Royce Lewis Isn’t Going 100 Percent, and That’s a Good Thing

[Matthew Taylor]

Image courtesy of © Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Royce Lewis’s return to the Minnesota Twins lineup brought a jolt of energy, excitement, and, naturally, a few questions. After missing significant time with a hamstring injury, the former No. 1 pick has slowly started to find his rhythm at the plate. He’s tallied extra-base hits in three of his past four games, including his first home run of the season. It's a welcome sight for a Twins offense that can always use more production.

But if you’ve been watching closely, there’s something else that stands out. Lewis is clearly playing with a new mindset. He’s not going all-out on every play. He’s not diving, sliding, or sprinting unless absolutely necessary. He is protecting his legs, and it's intentional.

For some fans, that might be a tough pill to swallow. We’ve grown used to players giving 100 percent at all times. That expectation, though, ignores the realities of the game and the toll injuries can take. Lewis is doing what he needs to do to stay on the field, and the Twins are better for it.

Two back-to-back plays in Monday's game against Cleveland serve as the perfect encapsulation of Lewis's mindset.

A Calculated Double
Against Jakob Junis Lewis smoked a ball to the gap. A player eager to stretch something extra might have gone for a triple. But Lewis never even hinted at it. He slowed well before second base and coasted in with a stand-up double.

Could he have tried for third? Maybe. Would it have increased the Twins' chances of scoring that inning? Slightly. But the extra strain on his hamstring might have come at a much greater cost. The risk was not worth the reward. Lewis made the safe and smart play, one that keeps him on the field and in the lineup.

Conceding the Double Play
On the very next play, Ty France ripped a liner to third base and Lewis, caught off the bag, was doubled up. He didn’t even attempt a slide to get back. What looked like a routine double play was actually a calculated decision to avoid the kind of sudden movement that could cost him weeks on the injured list.

That decision may confuse fans at first, but it fits with everything he has said and shown. Making a quick change of direction and sprint back to the bag is exactly the kind of explosive movement that re-aggravates hamstrings. Lewis thought it through, realized the odds of beating the throw were slim, and decided not to risk it.

Lewis has been open about his mindset. Before coming off the injured list, he talked about the need to play the game differently going forward.

"Yeah, I think you just need to be smart in general," Lewis said. "Whenever I play the game going forward, I just gotta play a little bit smarter. And some of these other guys I've seen play the game at a high level do, to be able to play 162. If I was Bobby Witt’s speed, I think I’d run a lot, but I'm not there anymore, you know, with all the injuries, so just play smart, man, and let me get in the box, because that's where I have my most fun."

That perspective is critical. Players like Lewis are naturally wired to give everything on every play. But when they do that and get hurt, fans criticize them for being injury prone. When they ease up to stay healthy, some of those same fans call them lazy or soft. You can’t have it both ways.

The truth is, the version of Royce Lewis that can fly around the bases and dive into third is exciting. But that version also does not exist if he’s back on the shelf. What matters now is that Lewis is back, healthy, and contributing. He may not be playing at full speed, but he is playing full-time.

And for the Twins, that is a trade worth making every time.

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[Patzky]

Ok TD I see what you're doing. You questioned Ty France and he went on an RBI tear. You questioned Carlos Correa and he hit a HR in his first AB back and scored the winning run yesterday.

 

I get it. You're trying to shake Lewis into relevance and I applaud your efforts!

[Linus]

Royce isnt good enough to play this way. If you can’t play the game normally then your value to the team is always going to be limited unless you are a true elite player. On the play where he got doubled off I assumed he made a mental mistake. If he really accepted getting doubled off because he didn’t want to risk injury that’s way worse and he shouldn’t be out there. 

[DJL44]

11 minutes ago, Linus said:

Royce isnt good enough to play this way. If you can’t play the game normally then your value to the team is always going to be limited unless you are a true elite player. On the play where he got doubled off I assumed he made a mental mistake. If he really accepted getting doubled off because he didn’t want to risk injury that’s way worse and he shouldn’t be out there. 

I agree with this. If Royce can't play at full speed then I'd rather see Jonah Bride get the playing time. This version of Royce Lewis is lousy.

[terrydactyls]

Sounds like some people think Lewis should risk significant injury on every play just to keep them happy.  I would rather see a Lewis, who possibly can hit .275 with some power, play everyday than watch Lewis get thrown out at third, re-injure himself, and be out of the lineup for a month.  But that's just my opinion.

