For the second time this season, Minnesota Twins fans watched in agony as Royce Lewis was removed from a game.
This time, the situation might not be as serious as in March when he left Opening Day with a right quad strain and didn’t return until June. Lewis exited Tuesday’s win over the Detroit Tigers with what the team calls groin tightness, but he appears to be taking it harder than that.
Lewis has been vocal about his frustration with how the Twins have handled his injuries in the past. It’s not that he hasn’t received proper treatment, but the cautious approach the team has taken to ensure his health clashes with his desire to play no matter what.
During his quad injury recovery, he pushed back against the Twins’ cautious approach, to the point where he admitted the team doesn’t tell him things because they fear he’ll push himself too hard. This was evident in his first rehab game when he stole a base twice, despite not being given the green light.
Royce Lewis “probably not very optimistic” about his groin injury. “It’s out of my control. … It’s usually horrible news.”
— Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) July 3, 2024
Now injured again, Lewis is already frustrated with the Twins before they’ve even decided on a course of action.
After the game, Lewis spoke to the media, expressing his frustration, noting that he’s “not very optimistic.” However, Twins beat writer Dan Hayes clarified that Lewis isn’t worried about the severity of his injury but rather that the Twins will be overly cautious and place him on the IL, costing him more games.
Putting Lewis on the IL and resting him until after the All-Star Break might be in the Twins’ best interest. He’s been performing exceptionally well since returning to the lineup last month, but that’s of no use to Minnesota if he’s not healthy for October.
Royce Lewis said he's not optimistic. But this needs to be taken with a grain of salt. He's not feeling that way because he's worried about this being a devastating, long-term injury. Instead, this is concern about if the #MNTwins will place him on the injured list.
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) July 3, 2024
The Twins still need to secure a postseason spot, and Lewis’s long-term health is more important than winning a few games now. Putting him on the IL could also allow Brooks Lee to make his debut, potentially setting up some valuable long-term assets for Minnesota.
Nothing will be decided until Lewis undergoes further testing, but it’s noteworthy that he’s already frustrated with the team’s potential actions. Lewis’s competitiveness is evident in his candid remarks, and the growing animosity is something to monitor.
