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According to Outs Above Average (OAA) at Baseball Savant, Royce Lewis currently grades out as average at third base. Owning a 0 OAA ranks him second on the team, to Kyle Farmer (1 OAA). Due to missing too many games, the Twins' star third baseman doesn't qualify for league-wide leaderboards. If he did, however, he would reside in the 19-21 range, alongside Enrique Hernández, Trey Lipscomb, and José Ramirez. Lewis is still an extraordinary athlete who shows it at times, but on a day-to-day basis, he doesn't make as many plays as an average fielder.
Lewis is a fringe-average third baseman, according to most defensive metrics. However, the eye test tells a different story. Whether it be bobbling what should be routine groundballs, struggling to get a glove on balls in the "5.5-hole," or bouncing or sailing throws to first base while releasing from an awkward overhead arm angle, the former first-round pick looks uncomfortable at the hot corner. His inability to find his footing in the position could stem from often missing extended time due to various significant injuries. Still, his recent blunders have negatively affected to team's ability to get out of innings and protect leads.
Rightfully, the team will give the star 25-year-old endless opportunities at third base for the rest of this season. Lewis, his agent Scott Boras, and Twins decision-makers agree that he is best suited at third base for the time being. Playing him in center field is no longer an option, and a transition to his natural position (shortstop) is out of the question, both because .Carlos Correa exists and because injuries have sapped Lewis's athleticism.
Lewis will always factor into the designated hitter mix. Yet, there are positions other than third base he could be better suited to play next season and beyond, and with José Miranda and Brooks Lee becoming intriguing options at the position, the Twins could be incentivized to make the tough decision of moving Lewis. So, what positions could Lewis be more equipped to play? Let's take a look.
Second Base
The first position the Twins could justifiably move Lewis to is second base. The keystone is considered lower on the new defensive spectrum, as positioning and rules changes have made the position easier and less dangerous. However, if Lewis were to transition to the position, he would need to cover more ground and learn the nuances of turning double plays and tagging runners on throws down from the catcher.
The organization's long-term outlook for the position is uncertain. Willi Castro will enter free agency after next season, and Edouard Julien has been unable to produce at the plate at the major-league level, despite vast defensive improvements. Austin Martin is best utilized as a versatile bench guy, rather than being stuck at one position, and infield prospect Luke Keaschall will spend significant time recovering from Tommy John surgery to begin next season. Lee makes sense as a long-term option, yet he would provide the most value as an above-average defensive third baseman.
While moving Lewis to second base makes sense on the surface, the transition likely won't happen. The risk of injury is still higher at second base than third, due to a greater chance of colliding with runners and the need to make faster, twitchier movements more often. Keeping Lewis healthy and his bat in the lineup are the top priorities for the Twins, meaning it wouldn't make sense for the organization to place him at a position where he is more likely to sustain an injury.
Left Field
Lewis has played two innings in left field since being selected first overall by the Twins in the 2017 MLB Draft. His sole appearance at the position occurred in 2022, when the organization was testing him at various positions at Triple-A with the intention of deploying him in a utility role with the parent club. Unfortunately, he tore his right ACL while playing center field soon after. That said, it is fair to assume he would have appeared in left field at some point that year, if he hadn't sustained the season-ending injury.
Max Kepler is expected to sign elsewhere this upcoming offseason, leaving an opening in the corner outfield spots. Upon Kepler's departure, Matt Wallner will likely become the full-time right fielder, leaving an opening in left field. Trevor Larnach will get the bulk of the opportunities at the position. Yet, he is better suited in a part-time role. The Twins could convert Lewis into a left fielder and have him patrol the position part-time alongside Larnach, Martin, and Castro. Lewis could switch between left field and DH duties, allowing the team to maximize flexibility while playing him at a position with little injury threat and low on the defensive spectrum. Nevertheless, Lewis and his representation appear squeamish about the idea of him playing in the outfield, likely making this idea implausible. With second base and left field seemingly functioning as nonstarters, what position could the Twins and Lewis realistically agree on?
First Base
The most intriguing (yet least discussed) possibility is turning Lewis into the team's primary first baseman next season. Admittedly, this idea feels far-fetched, but there is some merit behind the logic. Now, first base isn't a position where a manager can place anyone there and get by. First base is much more challenging than many perceive it to be, and those who excel at the position (hello, Carlos Santana) deserve more recognition than they often receive. With a little work, though, Lewis could be great at the spot.
As noted, Lewis and his agency seemingly want him to stay in the dirt, while avoiding a position that puts him at greater risk of injury. Despite the rare collision, first base is one of the least injury-risky positions in the sport. The cold corner would provide the franchise cornerstone talent the opportunity to stay in the infield, while not needing to make exceptionally challenging plays at the hot corner or those long throws that seem to vex him. Although he would need to learn the nuances of the position and work on his ability to pick errant throws, there is no reason to believe he couldn't adequately develop those skills.
Lewis's greatest strength at third base is his glovework. He has good hand-eye coordination, and it translates to picking the ball cleanly much of the time. Footwork, range, and throws are his weak points. Transitioning to first base would allow him to lean into that strength while not needing to stress about the rest.
Turning into the primary first baseman would allow Lewis to lean into his bat, where most of his value resides. Lewis has the skillset and explosive in-game power necessary to produce like the top offensive AL first basemen, such as Josh Naylor, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Ryan O'Hearn. Santana's free agency this upcoming offseason leaves a sizable hole at first base. Miranda and Julien could ostensibly fill it. Alternatively, though, the organization could make a bold move and move Lewis to the offense-first position.
Nevertheless, feeling confident about Lewis at any one position is nearly impossible. Each position will inevitably present a downside. He doesn't have the skillset necessary to stay at third base long-term; second base presents an increased injury risk; and plopping him at left field or first base would diminish his value. Still, what is most important is keeping him healthy and ensuring his bat stays in the lineup. While it's not appealing, the Twins could be highly incentivized to convert Lewis into a left fielder or first baseman while providing him more opportunities as a designated hitter.
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