One Year Later, Royce Lewis is in a Different Place

FT. MYERS, FL - Less than six months ago, Royce Lewis launched dramatic home runs during the postseason. He had already established himself as a fan favorite, but the sort of heroics he produced made it seem as though an eventual Kirby Puckett moment will come during his career.

Speaking to Lewis in Fort Myers as he ramps up for his first professional season, it was clear the 24-year-old is excited about the opportunity before him. A year ago, the Minnesota infielder joined me following a spring workout that included running at full speed for the first time. He had yet to have restrictions removed. He had not yet been allowed into the batter’s box to hit, and he was ticketed for a rehab process that would sideline him into the summer.

Fully healthy this time around, Lewis and the Twins look set to repeat as division champs. Carlos Correa is clear of a foot injury, and Byron Buxton’s knee no longer feels pain. For Rocco Baldelli, a manager who knows injuries all too well, he has a roster that is largely ready to roll.

When forcing Lewis to think back on where he was at this point last year and what took place during the season, a slight grin appeared on his face. “It’s so different. It’s awesome would be the best way to describe it. I have more fun coming into the field, realizing that I don’t have restrictions while getting to do everything with the team.”

Given how much success he experienced personally last season, it’s difficult to think it was all accomplished in less than 60 games. Considering that the left side of the infield is now fully healthy, Minnesota may be able to claim the best tandem in the big leagues. That’s not lost on the blossoming star, either.

“With him (Correa) teaching me, I feel like I can grow my game so much. The leadership and mentorship he gives to all the guys, especially the young guys like myself, is huge. The more we play next to each other and have fun, the more I think that will shine through.”

What Lewis has done with the long ball, especially in the biggest situations with the bags packed, also remains wild to him. Projections have him as a contender to lead the league in home runs, but the third baseman isn’t quite ready to call himself a power hitter. “I think it worked that way last year. Hopefully, it continues to work that way; that’d be great; I’ll take the homers. My goal is to make hard contact. If it’s a line drive that turns into a jog instead of a sprint, I will definitely take that.”

The Twins had one of baseball’s best starting rotations a year ago. Sonny Gray is gone, and so is Kenta Maeda. With Pablo Lopez locked in as a Cy Young candidate, that group can again be solid, but this roster is different. That doesn’t deter Lewis from thinking a Division Series appearance was scratching the surface. “We’re better because we’ve been there before. We’re looking forward to being healthy. We’re able to showcase our talents. Whether it’s Buxton jogging in for a triple or Correa making his defensive plays, it’s been a lot of fun.”

As a true athlete, Lewis made an insightful comparison regarding adjustments as he heads into his second real big league season. Where the best basketball players in the world, notably LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Steph Curry, can show up and dominate, it’s on the opposition to position themselves for success. Baseball has defined controllables that a player can execute, and focusing on daily adjustments presents a unique opportunity each day.

One of the key adjustments Lewis made down the stretch, after a stint at Triple-A, was enhancing his walk rate. As someone who isn’t in favor of the automated strike zone, the extra balls began to add up because of that box. “When they started calling balls that I thought were actual strikes, looking for specific pitches, I realized maybe those are balls. I started trusting the umpires and stopped trying to hit every pitch just because I felt like I could hit it.”

The proof is certainly reflected in the numbers there for Lewis as well. Posting a 28/3 K/BB through his first 99 plate appearances last season, he owned a 27/17 K/BB in his next 140 plate appearances. He also launched 11 home runs during that stretch, as opposed to four during the first portion, by locking in on the pitches he could truly damage. It’s also translated to a strong approach this spring, given Lewis owns a 5/3 K/BB during the 25 times he’s been in the box.

For years, the question has been about what a prospect like Lewis can do when he gets to the majors. There is no question anymore, and we have seen what looks to be a perennial all-star talent whenever he remains on the field. Power has developed, maturity has remained, and speed is still there. He hopes to steal a few more bases this season if given the opportunity, and adding to a toolkit that already has produced one of the American League’s most exciting players should put everyone on notice.

If the Twins take another step forward this season, it will be because the lineup carries them similarly to the pitching staff a season ago. Correa and Buxton are the veterans needing to do the heavy lifting, but Lewis is plenty capable of holding his own in that regard as well.