The Twins announced Wednesday morning that shortstop Royce Lewis, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2017 draft and one of their top two prospects, has been diagnosed with a tear in his right knee’s anterior cruciate ligament and will require surgery. The procedure comes with an expected recovery time of at least nine months, so it’s likely to wipe out his entire season. Lewis is slated to undergo surgery on Friday.
As Twins president of baseball ops Derek Falvey explained to reporters (Twitter link via Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com), Lewis had been dealing with some soreness in his knee during offseason workouts. That may not have accounted for the tear, but he also recently slipped on some ice during the blizzards in Texas, where he lives during the offseason, which worsened the discomfort. It’s not known precisely when the tear occurred, but the end result is the same.
It’s a brutal blow for both the Twins and Lewis, who had a chance to break through to the Major Leagues in 2021. While his 2019 season between Class-A Advanced and Double-A didn’t go particularly well — combined .236/.290/.371 slash — Lewis rebounded from that performance with a huge showing in the 2019 Arizona Fall League. Through 22 games there, Lewis raked at a .353/.411/.565 clip, connecting on three homers and nine doubles while going 5-for-6 in stolen base attempts. That production earned him AFL MVP honors.
While some prospect rankings have seen outfielder Alex Kirilloff surpass Lewis as the Twins’ top prospect, that’s more a testament to Kirilloff’s progress than to a decline in Lewis’ stock. Lewis has been a consensus Top 30 prospect in all of MLB since the time he was drafted, landing at No. 17 on MLB.com’s 2021 rankings and No. 26 over at Baseball America.
The setback for Lewis is particularly poorly timed given the lack of a minor league season in 2020. While he spent the summer working out at the Twins’ alternate training site in St. Paul, the 2021 campaign would’ve given Lewis a chance to participate in a much more competitive setting and further his development as he continues on toward his Major League debut. He’ll now go more than two years between that huge showing in the 2019 AFL and his next at-bat in an actual game setting.
As a high school draftee, Lewis won’t even turn 22 until June, so youth is still on his side as he works to rebound from a devastating injury. Looking down the line, his ability to regain mobility in that knee will be particularly important, as there’s already been some debate about his eventual position. Lewis was drafted as a shortstop and has spent the bulk of his career there, though some in the industry feel he’d be better-equipped to play center field. He’s also spent a bit of time at third base.
There’s no guarantee that Lewis would’ve made it to the big leagues in 2021, although with some Double-A and/or Triple-A time under his belt, he’d at least have been a consideration in the event of an injury in the infield. He’s still a major part of the organization’s future, but Lewis will now have to navigate a substantial roadblock in his path to a Target Field debut.
Hosmer for HOF
Two years of not playing competitive baseball would drive me crazy. Hope he comes back even better
24TheKid
What team are you on now?
Michael Chaney
What’s wrong with having empathy for the guy? You can feel bad for him without having to experience what he’s going through
24TheKid
It was more of a joke than something for you to get upset about. But I hope your day gets better.
DT.J.B.
You seem to be the one upset. He said “would”, nothing about that stated he was on a team. It you have a good day as well.
Twinsfan333
That’s not a joke. A joke has a setup and a punchline. That was a not that clever sarcastic statement. I wonder when as a society began to confuse the two. I get you’re not a writer or anything, but mediocrity now seems to be an accomplishment. Strange times indeed
KCJ
24TheKid –
Sorry but you are a real jacka**, sir
FredMcGriff for the HOF
Cancelling the entire minor league season in 2020 is going to really set some guys back development wise that have a catastrophic injury around this time.
lasershow45
Men’s league FTW! I haven’t stopped playing. 2 years without it would drive me and my wife crazy.
Irishblade
Wait. Your wife plays men’s league? Lol just kidding. I’m 38 and still play softball three nights a week. Basketball, racquetball and golf too! Hahaha
puhl
Now the signing of Romine makes sense.
oldmansteve
Gunna go out on a limb and say they had very little to do with the other. If the Twins were counting on Lewis play any sort of role at the MLB level this year, that would be irresponsible for a team trying to compete.
walls17
Ouch. Essentially two years of lost development. That’s pretty rough.
jdgoat
Oh man that’s not good for his development after not playing in any real games in 2020. Hopefully he can manage to come back strong in 2022.
mlb1225
Hate to see a young and exciting player get wiped out for an entire season. Hope he recovers soon.
