FILE - Minnesota Twins’ Royce Lewis reacts after being called out on strikes on a clock violation during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, File)
FILE - Minnesota Twins’ Royce Lewis celebrates his three-run home run as he runs the bases during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the 海角社区官网Blue Jays, Sept. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn, file)
FILE - Minnesota Twins’ Royce Lewis reacts after being called out on strikes on a clock violation during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, File)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) 鈥 Royce Lewis’ repeated appearances on the injured list have not made the experiences any easier.
The more he’s not on the field with the , the more frustration he has felt.
鈥淚’m tired of being the guy on the IL,鈥 Lewis said. 鈥淪eems like these injury bugs, they just stick on one guy for awhile. Hopefully I got mine off.鈥
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His latest absence , Lewis rejoined the Twins on Tuesday for the beginning of a three-game series against Baltimore. After missing the first 35 games of the season because of a moderate strain of his left hamstring that occurred while running out a ground ball in spring training, Lewis was back in the lineup batting fifth as the designated hitter.
鈥淚鈥檝e just got to play a little bit smarter. That鈥檚 what some of these other guys I鈥檝e seen play the game at a high level do to be able to play 162,鈥 said Lewis, who appeared in his 153rd regular-season game since his debut three years ago. 鈥淚f I was Bobby Witt’s speed I think I鈥檇 run a lot, but I鈥檓 not there anymore with all the injuries, so it鈥檚 just play smart, man, and let me get in the box, because that鈥檚 where I have my most fun.鈥
The Twins, who also got multi-position player Willi Castro back on Tuesday from a strained right oblique muscle that cost him 16 games, have been lacking the hitting punch and general spunk that Lewis typically provides. They lost 15 of their first 22 games.
鈥淚 just feel like I have a lot of fun in life. I take every moment and cherish it. I don鈥檛 take it for granted, and this is just another day, another beautiful day,鈥 Lewis said, likening the sunny 81-degree afternoon to the weather in his native Southern California. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just a perfect time. If feels like opening day for me, and I鈥檓 really excited for the opportunity.鈥
The first overall pick in the 2017 draft was limited to 82 games last season by a he suffered running the bases in the opener and later a . The previous two years for Lewis were tainted by recoveries from successive ACL repair surgeries.
Each time he has returned, he has made an on the lineup.
鈥淵ou always expect he is going to come out and do something,鈥 manager Rocco Baldelli said. 鈥淲hen the lights turn on, he wants to play.鈥
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