Playing at 120 Percent, Royce Lewis is Ready for his Return to the Big Leagues

[Theodore Tollefson]

Royce Lewis is eligible to return from his Minor League rehab assignment on Memorial Day. The Twins longtime top prospect reflects on what the last year has been like for him and what is next for him when he eventually returns to the Twins active roster. 

Image courtesy of Theo Tollefson

ST. PAUL – Royce Lewis had his second call-up to the Major Leagues a year ago and started in center field against the Kansas City Royals on May 29, 2022. 

The first two innings of the game went smoothly for the Twins' top prospect, then in the top of the third, everything changed for Lewis. 

“I remember like it was yesterday,” Lewis said. “It was just a ball hit by Emmanuel Rivera very well, that I didn't think he got a ton of, and then I realized mid-running like, ‘Oh, he got this better than I thought.’ it was bad timing on my part and a freak injury where it happened at the end." 

He tore his ACL for the second time in a year and was out for the rest of the 2022 season. It's now been a year since that happened and his return to the big leagues is just around the corner. 

Lewis has raked at the plate as his rehab began on May 11 hitting .333/.375/.700 (1.075) with three home runs, and nine RBI in the eight games he’s rehabbed in between Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul. On top of that, he’s been successful in four out of five steal attempts and flashing defensively with the glove on the left side of the infield. 

“He seems good right now,” said St. Paul Saints manager Toby Gardenhire on Lewis. “It's always tough coming back from an injury, especially the long injuries like this one where it takes a year to come back from it. But he really hasn’t skipped too much of a beat.”

The journey back from the second ACL tear wasn’t an easy one at first for Lewis. He said the first three days following the surgery were some of the toughest he has gone through. 

“The next three days [post surgery] were hell. It was horrible. I would never want anyone to go through something like that, like the pain that I had. It would just hurt for the whole week, week and a half. Finally as I started walking more and moving it around more, it got better,” said Lewis. 

While those first three weeks were painful for Lewis to get through, he would go through it all again as it’s made him stronger both physically and mentally as an athlete. 

“I am glad I did it. It's something that you wish you never went through it, like kind of like hell week for football, right? They go and do that, and they come out of it better and stronger and better people. That's how I feel like I came out of that surgery. So I would do it 100 times over,” he said. 

(Editor's Note: Let's hope two is the charm, and that he doesn't need a third, much less a 100th time!)

Lewis didn’t get through the rehab off the field without help. Former Twins centerfield Torii Hunter and his son Torii Jr. were a massive help to him while he was recovering in Texas. 

“He's the man, and he is always there to take care of everybody. He's taken care of me like another son and I couldn't thank him enough. And Torii Jr. has been the same way with me as well. I listened to both of Torii's, and if I can get any advice or wisdom for them, I'm gonna take it,” Lewis said. 

While Lewis didn’t see any in-game action during spring training his time on the back fields built him back up to the player he’s always known himself to be. And it was during extended spring training when he knew Royce Lewis was back to full health as the player he can be. 

“I knew I was back probably a month ago in Florida when we started doing some running stuff. They had me do everything, and it was unbelievable. We're doing way more in rehab. They're crushing you. There's no game we played, and we need to make sure you can do everything once you're in the game. So they push you to 150% where when you play at 100% in games, it makes it so much easier,” Lewis said. 

Lewis now describes his energy as starting at 120% at the beginning of each game now. He’s feeling comfortable at the plate, in the field at third base and shortstop, and his running game is better than ever. 

“The biggest thing is for him to keep improving, just keep getting better with his development. He's still young, he's still got a long way to go but he's got so many tools and so much talent that he can really go a long way,” said Gardenhire. 

His performance during this rehab stint points to Lewis bringing a similar performance to his first call-up to the Twins a year ago when the Twins made the move to bring him back. He can be activated as early as Monday, landing his potential return date on the anniversary of his second ACL tear. 

While it is in the back of his mind, it’s not holding weight on Lewis and what his performance will be day in and day out while he makes his return to the game on a full-time basis. 

“I'm just being myself and having fun. I think honestly when I perform well, whether it's defense or offensive, that happens to go with how I'm feeling emotionally and it just tells you where I'm at emotionally and I'm so happy to be back on the diamond and just playing the game that I love and missed,” said Lewis. 

For much, much more on Royce Lewis, click here. 

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[Jocko87]

How does one achieve 120%?  I'll take it as a good sign from the man himself but he is probably comparing it to how he felt over the last 3 years with one leg.  True 90% would be good by me.

[jimbo92107]

I can't wait to see him play live. Get him up there, Twins!

[I wish the twins were good]

Good! This team sucks!

[bighat]

What a great attitude this guy has. If he remains injury free he'll be the clubhouse leader in no time - this team hasn't had one in a while and Royce seems like a guy who can take on that role. 

Great interview and very nice article @Theo Tollefson! Good job getting Lewis on the horn for a TD piece! 

[Doctor Wu]

10 minutes ago, bighat said:

What a great attitude this guy has. If he remains injury free he'll be the clubhouse leader in no time - this team hasn't had one in a while and Royce seems like a guy who can take on that role. 