[Linus]

4 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

Sounds like some people think Lewis should risk significant injury on every play just to keep them happy.  I would rather see a Lewis, who possibly can hit .275 with some power, play everyday than watch Lewis get thrown out at third, re-injure himself, and be out of the lineup for a month.  But that's just my opinion.

If you are referring to my post you have mischaracterized what I said in a big way. I referred to being able to play the game normally ie make normal baseball plays. I said nothing about “risking significant injury”. 

[TopGunn#22]

I will echo what Linus and DJL44 said.  If you can't play the game, you shouldn't be out there.  Yes, it's true that we need Lewis in the batters box 4 times a game doing damage.  And I'm OK with him lacing a ball into the right-center field gap and cruising into 2B for a double.  

But I'm not OK with not diving back to 2B to avoid being doubled up.  I'm not OK with barely jogging to 1B on ground balls in the infield either.  If he can't "Play. The. Game." he shouldn't be out there.  For Pete's sake Royce, stretch a little more.

Where does this stop?  Does he NOT dive for a ball while playing 3B?  If he's playing 1B same thing.  If this is the mind set for this season, does this ever end?  In that case, he's nothing but a DH.  He's not even playable at 1B.  And at this stage of his career, he's not Nelson Cruz.

Even after Harmon Killebrew suffered a major hamstring tear in the 1968 season he came back and played 3B and 1B (primarily 3B) in 1969 and won A.L. MVP.  He rehabbed in the off season and came back ready to PLAY THE GAME.  He then hit 41 HR's in 1970, the year following his MVP season and in 1971 led the A.L. in RBI's.  All while playing 3B or 1B.  There was no DH until 2 years later.  

Killebrew was 32 years old when he tore his hamstring.  Anybody who watched that game saw how bad it was.  They took him off the field on a stretcher.  How is it that a 25 year old is unable to overcome his leg injuries sufficiently enough to play the game with effort and energy.  

I'm a big fan of Lewis.  But this is NOT the way to go about this.  

[terrydactyls]

9 minutes ago, Linus said:

If you are referring to my post you have mischaracterized what I said in a big way. I referred to being able to play the game normally ie make normal baseball plays. I said nothing about “risking significant injury”. 

Actually, I was referring to both you and DJL44.  And I guess your version of a "normal" play is different from mine.  I really don't think risking injury is "normal".

[Linus]

2 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

Actually, I was referring to both you and DJL44.  And I guess your version of a "normal" play is different from mine.  I really don't think risking injury is "normal".

Not getting doubled off second is a normal play. If you can’t dive back to the base without risking significant injury then there is no acceptable level of risk and you simply can’t play the game. 

[terrydactyls]

3 minutes ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I will echo what Linus and DJL44 said.  If you can't play the game, you shouldn't be out there.  Yes, it's true that we need Lewis in the batters box 4 times a game doing damage.  And I'm OK with him lacing a ball into the right-center field gap and cruising into 2B for a double.  

But I'm not OK with not diving back to 2B to avoid being doubled up.  I'm not OK with barely jogging to 1B on ground balls in the infield either.  If he can't "Play. The. Game." he shouldn't be out there.  For Pete's sake Royce, stretch a little more.

Where does this stop?  Does he NOT dive for a ball while playing 3B?  If he's playing 1B same thing.  If this is the mind set for this season, does this ever end?  In that case, he's nothing but a DH.  He's not even playable at 1B.  And at this stage of his career, he's not Nelson Cruz.

Even after Harmon Killebrew suffered a major hamstring tear in the 1968 season he came back and played 3B and 1B (primarily 3B) in 1969 and won A.L. MVP.  He rehabbed in the off season and came back ready to PLAY THE GAME.  He then hit 41 HR's in 1970, the year following his MVP season and in 1971 led the A.L. in RBI's.  All while playing 3B or 1B.  There was no DH until 2 years later.  

Killebrew was 32 years old when he tore his hamstring.  Anybody who watched that game saw how bad it was.  They took him off the field on a stretcher.  How is it that a 25 year old is unable to overcome his leg injuries sufficiently enough to play the game with effort and energy.  

I'm a big fan of Lewis.  But this is NOT the way to go about this.  

I also do not remember Killebrew diving for ground balls, trying to stretch doubles into triples, or speeding down the first base line trying to beat out a groundball.  As great as Killebrew was (and he was my favorite player), his job was to hit the ball into the stands in left field.  He could do that even if he had a leg amputated.  Not a good comparison.

[DJL44]

40 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

 I would rather see a Lewis, who possibly can hit .275 with some power

We both agree on this. I don't think he's that guy unless he's playing at 100%. This version is like Byron Buxton in 2023.

