Twins Daily 2023 Top Prospects: #2 Royce Lewis, SS

3 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Zero, zero, zero, evidence CF is dangerous.

Well, the injury itself - and in just the first few innings of his appearance there - would suggest an evidence case count somewhat higher than zero.

We can speculate on what we think normally happens in these cases, but the only solid evidence we have for what was right-wrong for Lewis is what actually did happen.

Heck, don't take my word for it - take Royce's:

“I'm more excited to make those plays at the wall, but it's a little more dangerous,”

But, sure, the Twins can toss him right back out there when he gets to the bigs. I mean, what are the odds, right?

2 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

It is worth noting that Lewis was not injured while running into the center field wall, but rather in his planting move while running. 

I don't think this is accurate. The collusion with the wall is cited in multiple articles as the cause of the tear.

I've said it in other threads as well, but I really believe that Lee and Lewis are really prospects 1A and 1B.  I don't care who is A or B.  They are both right up there in my mind.  But, in lists like these someone has to be #1 and #2.  In this case, I don't really see too much separation between the two rankings.  

I'm excited to see Lewis bringing his "A" games back to the Twins as soon as he's ready.  He's going to be a fun player to watch and hopefully be a fixture on the Twins for a long, long time.  

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

There isn't any evidence, solid or not, on what was right-wrong for Lewis. All we have is evidence that he got hurt. It doesn't have to be right or wrong. It can be, and is, simply sad. Otherwise, you better call the Mariners and let them know they have to move Julio Rodriguez out of CF immediately. I mean they just gave him a deal that could pay him nearly half a billion dollars. And they apparently are unaware that playing incredible athletes in CF is wrong because Royce Lewis got hurt doing it once. Matter of fact, better call the Angels, Braves, Mets, Pirates, Orioles, White Sox, and even the Yankees who used Aaron Judge out there. They all have great athletes who's ACLs are in incredible danger because they play CF. Then call the Twins a second time to tell them to move Buxton out of CF, too. Probably best we just play Gallo and Kepler there since we don't care if they get hurt.

I'm confused. How many of their CFs were drafted as SS and had spent the majority of their rehabs at SS coming back from a torn ACL that had delayed their careers? My guess is, not many.

Banging up against a wall while running and leaping is likely quite dangerous to already-injured knees. Not sure why its controversial to suggest that what the Twins did was unwise. Unless the default answer to all of the Twins misfortunes and mistakes should just be "darn the luck."

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

This is satire, right? 

Maybe we can skip the snark on this one. We disagree. That's all. But the results speak pretty loudly that the danger to Lewis' knees was more than "absolutely zero," as you oddly suggested in your earlier post. 

On 2/16/2023 at 8:57 AM, Doctor Gast said:

Lewis has shown that he can play SS, hit at the MLB level & excel. Plus he has proven that he can come back from a torn ACL better than ever. With all the tangible & intangible qualities that he has & that he has nothing more to prove. He is still my #1.

By rights he shouldn't be still a prospect & like Jeff I'm still mad at Rocco.

A fluke collision with the CF wall?

On 2/16/2023 at 9:43 AM, Cris E said:

Lewis is a very good ballplayer and I like his future better than most, including Julien who I expect to be another Arraez in 2025. I believe Lewis will be the fill-in 2B/SS for any longer Polanco/Correa outages we may suffer over the next few years, and his permanent position is probably as Polanco's heir at 2b. That means he has to fill a couple years with mixed duty around the field. I'm OK with that I guess, because if he's made of glass he'll break no matter where he plays.

As an aside, I think Gordon's got some serious roster space problems as soon as Royce is ready to come across the river. He'll be the first one pushed out until some injury gives him a chance to get back in. And he'll be pushed from that spot if Lee is ready and there's a long-term injury hole to fill. Wallner's bat erupting in April and May could also make him uncomfortable.  I bet he's traded before Kepler.

I like Gordon - like him a lot! I’ve often wondered why nobody has mentioned him as trade material for pitching in the past……he’s got a better upside than many of our other options for other teams. It seems that even though he started almost 70% of games last year and 65% in OF, people see him as a Utility IF. As you mention, Gordon could be part of a trade just because he’s of more value than any other OF except Buxton. I think it would be short sighted!

I see Gordon playing LF (80 games) & backing up Buxton in CF (50 games) v. RH pitching for the next 3 years or more!! He’s all upside, from 28 doubles & 9 HR in 405 AB’s & first healthy season (gained 25 lb in ‘22) & first season in OF. He’s a potential 20 HR & 40 double guy with 575 AB’s as he gains strength & experience. He’s got all the upside any of the RH hitting IF’s that we want to convert to OF.

Excited for Lewis to join Big Club - I see him displacing Kepler or Gallo around the trade deadline on the roster. If either of those 2 aren’t performing or if they are both performing, one will be traded to help somebody else with OF needs.