Royce Lewis is facing yet another setback, and for Minnesota Twins fans, it's a familiar story. Once a top prospect, Lewis has shown flashes of brilliance but has been consistently sidelined by injuries.
On Thursday, Lewis was set to be in the Twins' Spring Training lineup until a last-minute change. According to Dan Hayes from The Athletic, Lewis experienced tightness on his right side after running the bases pregame.
As a precaution, he was scratched from the lineup. While this might not be a long-term issue, it's certainly not the news fans were hoping for.
Injuries have been a recurring theme for Lewis. In 2023, he managed to play just 58 games, followed by 82 in 2024, and 106 last season. With a standard MLB season running 162 games, Lewis hasn't yet completed a full campaign.
Last year, his performance saw a dip, with 13 home runs and a .671 OPS, both lower than in previous seasons. However, he did manage to steal 12 bases, showing a bit of promise in his speed game.
At 26 years old and as a former No. 1 overall pick, the Twins are not ready to give up on Lewis. His potential is undeniable, but his ability to stay healthy is the lingering question. Fans are eager to see him bounce back, but it's a hope tempered by the reality of his injury history.