JoshHolt32
I’m rooting for your comeback Royce!
twins&mlbfan4ever
as a twins fan thats a huge blow i was hoping for his debut maybe this year
hyraxwithaflamethrower
Even as a White Sox fan, this sucks. I was looking forward to seeing what he could do.
KCJ
Yeah, I’m not really a Twins fan either but that really sucks. Special talents like Lewis are good for the game as a whole and I can only hope he’s able to recover and overcome 2 consecutive missed seasons.
Y2KAK
Was he #1 prospect in MLB Last Year?
DarkSide830
no
mizzourah87
I think Wander’s been the number 1 prospect for like the past 2 or 3 years now.
johnnycal
Does this mean Nick Gordon might get a chance on the big league squad this season?
DarkSide830
not if the Twins have anything to say about that!
mnsportsfan
Darkside
Lol, that was actually super funny.
DarkSide830
I really feel for the guy. I know he’s had some badly timed injuries/covid, but I feel he should have gotten a shot at this point.
Finlander
I’m afraid Gordon might be another wasted draft choice middle infielder, a la Levi Michael. Hope I’m wrong. He should have been included in a trade while he had value.
Royce’s prime asset is his plus plus speed. Let’s hope he comes back and rehabs from surgery with his speed intact.
refereemn77
Gordon already hadn’t been doing well in 2019, so he’s probably not on a short list for a taste of the Show.
OIC2021
Indians will trade Ahmed Rosario for Andre Kirilinko
thejmann7
AK47 plays baseball now?!
mnsportsfan
Andrei Kirilenko? The 40 year old former NBA player?
hyraxwithaflamethrower
Wouldn’t want Kirilenko. That would be such a huge strike zone, even I could find it most of the time.
KCJ
But man, if he got a hold of one it’d be like when Herman Munster tried playing ball LOL
vtadave
This was funny
Paul Griggs
Is it me or does this team have more freak, non-temper tantrum, off the field accidents than most?
DarkSide830
yikes that sucks
LordD99
Two lost years. Don’t think there’s a chance he makes the big league club before 2023 maybe even ‘24. He’d still only be 22 or 23, but it’s the lost development that’s most concerning.
DarkSide830
while id be skeptical with those 2019 numbers, if he had a good 2020 its not exactly absurd for him to be up late 2022.
LordD99
Sure. If he is good on his return in 2022, a later season call up is possible. As you noted, though, his 2019 numbers in A and A+ weren’t exactly stellar.
hashtahjimboutonwasright
This is obviously is news that no one outside of Minnesota and northern Iowa cares about.
DarkSide830
uh sure whatever you say…
brandons-3
I mean, I like having as many talented and exciting players in baseball as possible. Kid was certainly on his way to becoming one of those, so I’m bummed all the way off the North Carolina coast.
hyraxwithaflamethrower
I’m a White Sox fan living in Houston and I care. I never want to see someone get hurt and I know the Twins were counting on him being part of this year’s team. I was looking forward to seeing what he could do because he’s been a top prospect for years now. Enough with the hype, I wanted to see the actual performance.
KCJ
Hashtahwhatever –
Ah, I’m in Wisconsin and I care….anyone who is a legitimate fan of baseball should care. Apparently you aren’t in that group.
Finlander
Royce is a much more talented and legitimate prospect than the imposters in Yankee land, Greg Bird, Miguel Andujar, the shrimp pitcher, etc…the Spanks have to drop $200M per to buy their talent from outside. Easy to see through big city BS from out here on the tundra.
Steve(shs22)
You got to include both North and South dakotans in that geographic comment.
Big twins fans in those states untill you get to southern south dakota, tends to lean k.c. royals
blueblood1217
Awe man this sucks. Not a Twins fan, but hate to see a top young prospect go down with an injury that could jeopardize his future. Hope he comes back strong
DarkSide830
he’s only 21. they’ll give him as much time as he needs, and if not, someone else will.
David Barista
I feel bad for Royce and wish him a healthy return. Certainly, this is a big set back for the future of the franchise, but this doesn’t really impact the 2021 Twins. Lewis wasn’t ready to make an impact in MLB this season.
hyraxwithaflamethrower
I think he was. Maybe he would have had an ROY-caliber season, maybe not, but it sucks that he won’t even get the chance now.
David Barista
We can agree to disagree here…. nothing about his age or minor league statistics say he’s ready for MLB…. if the Twins were counting on Lewis then why sign Andrelton Simmons?