[GNess]

Perhaps as a temporary transition going les than 100% makes some sense for Royce Lewis or any other player with a significant injury history. However, competing demands an all-out effort and extending to your physical limits often. If Lewis can't get to that threshold he will never be the player he is projected to be and in fact will not produce consistently. The game is too difficult to play it at 75%. 

[RpR]

43 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

Actually, I was referring to both you and DJL44.  And I guess your version of a "normal" play is different from mine.  I really don't think risking injury is "normal".

If one cannot go all-out  as ball player, that one should not be playing, especially in the Bigs.

Lewis should be sent down to regroup, not as far down as they sent Sano, but in the minors.

[LA Vikes Fan]

44 minutes ago, Linus said:

Not getting doubled off second is a normal play. If you can’t dive back to the base without risking significant injury then there is no acceptable level of risk and you simply can’t play the game. 

No offense, but did you guys watch the game? Lewis made the classic "see the line drive start going toward third so I can score on a single" baserunning error and was toast coming back. Diving would not have helped; it would have slowed him down. He dives, he's out. He was likely out once he made that first move toward 3B.  He made the smart and correct baseball play to go back high and create a tougher throw in the hope KC didn't execute the play. That was his only shot at not getting doubled off. 

Let's not forget that Lewis has played in roughly 165 games, the basic equivalent of 1 (!) season in the Bigs. He is going to make rookie mistakes. The mistake he made yesterday is common and made by guys who have played 10 years in the Bigs. C'mon now, all of us who have played even beer league softball have done the exact same thing as have all serious players. We can and should wonder why he isn't hitting worth a damn, but i don't think its fair to criticize him for somehow not trying hard enough.  

[bean5302]

Lewis wasn't remotely close to ready when the Twins called him up. Given how much of ST he missed and how long he was out, it's pretty clear he should have undergone a long rehab starting off at the lower levels.

Anyway, here we are. Lewis is my favorite player on the team, but I'm not sure what to do about the issues at this point. The grabbing at the hamstring and keeping him in the game during at bats is inexcusable.

I can't fault Lewis for being careful, and I'm not sure how far away he is from being near 100% or getting his timing back, but he's making a lot of adjustments. Maybe it all comes together tomorrow or maybe it never comes together. Wallner is on record as saying he was ready to be back with the team months earlier than the Twins called his number again. I don't want that to be the case with Royce.

[RonJ64]

I agree with bean5302 here. I have been watching him since the injury. When balls have been hit even close to him, he has dived for them. That indicates to me, he feels good enough out there to play the game hard. 

[USAFChief]

Worst headline in TD history.  The article itself is all kinda bad, too. 

 

 

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I will echo what Linus and DJL44 said.  If you can't play the game, you shouldn't be out there.  Yes, it's true that we need Lewis in the batters box 4 times a game doing damage.  And I'm OK with him lacing a ball into the right-center field gap and cruising into 2B for a double.  

But I'm not OK with not diving back to 2B to avoid being doubled up.  I'm not OK with barely jogging to 1B on ground balls in the infield either.  If he can't "Play. The. Game." he shouldn't be out there.  For Pete's sake Royce, stretch a little more.

Where does this stop?  Does he NOT dive for a ball while playing 3B?  If he's playing 1B same thing.  If this is the mind set for this season, does this ever end?  In that case, he's nothing but a DH.  He's not even playable at 1B.  And at this stage of his career, he's not Nelson Cruz.

Even after Harmon Killebrew suffered a major hamstring tear in the 1968 season he came back and played 3B and 1B (primarily 3B) in 1969 and won A.L. MVP.  He rehabbed in the off season and came back ready to PLAY THE GAME.  He then hit 41 HR's in 1970, the year following his MVP season and in 1971 led the A.L. in RBI's.  All while playing 3B or 1B.  There was no DH until 2 years later.  

Killebrew was 32 years old when he tore his hamstring.  Anybody who watched that game saw how bad it was.  They took him off the field on a stretcher.  How is it that a 25 year old is unable to overcome his leg injuries sufficiently enough to play the game with effort and energy.  

I'm a big fan of Lewis.  But this is NOT the way to go about this.  

Killebrew also had zero expectations to stretch a double into a triple - ever. Harmon didn’t have 2 complete knee reconstructions prior to having a hamstring issue. I’m a fan of them both but need to take a level look at things.

Guys not going full tilt is irritable ……. I have difficulty rationalizing this approach but a player realizing your his body can’t do that effectively is just smart from the player’s perspective. He’s got family, personal agents, coaches & trainers all telling him to dial it back to stay on the field……….it’s not just some selfish choice he’s made. He’s got leg problems - gotta adjust expectations at this point.

