Gleeman: Minnesota Twins 3B, Royce Lewis, to Begin Rehab In Triple-A

[Matthew Lenz]

It's been two weeks since Royce Lewis strained his left hamstring leaving the Minnesota Twins scrambling to cover the hot corner.

In a positive development, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic is reporting that Lewis will begin a rehab assignment in Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, June 27th.

While Lewis struggled to find his bat after missing the first month of the season, but seemed to be turning a corner before his latest injury. In the meantime, Brooks Lee has been a solid replacement for Lewis and is recently enjoyed an 18-game hitting streak and his hit safely in 22 of his last 23 games.

Once Lewis' rehab assignment is over, should he join the Twins ASAP or get extra reps in St. Paul? Join the conversation in the comments!

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[Doctor Gast]

I'd give him time at AAA.

[stringer bell]

54 minutes ago, Matthew Lenz said:

It's been two weeks since Royce Lewis strained his left hamstring leaving the Minnesota Twins scrambling to cover the hot corner.

In a positive development, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic is reporting that Lewis will begin a rehab assignment in Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, June 27th.

While Lewis struggled to find his bat after missing the first month of the season, but seemed to be turning a corner before his latest injury. In the meantime, Brooks Lee has been a solid replacement for Lewis and is recently enjoyed an 18-game hitting streak and his hit safely in 22 of his last 23 games.

Once Lewis' rehab assignment is over, should he join the Twins ASAP or get extra reps in St. Paul? Join the conversation in the comments!

 

View full rumor

 

You're asking if they should burn an option for Lewis? I don't think that is necessary or what will happen. Hitters have twenty days of rehab before they must be reactivated. I think that is ample time for Lewis to get to some semblance of full speed and get his bat going. I don't think it should be a quickie three or four day deal. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

30 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

You're asking if they should burn an option for Lewis? I don't think that is necessary or what will happen. Hitters have twenty days of rehab before they must be reactivated. I think that is ample time for Lewis to get to some semblance of full speed and get his bat going. I don't think it should be a quickie three or four day deal. 

I think that's what Lenz was implying. Use more of the rehab time, don't rush him back this time.

[mluebker]

So it was a good thing Royce Lewis wasn’t going a hundred percent when he came back from his preseason hamstring injury last month, but it didn’t keep him from getting injured again. What’s the plan when he gets back to the Twins this time?

 

With his history of ACL tears, hamstring, quadriceps, and other strains, is he ever going to be able to go all out on the field? If he comes out cautious—either consciously or unconsciously—exactly what will his role be?

[Jeff K]

28 minutes ago, mluebker said:

So it was a good thing Royce Lewis wasn’t going a hundred percent when he came back from his preseason hamstring injury last month, but it didn’t keep him from getting injured again. What’s the plan when he gets back to the Twins this time?

 

With his history of ACL tears, hamstring, quadriceps, and other strains, is he ever going to be able to go all out on the field? If he comes out cautious—either consciously or unconsciously—exactly what will his role be?

Sadly, that is on the money.  The Royce Lewis we saw in 2023 does not appear (athletically) to be the same guy in 2025.

[MNBearCat]

Have we considered removing his plicae? 

[JADBP]

I am not a doctor...but....I think this all traces back to his original knee injury.  During that time off, he spent his time lifting weights.  He must have worked out incessantly because he came back seriously bulked up. 

Now, the problem is that being a baseball player isn't all about bulking up.  You still have to run, jump, make plenty of quick, jerky, snappy moves.  And bulked up bodies are not built that way...he is built to lift stones, not make flea flicker moves.  Compare his bulked up body to Wallner or Correa or even Buxton.  Sure they lift weights, but not just to bulk up.  They stretch constantly and in ways to limber up those  muscles.  These guys can outright MOVE FAST.

So, when Royce tries to run at 90 mph he pulls one of those bulked up muscles.  Over and over!!!

[DJL44]

On 6/26/2025 at 12:45 PM, stringer bell said:

Hitters have twenty days of rehab

20 days from now is the All-Star break. I think they will want him back for the Rays series at home on July 4. The Saints are headed to Gwinnett next week, so an easy flight from ATL to anywhere.

[stringer bell]

57 minutes ago, JADBP said:

I am not a doctor...but....I think this all traces back to his original knee injury.  During that time off, he spent his time lifting weights.  He must have worked out incessantly because he came back seriously bulked up. 

Now, the problem is that being a baseball player isn't all about bulking up.  You still have to run, jump, make plenty of quick, jerky, snappy moves.  And bulked up bodies are not built that way...he is built to lift stones, not make flea flicker moves.  Compare his bulked up body to Wallner or Correa or even Buxton.  Sure they lift weights, but not just to bulk up.  They stretch constantly and in ways to limber up those  muscles.  These guys can outright MOVE FAST.

