It’s early September and the Minnesota Twins are jostling for playoff positioning . That hasn’t stopped Rocco Baldelli starting Royce Lewis at second base for the first time in his career. The talented infielder isn’t keen on the idea , and it all comes down to timing.
Minnesota Twins timing a problem for Royce Lewis
There are just 22 games left on the Minnesota Twins regular season schedule. They should be seeking an opportunity to chase down the Cleveland Guardians. Instead they are asking one of their best players to learn a completely new position. Royce Lewis told Bobby Nightengale of the Star Tribune that it is tough.
“It’s not about a position change more than just I don’t feel as comfy at the place that we’re in, in the standings. If we were the White Sox, I mean, sure, let’s try something new if that’s what they want to do. But I don’t think we’re the White Sox. We’re trying to win a division.”
It’s hard to fault the logic of Lewis. It would be one thing for him to learn a new position if the Twins weren’t playing for anything. Instead, he is adding new focuses to his routine at the most critical time of the season. Lewis had never previously played second base at the major league level.
“This is part of the next step for him as far as all the work he’s been putting in. Like anyone going to play a new position, it’s not going to be the most comfortable thing initially. If anyone hasn’t noticed, almost every guy on the field for us, we’ve challenged and put in different spots. Once you go out there and prove certain things to yourself, I think you feel better about it.”
Rocco Baldelli sees positional flexibility as a good thing. That is true and the Twins have plenty of players that move around the diamond. None of them have had to do so in the midst of a pennant race, however.
It’s not as though Lewis can’t handle fielding the position. It is a big leap to ask him to quickly understand all of the position requirements while trying to remain locked in everywhere else.
How does Royce Lewis at 2B benefit the Minnesota Twins?
Flexibility has been a must for the Minnesota Twins this season. Key players like Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa missing substantial time has forced other players to step up. Lewis playing second base leaves the left side of the infield to Brooks Lee and Jose Miranda. The designated hitter spot then remains open, and Carlos Santana can continue to play Gold Glove winning first base.
That all makes sense in a vacuum, and Baldelli knows that there will be hiccups. Should that be the plan during the biggest games of the season though?
“I expect a lot out of our players, but I know nothing is ever going to be perfect. We’re not asking him to go out there and be the Gold Glove Award-winning second basemen this year. We’re just asking him to go out there, work hard, pay attention, improve and make the plays that he’s expecting himself to make, and we’re expecting him to make. I think that would be a great start for him. We can progress from there.”
It’s one thing for a player to take grounders before games. It would even make sense for Lewis to generate some starts if the division was wrapped up. Each contest is must-win at this point though, and a wait-and-see approach this late in the season is quite the gamble.
Lewis is a talented athlete. Second base may even be the home he should make through the bulk of his career. That transition could have been more appropriately planned though. With any level of hesitation, Lewis will be held back wondering if this is what’s best for him.
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