Pretty sure he stretches regularly.

 

[bean5302]

9 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

...Pretty sure he stretches regularly.

 

Over-stretching is far more likely to result in a hammy pull than not stretching.

[LambchoP]

If he's hitting .160 with no power while playing "half speed", then he's not helping the team. His bat is his calling card, we need him to hit and hit for power.

[Jocko87]

Remember, baseball is not a sport of hustle, it’s about being in the correct place at the correct time.  That sometimes requires hustle.

The correct place for Lewis will most often be 2nd base instead of third on a ball to the gap, along with 98% of all other ball players.  

That said, he wasn’t close to full speed when he came back, but it’s what was needed. Correct place at the correct time.

[KBJ1]

Come on people, you're getting this all wrong. Perhaps former Vikings star RB, Robert Smith's experience es can shed so.e light on this.  After he tore his knee up a 2nd time, he realized that " fighting for that extra couple of yards on every play, isn't worth the risk". If it's 4th and 1 late in the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl, sure you do whatever it takes. If it's 2nd and 8 in the first quarter, just go down and live for the next play.

Seeing how Lewis has injured his legs two years in a row while trying to make sudden speed changes, it makes sense to save that for the biggest moments.

Trying to dive back to the base with little chance of being safe makes no sense. It's being smart. He still needs to show hustle, just don't try to go from zero to 60 on every play

[Twinsrtheworst]

Seems like whenever the Twins are rolling, we get these kind of articles and opinions of complete overreaction to something that is really nothing at all. He’s had 55 AB this season.  The sky is not falling, but I get it. Twins are playing great and showing what it takes to win.  But hey don’t let me spill any kind of optimism about Royce or any of the other players.  Let’s just cut him I suppose and bring up say Holland.  Sounds like a plan.

[Bodie]

If you can't run the bases due to injury, or the after affects, you belong on the DL.

He isn't filling a Jim Thome role, he is supposedly an everyday player.  If he is not an everyday player, trade him before everyone finds out he isn’t. This team, as currently constructed, cannot afford to have a plow horse slow DH/PH who cannot attempt to run all out - at least to save an out.

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, Jocko87 said:

Remember, baseball is not a sport of hustle

Wut?

[ziggy]

7 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Wut?

Soto and Machado will agree.

[Linus]

2 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

No offense, but did you guys watch the game? Lewis made the classic "see the line drive start going toward third so I can score on a single" baserunning error and was toast coming back. Diving would not have helped; it would have slowed him down. He dives, he's out. He was likely out once he made that first move toward 3B.  He made the smart and correct baseball play to go back high and create a tougher throw in the hope KC didn't execute the play. That was his only shot at not getting doubled off. 

Let's not forget that Lewis has played in roughly 165 games, the basic equivalent of 1 (!) season in the Bigs. He is going to make rookie mistakes. The mistake he made yesterday is common and made by guys who have played 10 years in the Bigs. C'mon now, all of us who have played even beer league softball have done the exact same thing as have all serious players. We can and should wonder why he isn't hitting worth a damn, but i don't think its fair to criticize him for somehow not trying hard enough.  

I did. It was a close play at second. Royce went back to the bag in a very unaggressive fashion. Again the point is trying to return to a base is a normal baseball play not some high wire act. If you can’t do it we’ve got problems. 

[Twodogs]

6 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

Sounds like some people think Lewis should risk significant injury on every play just to keep them happy.  I would rather see a Lewis, who possibly can hit .275 with some power, play everyday than watch Lewis get thrown out at third, re-injure himself, and be out of the lineup for a month.  But that's just my opinion.

So running hard is now risking significant injury?  I mean he should probably stay on the IL a little while longer then.  I mean I get he can possibly hit .275 with some power, but he's hitting a dollar seventy five.  Sometimes I think if a player starts to hold back, they will also struggle with normal stuff too, because they are not letting their body just do things.  They are thinking too much, about holding back.  I just think he has to play the game they way he has always played it, if he is still too injured to do so, then stay on the IL a little longer until he is 100%.

[NYCTK]

2 hours ago, ziggy said:

Soto and Machado will agree.

Soto at his worst is a significantly better hitter than Lewis at his best. You can't compare the slumping player with a 750 OPS to the guy with a 450 OPS. 

If Lewis is ever as good a hitter as Soto he has permission to ease up on groundballs. 

[USAFChief]

Lewis contributes nothing. One AB weaker than the next. 

Swing is all arms, butt damn near touching third base, feet flying all over. 

Can't continue to play him.