Great interview and very nice article @Theo Tollefson! Good job getting Lewis on the horn for a TD piece! 

I agree, everything that I've read about Lewis, either pre-injury or post-injury, indicates that not only is his attitude great, but he's not a quitter. Got some fire in the belly. Seems like a throwback to the gritty players of the old days. If he can get on base and steal some bases, maybe this team will start scoring some runs again!

[TopGunn#22]

I'm not looking for him to be "The Savior" but he will bring an infectious energy to the clubhouse and I think he can be a spark to make others better as well.  GO ROYCE !!!

[jmlease1]

Love Royce. Seems like a really great guy, love his positive energy and enthusiasm, and looking forward to seeing him show his talent and drive. He's had a really impressive rehab. It would have been totally reasonable for someone who has played as little as he has (because of injury, pandemic, and injury again) to struggle as he got back on the field, at least a little. He just refuses to accept barriers, apparently.

[gman]

It will come down to adjustments for him. Like everyone else that is failing this year. He will come in hot but soon enough the other team will make adjustments to Him. Then he will cool off.

How fast can he adjust? Unfortunately everyone who is added to the team this year does not seem able to quickly counter the opposing teams adjustments.

[hitterscount]

Hoping he is starting at 3rd base on Memorial Day. Gutting out two ACL surgeries and recoveries with a positive attitude... great article on the young man. 

[Maybebaby]

Get this guy in the lineup asap.  We need all the help we can get.  Maybe he's just the spark plug we need to get this engine started!

 

[CarolinaTwin]

Bring him up to the Show and let him play a steady dosage of 3rd base and bat him 6th in front of Gallo.

[Tibs]

Easily our top prospect. Can't wait to see him at Target Field once he is ready

[terrydactyls]

I keep hearing that he's eligible to be activated May 29th.  But I also keep hearing that he's eligible to be activated June 1st.  Does anyone actually know which day is correct?  And add a reference so I know it isn't just what you heard or read.

[umterp23]

%'s to describe something over 100% is worthless.  The max you give on any given day is guess what 100%, not anything over that.  Plain and simple if he confident and ready to go, then he is 100%.  If not, then he can say less than 100%.  Glorified % doesn't mean anything.  If he is ready, throw him in the lineup.

[Craig Arko]

So, Thor zaps Iron Man with lightning; Jarvis tells Stark the suit is at 400% capacity. Stuff happens.

[joefish]

I hope Lewis adds something to our lineup. 

I'd hate to see him hit 3 solo shots while we still lose 4-3. 

Damn our team hitting sucks. Way worse than I ever thought possible.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

57 minutes ago, Craig Arko said:

So, Thor zaps Iron Man with lightning; Jarvis tells Stark the suit is at 400% capacity. Stuff happens.

Jarvis only tells Stark?

Only common courtesy to tell the other 3 people, too.

[wabene]

We need an 150% like button, or at least 120

[DocBauer]

120%?

Really, shouldn't he just give 100 and offer the rest up to charity.

(old joke)

Can't wait to see him with the Twins and becoming a fixture for the next 8-10yrs!

[ashbury]

3 hours ago, umterp23 said:

%'s to describe something over 100% is worthless.  The max you give on any given day is guess what 100%, not anything over that.  Plain and simple if he confident and ready to go, then he is 100%.  If not, then he can say less than 100%.  Glorified % doesn't mean anything.  If he is ready, throw him in the lineup.

It makes my blood boil when people take a figure of speech literally.

[darin617]

If he gets recalled he needs to play every day. So Farmer gets demoted to the bench? 

[mrtwinsfan]

Royce on the plane ??  after sundays game,  with the team,   Hope so cause the Twins wont say

[DocBauer]

2 hours ago, darin617 said:

If he gets recalled he needs to play every day. So Farmer gets demoted to the bench? 

I don't think demoted is the right term. He goes back to being what he was brought in to be, which is an excellent utility player across the infield. Lewis won't play every day at first, nor will Julien, and Correa...despite his outstanding defense...has played every game except some like a half dozen, so he needs some days off here and there as well, especially with his heel being tender. So Farmer is still going to play 2-3 days a week I think. The question remains, when Correa sits, does Farmer or Lewis play SS?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

3 hours ago, DocBauer said:

The question remains, when Correa sits, does Farmer or Lewis play SS?

Yes.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

8 hours ago, ashbury said:

It makes my blood boil when people take a figure of speech literally.

Begs the question... does it boil just at 100 degrees, or all the way up at 212?

 

(nice figure, by the by)

[ashbury]

42 minutes ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

(nice figure, by the by)

I've had compliments before, thanks.

[ANDwon]

Quote

On 5/27/2023 at 10:52 AM, umterp23 said:

%'s to describe something over 100% is worthless.  The max you give on any given day is guess what 100%, not anything over that.  Plain and simple if he confident and ready to go, then he is 100%.  If not, then he can say less than 100%.  Glorified % doesn't mean anything.  If he is ready, throw him in the lineup.

 

Agree 200%.