in 2017, and followed that small sample size up with 14 home runs, 28 stolen bases, and 46 extra base hits in 2018. The following season was a setback for Lewis, as the infielder/outfielder hit just .236 and posted a sub-.300 OBP over 127 games in the 2019 season.
From there, things got complicated for Lewis. The COVID shutdown cost Lewis all of 2020 and the 23-year-old then missed all of 2021 due to a torn ACL. Lewis returned in 2022 with a vengeance, when he hit .315 and posted a .939 OPS in 34 games with St. Paul (AAA) to earn his first callup to the Majors. In an infield/outfield role, Lewis hit two home runs and six extra base hits across 12 games but saw his season end due to yet another torn ACL.
Lewis did quite well in a rehab assignment earlier this month with the Saints before being summoned to the Majors. In his first game back with Minnesota, Lewis did not disappoint. Lewis picked up two hits and launched his first home run on the season off of Astros RHP J.P. France.
The at-bat in which Lewis hit his first homer was a strong one, as he saw all fastballs away. On the fourth time France tried to get him with the outside heat, Lewis drove one out of Minute Maid Park.
2023 Fantasy Outlook
With Jose Miranda in the Minors, Carlos Correa back but a question mark moving forward, and a Twins team in need of offense, Lewis stands a good chance of sticking with the big club for good. Not only does he fill a hole at third base, but he’s a natural shortstop that can spell Correa on days in which he either slots in at DH or rests. But more importantly, Lewis’ bat and approach looks MLB-ready.
Lewis was the top pick in the 2017 MLB Draft for a reason. The 23-year-old took a while to develop and his injury history didn’t help. However, one can’t overlook his tools and natural ability to drive the ball.
The Twins have already stated that Lewis won’t get a look in the outfield this season. Don’t expect him to gain eligibility for the outfield in fantasy leagues, but Lewis is already close to becoming an option at third base in the near future. If he stays healthy, Lewis should be someone to pick up quickly. He’s got the power and the speed to be a valuable asset, although it’s yet to be seen how active Lewis will be on the basepaths this season.
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