An Honest Royce Lewis Discussion

[Vanimal46]

The season concluded now and these are his MLB stats for 2026:

124 starts - 509 PA - .227/.287/.380 for a .667 OPS. 15 HR - 57 RBI - 16 SB. 82 games at 1B, 37 games at 3B, 15 games at 2B. 

He’s not a kid anymore. Certainly not someone who can be lumped into the Culpepper, Jenkins, Keaschall, E-Rod, Gonzalez era of young Twins players. 

At this point, I don’t know if all of his injuries has permanently lowered his ceiling. Maybe he’ll have a year again where he’s an 800+ OPS guy down the road…

That being said, I can’t envision keeping him beyond this season. Keeping him means dedicating additional time for him to become a league average 1B. Or a below average 3B. 

I cheered for him when he came back from AAA and lit it up in May and June. The lows are outweighing his 4-6 week hot streaks. 

[TheLeviathan]

It's time to move on.  I keep pitching a swap with him and Henry Davis on Pittsburgh.  

Find somewhere for him that isn't here, he needs a change.

[Cory Engelhardt]

I can very much see a scenario where he is kept as a utility guy to start the season off the bench. Then if he performs, great. If he doesn't, easy to move on. But with his talent/potential, I have to think the 5 million or so he is set to make wouldn't be spent on a better backup 1b/2b/3b. 

I mean, they kept Larnach a year longer than I would have guessed.

I can't see a scenario where he is handed the starting 1B job right now today. No chance. I also can't see a scenario where he is handed the starting 2B job today. But as the 11th man on the roster, with a chance to always hit his way into more of a role and earn it, sure.

 

But if a true clean slate is better for both sides, so be it.

[strumdatjag]

Royce Lewis has showed flashes of star-quality play.    When he is hot, his attitude is infectious by and can carry the team.  
Royce’s trade value is low.  He still could be that much needed right-handed power bat in the line-up.  He currently plays at 1B and 2B, which are positions of need for the Twins. 
It’s obvious, bring him to Spring Training to compete for a job in a final “prove-it” season.  

[Mike Sixel]

I'm ready to move on. If you can get a former top, likely injured pitching prospect, I'm so in. 

He's been bad for three seasons. Cut bait. Roden, Keaschell, other can try first next year. 

[stringer bell]

My hopeless faith is almost gone. That was a lyric from a song, I think. That said, I'm not ready to non-tender Lewis or trade him for a suspect. He does need to further adjust his approach as a hitter--slap some balls to right field and then take advantage of hanging breaking balls and batting practice fastballs.He played two unfamilar positions and looked decent at both and offered value on the base paths.

I said when Lewis returned from the minors that with all of the moving parts in his hitting, he would be prone to slumps and that proved to be true. I don't know if it also might have been exacerbated by fatigue in playing the longest season he has played, but I wouldn't discount that.

This may be all he is capable of, and if so, it's not enough to be a full-time major league player making eight digits a year. I still think there is more there that can be tapped, but the numbers say he has plateaued a a less-than-average hitter playing at positions where much more offense is expected.

[Permanent Twins Fan]

1 hour ago, strumdatjag said:

Royce Lewis has showed flashes of star-quality play.    When he is hot, his attitude is infectious by and can carry the team.  
Royce’s trade value is low.  He still could be that much needed right-handed power bat in the line-up.  He currently plays at 1B and 2B, which are positions of need for the Twins. 
It’s obvious, bring him to Spring Training to compete for a job in a final “prove-it” season.  

Agree. I think you give Royce one more year in a lesser role and maybe bring in a free agent 1st baseman as a back-up plan. He did show some potential this year at 1st base and going 15-15 is nothing to be ashamed of. It is really sad, though to see someone who we thought was going to be the guy leading the Twins to championships struggling so much.