James Midway
Wow ACL, that a big setback. Hopefully he can recover well.
Yankee Clipper
He’s a young, durable, top-tier athlete – he will recover well and be back in due time. ACL surgeries are fairly commonplace in sports. The toughest part is going to be climbing the hill again, mentally.
stan lee the manly
Sounds like he’s had a problem for awhile now, so better for it to be taken care of now instead of trying to push through it during the season and missing some of next year too.
jb10000lakes
Huh? They say he slipped funny on the ice during the recent cold spell in Texas. Do you have the lifespan of a Mayfly or something?
ZeusMacalester
Other, better reporting has indicated that the team and player don’t know when it happened and it could have been there for a while as he’s had discomfort off and on. The ice was a potential thing but not a given by any means.
Regardless, your comment makes no sense. Living a short period of time, which is the lifespan of a mayfly, has little to do with reading comprehension. I think you meant to say “You have an attention span as short as the lifespan of a mayfly.” Even then, it’s no sick burn.
Loling @ you
Sorry to hear this for Royce. Prayers up. But objectively how is this guy a top prospect with a career slash line of .240/.295/.365? Never making it above aa… Just because he was the number 1 overall?
Astros2017&22Champs
Hes 21 bro and all it takes is a swing adjustment, maturity, growth etc from a talent like him. Its projections
Astros2017&22Champs
I hope Royce recovers and reaches his ceiling. Other than Jose Berrios the twins have really struggled in the first rd for over a decade now. Such a great fan base deserves better luck
Steve(shs22)
Yeah I think Eddie Rosario had been decent. Michael Cuddyer as well
MNFanTwins
In Minnesota, we learn early how to be careful on the ice, ice, baby. ;>)
whyhayzee
Slipped on the ice in Texas. Nothing unusual there.
Long road back but hope he makes it.
A'sfaninLondonUK
@whyhayzee – had to giggle about the “nothing unusual there” line.
I’m not laughing at the predicament of those that suffered a perfect storm – of course – and wish a safe & speedy return to normality for all Texans… but that was funny.
Hope his recovery is silky smooth as can be & someone like Richard Steadman was the surgeon…. thankfully (knee) surgery has come on massively – an ACL tear/rupture was career ending – now thankfully it’s a long inconvenience….
whyhayzee
First time all five siblings had snow on the ground. Texas, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Maine, the obvious outlier being Texas. Brother was fortunate, only rolling blackouts. Scary time down there for many less fortunate folks.
hyraxwithaflamethrower
We’re in Houston. Lost power Monday early morning, got it back late Monday afternoon, on and off on Tuesday and Wednesday, finally came on for good Wednesday late afternoon. And that’s when the water pressure plummeted due to burst pipes (thankfully, not ours) and we were put on a boil water notice through the weekend. And we actually weathered it better than many of the people we know. Things are largely back to normal now, though. Just that a bunch of plumbers now have more work than they can handle.
whyhayzee
It seems like whenever we are on an interstate we sometimes will see a caravan of tree company trucks driving towards the latest storm hit area. Quite a site and a reminder that the whole country is now capable of getting slammed.
CravenMoorehead
Get well soon king
8
Sign me I can be future short stop.
its_happening
Awful news.
HalosHeavenJJ
While I understand the “two lost years” comments, I have heard from a couple of guys at the Angels alternate site and they said that without travel they were able to get in a lot of drills and still play games. That the environment was both instructive and competitive.
I understand nothing can substitute live game action, but most teams held inter team scrimmages and most of the guys pitching were the AAAA type that teams had stashed for emergency trips to the bigs.
So for the prospects at those camps, they didn’t lose a full year of development. It was just different than a normal year.
Very Barry
Really tough blow for this kid. I know the Twins have been eagerly awaiting his arrival. I am a White Sox guy, but I hope this kid comes back even better. The AL Central has a chance to be special for a number of years when the Detroit and Kansas City rebuilds finish. Twins will always be there. White Sox are the new toughest kid on the block.
MetsMosLoyal 2
Dam sad to hear about this, hopefully, speedy recovery…want to see this guy play in the Show
Avory
Some prospect gurus were already souring on Lewis and this isn’t going to help. His central tool was his athleticism–off the charts–and where does that athleticism begin?
With his hitting starting to be questioned, a second straight year without reps is devastating. I was beginning to think his washout quotient was rising, but hoping that he’d rise above the skepticism…now, I think the Twins will start working on Plan B just in case.