If the Twins Keep Royce Lewis, Where Should He Play?

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

The Twins have spent much of the 2026 season trying to figure out where Royce Lewis fits. Lewis has spent most of his big-league career at third base, but the Twins have increasingly experimented with him at other positions. He's seen time at second base and first base, and the organization has made it clear that versatility is part of his path forward.

If the Twins keep Lewis this offseason, though, they need to do so with a clear vision of his role for next year's team. Lewis cannot spend another season simply bouncing around the diamond without a larger plan. The Twins need to determine which position best fits his defensive abilities; which gives him the best chance to stay healthy and productive; and which one(s) his bat can support, in profile.

That last part is particularly important. Lewis entered 2026 with many in the Twins front office hyping him up for a return to the production he had earlier in his career, but his campaign has not gone according to plan. In 119 games, he's hitting .228/.291/.383, with 14 homers, 24 doubles, and an 88 OPS+. That's not the offensive profile Minnesota wants from a player who was once viewed as one of the organization's foundational pieces. After showing real signs of improvement when he returned from the minors and well into August, he's been as bad down the stretch as he was in April and May. So, where does he go from here?

Second Base Gives Lewis More Defensive Value

There is an argument that second base is the natural landing spot for Lewis if the Twins decide to keep him. He has lateral quickness, soft hands and a modicum of speed. Those traits are more valuable at second base than at first.

The defensive requirements are different, but second base allows Lewis to use some of the athleticism that made him such an intriguing prospect in the first place. The Twins have already seen him handle the position; he played there a lot for a three-week span from the All-Star break through early August. He returned to the position Saturday in Anaheim. Minnesota had also used him at second in St. Paul during his minor-league stint. At the big-league level, he's played 106 1/3 innings at second (almost all of them this year) with 1 OAA, his only position this season with a positive total. The problem is that Lewis hasn't accumulated enough second-base innings to know exactly what the long-term defensive results would look like with as much certainty as one might prefer.

As a second baseman, though, his bat would also be a plus. This year, the league's keystoners have batted .248/.317/.380. That's better than Lewis's full-season line, but already, the only way the team retains him is if they believe in the version of him who batted .256/.313/.436 in his first 300 plate appearances afrer making it back from St. Paul. If the Twins don't think his bat easily clears the bar at second, the rest of this conversation is moot.

First Base Takes Pressure Off the Glove, Not the Bat

At first base, Lewis doesn't have to make nearly as many difficult plays. That sounds obvious, but it matters. The Twins can live with a player who's merely adequate defensively at first base if he is providing significant offensive production. 

Lewis has shown flashes that suggest he can be a very good receiver of throws. Statcast's first-base receiving data has credited him with positive value (2 OAA) in that area. However, his overall defense at first has been worth -3 OAA, as he has tried to learn the nuances of a new position on the fly. 

But first base comes with another problem. The offensive expectations increase. A .700 OPS might be survivable from a middle infielder, if the defense is good enough. It's much harder to justify from a first baseman. First basemen have hit .256/.337/.438 league-wide this year; only for a month or two has Lewis managed to meet that standard.

The Twins don't need Lewis to become a Gold Glove first baseman. They need him to become a productive hitter. If he's playing first base every day (or anywhere near that), the offensive bar becomes considerably higher.

That creates an interesting offseason question. Would Lewis benefit from knowing that he is playing second base every day and having the freedom to concentrate on rebuilding his offensive game? Or would moving to first allow him to focus less on difficult defensive responsibilities and put more energy into becoming the hitter Minnesota believes he can be? As is so often true with Lewis, there's no easy answer.

The Position Could Affect His Offensive Development

This might be the most overlooked part of the discussion. Position does not directly determine how well a player hits. But expectations, workload and defensive responsibilities can affect how a player approaches his development.

Lewis has already gone through a significant adjustment period this season. He was optioned to Triple-A in May after struggling at the plate, then returned after hitting .340/.417/.868 in 2 1/2 weeks with St. Paul. When he returned, the Twins didn't simply hand him back his old third-base job. Instead, they began treating him as a more versatile player.

If Minnesota decides Lewis is its second baseman, he can spend the winter preparing specifically for second base. If the Twins decide he's a first baseman, he can spend the winter becoming as polished as possible at that position. The worst outcome would be spending another season without a clear answer.

Lewis Should Get the Chance to Earn Second Base

If the Twins keep Royce Lewis, second base should be his primary position. That spot gives Minnesota a chance to take advantage of more of Lewis's athletic ability, while allowing his bat to develop without the offensive expectations attached to first base.