So, when Royce tries to run at 90 mph he pulls one of those bulked up muscles.  Over and over!!!

I don’t think it’s quite as simple as that, but yes, Royce’s body doesn’t look the same as when he broke in. Some of that might be natural as he has reached his mid-20s. I think his lower body is going to be more vulnerable to muscle strains and tears and I’m certain he does plenty of stretching. He needs to find how hard he can push and not go over the red line. 

[tony&rodney]

Let his play for St. Paul make the decision when to end the rehab assignment. Last time, he was about the lowest performing player on the Saints team. He looked crippled and he was totally dominated by the AAA pitchers. In the last few games with the Twins he did look like his swing was improving but he still was losing foot races to Vazquez and struggling with anything not directly hit to him. If Royce is limber, on time, and able to sprint bring him back. I'm not sure why any team wants a player whose ceiling is a ,200 hitter due to injuries. Lewis can do much better if he is healthy. Why not allow him to become whole again?

[SoDakTwinsFan4]

4 hours ago, JADBP said:

I am not a doctor...but....I think this all traces back to his original knee injury.  During that time off, he spent his time lifting weights.  He must have worked out incessantly because he came back seriously bulked up. 

Now, the problem is that being a baseball player isn't all about bulking up.  You still have to run, jump, make plenty of quick, jerky, snappy moves.  And bulked up bodies are not built that way...he is built to lift stones, not make flea flicker moves.  Compare his bulked up body to Wallner or Correa or even Buxton.  Sure they lift weights, but not just to bulk up.  They stretch constantly and in ways to limber up those  muscles.  These guys can outright MOVE FAST.

So, when Royce tries to run at 90 mph he pulls one of those bulked up muscles.  Over and over!!!

I actually think the muscles in his lower body may not be strong enough. When you're consistently pulling hamstrings that tells me the muscle is neither strong nor conditioned enough. 

[Linus]

1 hour ago, SoDakTwinsFan4 said:

I actually think the muscles in his lower body may not be strong enough. When you're consistently pulling hamstrings that tells me the muscle is neither strong nor conditioned enough. 

Perhaps Lucas can weigh in here but I’ve been told by Physical Therapists that muscle pulls are a result of weak muscles and / or muscle imbalances not lack of flexibility. 

[Parfigliano]

7 hours ago, JADBP said:

I am not a doctor...but....I think this all traces back to his original knee injury.  During that time off, he spent his time lifting weights.  He must have worked out incessantly because he came back seriously bulked up. 

Now, the problem is that being a baseball player isn't all about bulking up.  You still have to run, jump, make plenty of quick, jerky, snappy moves.  And bulked up bodies are not built that way...he is built to lift stones, not make flea flicker moves.  Compare his bulked up body to Wallner or Correa or even Buxton.  Sure they lift weights, but not just to bulk up.  They stretch constantly and in ways to limber up those  muscles.  These guys can outright MOVE FAST.

So, when Royce tries to run at 90 mph he pulls one of those bulked up muscles.  Over and over!!!

Less weights (you aren't a linebacker Royce) more stretching type training

[David HK]

On 6/27/2025 at 1:20 AM, Doctor Gast said:

I'd give him time at AAA.

A lotta time.

[stringer bell]

51 minutes ago, David HK said:

A lotta time.

Probably will be back Tuesday. A mistake, I think. 

[Linus]

14 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Probably will be back Tuesday. A mistake, I think. 

Certainly appears that the impending move. I think it would be a huge mistake as well.  

[Road trip]

15 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Probably will be back Tuesday. A mistake, I think. 

How about Austin Martin instead?  Scorching hot, defensively versatile (if mediocre), and would bring some needed speed.  Bring him up till the all star break, and then sort out who should be sent down in about two weeks when Lewis is hopefully fully healthy.  Heck, Martin should probably be replacing Keirsey anyway.

[stringer bell]

3 hours ago, Road trip said:

How about Austin Martin instead?  Scorching hot, defensively versatile (if mediocre), and would bring some needed speed.  Bring him up till the all star break, and then sort out who should be sent down in about two weeks when Lewis is hopefully fully healthy.  Heck, Martin should probably be replacing Keirsey anyway.

I think Martin would be superior to Keirsey Jr. He's about equal as a base runner and is clearly a better hitter who would be able to get some PAs against LH pitching, where the Twins have really struggled this month. Not as good in the field, but a bit more versatile.

[RpR]

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

I think Martin would be superior to Keirsey Jr. He's about equal as a base runner and is clearly a better hitter who would be able to get some PAs against LH pitching, where the Twins have really struggled this month. Not as good in the field, but a bit more versatile.

Put Martin at 2nd and Lee at 3rd.