Royce

Lewis

The oft-injured superstar third baseman had been projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to earn $2.3 million in his first season of arbitration eligibility as a Super 2 player. Several stints on the injured list limited the 25-year-old to just 82 games in 2024, where he slashed .233/.295/.452 with 16 homers and 47 RBI in 325 plate appearances. His ultimate fantasy value will be determined by how long he’s able to stay on the field in 2025.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said he hoped to have an answer to Lewis’s position by the start of spring training, suggesting it won’t be a competition between second baseman Edouard Julien and third base candidates Brooks Lee and Jose Miranda for the other spot. The Twins could make an addition at either second or third, but they are strapped for cash and more focused on first base. Barring a pickup, it sounds like the Twins are leaning towards using Lewis at second, Julien could then still factor in at first or DH if he impresses in spring training.

The Twins tendered contracts to Royce Lewis, Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Bailey Ober, Joe Ryan, Ryan Jeffers, Trevor Larnach and Willi Castro. They also reached agreements on Friday with right-handers Brock Stewart, Michael Tonkin and Justin Topa. There hadn’t been any rumblings that the Twins were considering non-tendering any of the players from this group, but now it’s official that they have all been tendered contracts for the 2025 season.

Minnesota has a glaring hole at the keystone and Lewis might make sense as an everyday option there, especially if it opens up at-bats for Brooks Lee and Jose Miranda at the hot corner. Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey told reporters last week that the club isn’t committing to moving Lewis yet because they don’t know what their roster will look like when spring training starts. It would be a significant development for Lewis’ fantasy value as second base is the weakest positional group (besides catcher) in the entire fantasy landscape heading into 2025. The talent is undeniable, but Lewis will need to avoid the injured list next season if he’s going to evolve into a four-category fantasy monster.

Lewis spent June looking like one of MLB’s best players, but it’s been quite a struggle for him since he returned from a strained adductor in July. He winds up at .189/.255/.267 in September and .211/.275/.357 in 226 plate appearances during the second half. His full-season line is .233/.295/.452 with 16 homers in 325 plate appearances. The good news is that he did manage to stay in the lineup throughout the second half. One imagines he’ll bounce back if he remains healthy, but health is such a question mark that it’s going to be hard to recommend him in the top five rounds of 2025 drafts.

Miranda had been in the lineup batting ninth as the designated hitter. He’s been replaced by Austin Martin, who will bat ninth and play left field. Royce Lewis is now the designated hitter and Willi Castro will play third base.

The Twins have deemed him ready. Lewis previously played three innings at second base on Sunday in his first action at the position. He played the position just once in the minors, plus four times in the Arizona Fall League. The position change will result in less playing time for Edouard Julien, who could go back to Triple-A once the Twins activate Byron Buxton. Jose Miranda should see more time at third.

Lewis stepped to the plate with his Twins down two in the eighth inning and launched a three-run homer off Chad Green to put them ahead. This was his first home run since August 12th and it could not have come at a better time as Minnesota tries to hang with the Royals and Guardians in a tight AL Central race.

Lewis has electric talent, but he’s had a pretty quiet month of August, going 21-for-93 (.226) in 25 games. He was able to drive in 19 runs on four home runs, so the lineup around him has helped make his few hits count. You’d love to see the batting average increase and Lewis doesn’t have a stolen base at all this season after his multiple lower-body injuries. He’s likely still worth starting in most fantasy leagues, but it’s conceivable that you have a better option if you’re in a shallow league.

It looks to be just a routine night off for the 25-year-old third baseman, and getting a night off against Chris Sale isn’t the worst thing in the world. Jose Miranda will start in his place at the hot corner and will bat third for the Twins against the Braves’ star southpaw on Wednesday evening in Minneapolis.