For the first time in his big league career, Royce Lewis is starting at 2nd base tonight. The former first overall pick came up as a shortstop and has moved to third base, previously. Now, in the final stretch of the season, Rocco Baldelli has the young star learning a new position on the fly.
Royce Lewis will have to settle in quickly for the Minnesota Twins
Lewis last started at second base back on September 2, 2019, for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos . He also played there for four games during the Arizona Fall League, later that year. Now, nearly five years later to the day, he is back.
Minnesota moving Lewis across the diamond helps makes them a better team. Brooks Lee is a legit shortstop, and Jose Miranda is a 2rd baseman. Even when Carlos Correa eventually returns , the left side will only get more crowded. It’s a move that makes a lot of sense, the more you think about it.
That doesn’t mean Lewis is on board, though. He made it very, very clear to media members just the other day how much he does NOT want to move to 2nd. But when Rocco made out the lineup today, he played him there anyway. Former Twins infielder Trevor Plouff agrees with him . It’s a tall task to ask of a player at the end of a season.
Does Royce Lewis work at second base for the Minnesota Twins?
The long term answer is absolutely. The short term answer is that there may be some hiccups. Lewis is an incredibly talented athlete. He has all the instincts to play second base and his profile fits there well. After multiple knee surgeries the burst wouldn’t be the same for centerfield, and his arm strength profiles at the four-spot.
Minnesota basically has a month to keep working Lewis into regular action at second, in order to avoid a postseason mishap. There’s little benefit to breaking him in at second, and then bouncing him back and forth between 2nd and 3rd.
Related: Carlos Correa Injury Update Reveals Prior Setback and More Delays
Lewis certainly wants no part of a misplay when the season is on the line. If Baldelli can get his young phenom on board, and acclimated, the flexibility of the roster grows quite a bit.
It’s an odd time for the Twins to make this move, but it’s one they probably feel forced into. Carlos Correa hasn’t indicated he is any closer to returning , and contingency plans need to be made .
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