There's also a bigger roster-building benefit. A Lewis-Kaelen Culpepper-Brooks Lee combination around the infield gives Minnesota three players with different defensive skill sets. If Lewis can become even an average second baseman, the Twins could have a relatively athletic infield with legitimate defensive upside. First base can then be filled by someone whose offensive profile better matches the position's expectations. That might be the most important consideration of all—though it assumes the team is proactive enough to go sign a productive first baseman this offseason.

Lewis needs an opportunity to settle into a position, prepare for it during the offseason, and spend an entire season learning how to play it at the highest level. If that position is second base, the Twins would be asking Lewis to prove that his athleticism can translate to the middle infield. If it's first base, they would be asking him to prove that his bat can carry the position. For a player whose future with the organization remains one of the biggest questions of the offseason, choosing the right defensive home could be just as important as figuring out what went wrong offensively in 2026.

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Should Lewis be Minnesota’s starting second baseman in 2027? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[Patzky]

Not sure about this plan.. with the impending appearance of Marek Houston, it seems a stopgap at most. Guess three months would give us a chance to see if he can still hit. Nobody loved Kyle Farmer as a sometimes hit decent glove guy there. Royce being popular shouldn't matter.

 

[mnfireman]

Barring injuries, Houston will not even be considered for re-call until the All-Star break, Lewis at 2B until then may not be the worst thing the '27 Twins could do. However, 1st round scholarships (Lewis, Wallner, Larnach, etc...) do more harm than good and this team should not hesitate to listen to offers from other teams.

[Ex-Iowegian]

1500 at bats in, and we still need to move him somewhere so he can develop his bat to suit his defense, or lack of? I would rather have a player with more upside. We already know what Lewis brings.

[DJL44]

There is nothing wrong with moving your utility infielder around the diamond. That is the role Lewis has earned. They should be looking for another infield starter and Lewis can start the season in a bench role.

[Jeff K]

Royce at 2nd base makes some sense, but consider this:  Who plays first base next year?  Clemens?  I think he is better suited as a utility player?  Trading Royce; what do you get?  His trade value can't be good.  Could the Twins get a serviceable/solid relief pitcher?  If yes...I would do it.  

[Fatbat]

Lewis at 2nd base should be a starting point, exactly like 3B was this spring. If Lewis fails to profile there and have a positive ops+ and OAA, then you keep him there, otherwise, move him permanently. With Sabato on the 40 man, he could be a stop gap 1B but again, only if his bat plays. We can deal with K’s if hisOPS is .800 and he hits 30 bombs. Otherwise, his experience in MLB will be short lived. There is always a DH position available most days if Buck is healthy but once again. The DH has to hit the damn ball consistently especially with RISP. Something that has been lacking most of this season since the allstar break. 

[mluebker]

The Twins have already figured out a solid second baseman in Kody Clemens, who fields better and hit better and more consistently than Lewis this year, with less drama and who will cost less in the long run. Lewis has shown everyone who he is and what he can do. The idea that he’s somehow just not had the chance to “develop” seems more like wishful thinking than reality at this point.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

I think that it's time for the Twins to part ways with Royce Lewis.  His offense is well below par and his defense has been "acceptable" at best, but really only if his offense were better.  I'm not sure what value he has left, possibly for a bullpen arm or for another team's change of scenery candidate?  Or, as a throw in to a larger deal if there is one to be made.  

As other posters have indicated, his bat really doesn't play at first base, and if things go according to plan, the move to second base is only a stopgap until (hopefully) Marek Houston comes up -- and not a great stopgap at that.  At best, he's a utility infielder who can move around and play acceptable defense, but we already have a guy like that in Clemens, who is probably a more flexible defender and seems to be a better bat.  I'm also not sure that Lewis would adapt well to a utility role off the bench.  Right now, I think he still looks in the mirror and sees himself as a star(ter).  I say give him a chance to do that on somebody else's team.  

[mikelink45]

I am so sorry that Lewis has dropped so far from star potential to a question of whether we should keep him and if we do where to play him.  After batting 300 the first two years he has been 233 - 237 - 227 the last three.  I have no expectations at this point.  OPS+ the last two years 85 and 87.  No way should he be at 1B or DH and I would rather have Clemens hold down the 2B slot. 

[Bangkok Twins Fan]

20 minutes ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

I think that it's time for the Twins to part ways with Royce Lewis. 

Sad to agree, but that may be best for both the Twins and for Lewis. Too many lost seasons, too many injuries, too many position switches ... it's time to say adios and good luck. 

[Whitey333]

Its past time to move on from Royce Lewis.  Hes been given plenty of chances to prove himself.  With the direction the club is going toward youth Lewis is not needed.  He like Buxton have become cogs in the system.  Move on.

[saviking]

Maybe the article ahoukd have read. What position will Lewis play on his new team. 

[NYCTK]

Smdh at all these people around here waiting for him to struggle so that they can write him off officially or get him out of here. 

