Let's Discuss the Elephant in the Room. Royce Lewis and What to do With Him.

[MinnInPa]

On 7/14/2025 at 10:24 AM, Chembry said:

Put me also in the ride it out camp.  Royce is the type of talent that can carry a team.  Yes, he is having a bad year, but I still don't believe he is fully healthy either.  In the past few games you can see him grabbing at that hamstring and stretching it out at the plate.  He does this weird front side flying open then clutching at his left hamstring.

The bigger problem is Wallner.  He has a huge upside, but can't seem to put it together.  Seems to have taken a few steps back at both the plate and in the field.  Personally, I think we need to send him down or trade him.  Not sure we would get a ton in return, but we do have log jam of corner OF (still have ERod, Jenkins, and McCusker).  I know ERod left the game Saturday with another injury, but may be time to see what McCusker can do at the MLB level.  

Personally I think our best lineup is Bader (LF), Buxton (CF), Castro (RF), Royce (3B), C4 (SS), Lee (2B), France or Clemmons (1B), Jeffers (C), and Larnach (DH). 

agree on Wallner.. i believe never will, live up to the hype. cant hit a fastball rt now right down the pike ..and then chases an off speed pitch that pitcher puts in the dirt

[RpR]

30 minutes ago, Julian Bernick said:

I can't give up on Royce yet.  And also, no to selling low on him.  I'm a little bit optimistic since over the last 2 weeks he seems to be making more contact and that's how guys emerge from slumps often enough.  He's always been streaky.  But if he's hurt, they need to IL him or if he doesn't put it together, AAA stint is a fine idea so he can try to fix up his mechanics.

More concerned that Wallner is an analytics superstar who has great numbers and obvious mathy upside but never hits a HR with guys on base or even gets that clutch single or double.  He looks like the latter version of Joey Gallo right now (without positional versatility).

As a few ppl have mentioned, it does feel like the organization is doing something wrong.  The list of big time power hitters we have "developed" - Sano, Wallner, Royce, Miranda, Julien, Kiriloff, Larnach (who's been at least something of a bright spot.)  Is it drafting, coaching or both?  

Lack of Big League talent, combined with the Twins current method.

[Whitey333]

I don't care if they dump Lewis or not.  He shows a few flashes of brilliance then long stretches of terrible hitting.  Hey they may as well wait it out.  After all they waited 10 years for Buxton to have a very good year.

[Jeff K]

On 7/14/2025 at 5:14 PM, Linus said:

If he’s not fully healthy then it’s tough to make a judgment. If he is healthy and the league has adjusted to him Thats a more concerning issue. Another aspect of his play that is concerning is his defense. He looks unconfident to me; Lee looks much better to me at the hot corner yet the Twins continue to cater to Royce. I hope he snaps out of it. However at some point the Twins can’t wait around for him. To me his logical positions going forward are second base, first base and left field and I’m not sure about second base. 

I think our best infield is Lee and 3rd, Correa SS, Keaschall 2B and Lewis at 1st.

[Linus]

1 hour ago, Jeff K said:

I think our best infield is Lee and 3rd, Correa SS, Keaschall 2B and Lewis at 1st.

Could be but we don’t know about Keaschall in the field either. One of the frustrating things about sorting out the path going forward is how many questionable fielders we have. 

[RpR]

1 hour ago, Jeff K said:

I think our best infield is Lee and 3rd, Correa SS, Keaschall 2B and Lewis at 1st.

I agree with Lee at 3rd, and Correa; Keaschall is an unknown and his fielding in  his few appearances was just the opposite of his bat.

No Ks, that was Very Good, and 4 stolen bases, great, but his fielding looks a lot like Julien's lead glove.

[jaimedude]

I don't think either Lewis or Wallner should be given up on. Both need to stop striking out so much. Wallner and Lewis would be better if they start driving balls in the gaps. They don't have to crush moonshot Homer's  every day to be successful. Wish Wallner would take better routes to the ball on defense.

[stringer bell]

1 hour ago, jaimedude said:

I don't think either Lewis or Wallner should be given up on. Both need to stop striking out so much. Wallner and Lewis would be better if they start driving balls in the gaps. They don't have to crush moonshot Homer's  every day to be successful. Wish Wallner would take better routes to the ball on defense.

Lewis has 22 Ks in 153 plate appearances, well below league average. 

[Road trip]

2 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Lewis has 22 Ks in 153 plate appearances, well below league average. 

It is a trope that the Twins strike out far too much.  The three Twins with the lowest strikeout percentages?  Lewis, Vazquez, and France.  That's arguably the three least productive hitters on the roster right now (at least by stats such as OPS).  They all put the ball in play, but don't get on base much.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Lewis has really good power.  He had a solid approach all the way through the minors and early career in the majors.  I really think those early homeruns has him chasing,  and missing too many good pitches.  

[stringer bell]

58 minutes ago, Road trip said:

It is a trope that the Twins strike out far too much.  The three Twins with the lowest strikeout percentages?  Lewis, Vazquez, and France.  That's arguably the three least productive hitters on the roster right now (at least by stats such as OPS).  They all put the ball in play, but don't get on base much.

Agreed. Slow guys making weak contact aren't going to get a lot of hits unless the hitter is named Arráez. 

[stringer bell]

Bumping this topic. Has Royce "found it"? I don't think his end-of-the-year numbers will end up being impressive, but it seems he is healthy and he's hitting. 

[RpR]

46 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Bumping this topic. Has Royce "found it"? I don't think his end-of-the-year numbers will end up being impressive, but it seems he is healthy and he's hitting. 

He is hitting , now, and his throws to First are not bouncing, but they still are very low when the get there.

Maybe he is afraid of air mailing the ball to the stands.