What Royce Lewis is Doing Isn’t Normal

Whoever said Royce Lewis was going to be normal?

Royce isn't normal?

For him to be really good offensively, either the BABiP will need to hold up OR the HR rate will need to hold up. If they both hold up (along with his health), he’s elite. The BABiP WILL come down…but how much? He’s at 34 HR per 600 PA.

We’ll see. The adjustments regarding how pitchers approach him, have barely begun. But yes, he’s far ahead of where I’d figured he’d be at this point.

What Royce Lewis is Doing Isn’t Normal 

But isn't it fun to watch!!

I just hope he can stay healthy

Puckett.  Hunter.  Mauer.  Lewis.  Bold?  Yes.  But this kid is special.  I still get the vibe he annoys Rocco with his infectiously positive personality, but his output has surpassed Rocco's distain.

Honestly though, if you've followed him all the way from draft day, he's a kid you root for.  Incredible person.

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8 hours ago, Squirrel said:

Why do you say this? I get the exact opposite vibe. Everything Rocco has said about Royce is nothing praise

I agree, my best guess would be that Rocco loves the kid, not only because he is putting up great numbers and directly having a hand in won games. But spreading his positivity and energy to the whole team. I think a manager would accepting of that.

Now that Sonny and Rocco's feud is over, Rocco has to point his evil passive aggressive nature somewhere. 

Edit: Ok I kid, I kid. The thought is my comment is so ridiculous, it might illustrate how silly some of this stuff is. 

17 hours ago, Teflon said:

We knew when he was drafted Royce had tools, but the amount of heart he's shown coming back from the ACL injuries is even more impressive. If the Twins don't do everything to make him a fixture in the lineup and the face of this ballclub, they're crazy. He should be piece #1 when putting together next year's team.

I don't think there is too much to be worried about on that score!  I like the other young pieces too with Kirilloff and Julien.  But Royce is the centerpiece.

On 9/10/2023 at 12:25 AM, Squirrel said:

Why do you say this? I get the exact opposite vibe. Everything Rocco has said about Royce is nothing praise

When Royce was finally back after the second ACL, Rocco was giving an interview.  He recalled Royce calling him and telling him how close he was and how excited he was to get back on the field and claimed Royce was telling him things that weren't true.  He said "...you could only believe about a quarter of what came out of his (Royce's) mouth" and his tone wasn't one of elation.  There was more to the interview, but it was all in kind of a condescending tone.

Just the vibe I got then.  I'm sure it's all good behind closed doors.  How can it not?  The kid's incredible.  I just don't ever get a truly genuine vibe being given off by Rocco ever.  Everything he says is straight out of Crash Davis' book on cliches.  

10 hours ago, Squirrel said:

Do you remember when this interview was? I’d like to find it and listen to it and see if I get the same vibe.

Couldn't tell you exactly.  It was May before he was back.  I tried finding it, but that's a needle in a haystack.  I didn't book mark it.  I logged what he said and how, and it just annoyed me.  He really came off like he discredited Royce.  That being said, I did read some articles where he was quoted praising Royce as well.  It's hard not to.  Maybe it was just a long day and he was tired of having to listen to a hungry young kid tell him he was ready to play.  Who knows.  

Royce is really fun to watch. Scouts talk about makeup and Royce is the best example of why that is important. I would like to caution everyone in that Royce is going to have his ups and downs as all young players do. I really like the fact that he could be a plus fielder at 3rd 2nd and center field. 

He is the only Twins player that I want batting with the bases loaded. The Twins record with bases loaded was really bad before Lewis joined the team.

31 minutes ago, John Belinski said:

He is the only Twins player that I want batting with the bases loaded. The Twins record with bases loaded was really bad before Lewis joined the team.

He is the antithesis of Correa.