[Permanent Twins Fan]

I think ideally the Twins bring in a 1st baseman this offseason and Royce begins the year in a utility role with the opportunity to gain more at-bats if he performs. 

[MeleMouth]

If the Twins keep Royce Lewis, where should he play? St. Paul.

If you mean to ask where should he play if they keep him on the MLB roster, he should play 1B, where he can do the least damage. #NoMoreBadFielding

He has so much to work on this winter, between a new swing and a new attitude, that it would be too much to ask him to work on his fielding, also.

[Woof Bronzer]

11 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Smdh at all these people around here waiting for him to struggle so that they can write him off officially or get him out of here. 

I mean he's been given every chance in the world, it's odd to suggest that somehow he got ran out of town by bad actors.  He played his way out of a starting job.  Absolutely no one to blame but himself.

[Althebum82]

You know he has not publicly complained this year about playing second base but last year he expressed his displeasure pretty succinctly.  After three seasons of offensive performance below expectations (conceding that injuries partly contributed to that), it’s time to move on.  He is what he has been, and it’s unrealistic to project any further improvement.

[DJL44]

4 minutes ago, MeleMouth said:

He has so much to work on this winter, between a new swing and a new attitude, that it would be too much to ask him to work on his fielding, also.

I don’t understand complaints about his attitude. He is an optimistic hard worker who supports his teammates and loves playing baseball. 

His problem is how slow he is to adjust. The entire league has the same pitching approach against him. He needs to be able to adjust faster.

If you play video games, you figure out that there are certain holes in the game where you can spam the computer opponent with the same move over and over and win every time. That’s what is happening right now to Royce. The league is spamming him with low and away sliders. Like a computer bot, Royce keeps getting himself out. That doesn’t make him a bad person.

If I was Royce, I would try to get really good at hitting LHP over the offseason. That would give him a role to build on.

[Woof Bronzer]

If the Twins want better results, they need better players.  Lewis has been given every opportunity possible.  He's just not good enough.  The need to incrementally improve at several positions and 1B is one of them.  Starting Lewis at 2nd starts you down the path of poor roster management once again as he is blocking Houston/Culpepper.

Twins fans have to understand that this current team is not good enough.  There are some decent players and some supposedly good clubhouse guys.  But it all adds up to a 75 win team.  We've seen this 3 years in a row now.  How many more 75 win seasons is it going to take for Twins fans to acknowledge that a core of Lewis, Buxton, Larnach, Lee, Jeffers, etc isn't good enough?  It was time to move on 2 offseasons ago.  Running it back again for the 4th straight offseason is going to lead to a 4th straight season of 70-80 wins and out of the playoffs.  

[Woof Bronzer]

Just now, DJL44 said:

I don’t understand complaints about his attitude. He is an optimistic hard worker who supports his teammates and loves playing baseball. 

His problem is how slow he is to adjust. The entire league has the same pitching approach against him. He needs to be able to adjust faster.

Shouldn't the baseline for every professional athlete be "works hard, loves the sport"?  

Maybe the "attitude" and slow adjustment are related?  Last year he said he refused to change his approach because he didn't want to mess up his (terrible) stats.  Nothing really "optimistic" about that. There seems to be a large gap between how Lewis views himself as a player, and his actual performance. 

What is Lewis doing to solve his problem of flailing away at low outside pitches?  That's been the book on him for 2 years now, and I don't see anything changing in his approach.  Does Lewis even think there's a problem?  He didn't seem to understand why he was sent down for a couple weeks.  

[RetractableProof]

Shortstop

[MeleMouth]

8 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I don’t understand complaints about his attitude. He is an optimistic hard worker who supports his teammates and loves playing baseball. 

His problem is how slow he is to adjust. The entire league has the same pitching approach against him. He needs to be able to adjust faster.

If you play video games, you figure out that there are certain holes in the game where you can spam the computer opponent with the same move over and over and win every time. That’s what is happening right now to Royce. The league is spamming him with low and away sliders. Like a computer bot, Royce keeps getting himself out. That doesn’t make him a bad person.

If I was Royce, I would try to get really good at hitting LHP over the offseason. That would give him a role to build on.

Not adjusting is an attitude problem. Carrying himself like "I'm Keith Hernandez" is an attitude problem. Some of the statements he makes show an attitude problem. 

None of this makes him a "bad person." He's not, as far as we know, abusive to other people or animals or a participant in a crime scheme. However, it demonstrates someone whose excessive self-regard is actually an impediment to success.

It wouldn't surprise me if it annoys some of his teammates. We have heard that Correa got after him for his attitude. I've never been on a professional sports team, but in every job I ever had there were people whose performance was mediocre but acted like they were special; co-workers usually didn't dislike them, but often either minimized their interactions with them or hoped that management would remove them from the workplace.