The Minnesota Twins have made a significant lineup adjustment, announcing that third baseman Royce Lewis will be sidelined for the next 10 days due to a right quad strain. Taking his spot on the roster is rookie utility player Austin Martin.
According to Dan Hayes of the Athletic, Lewis sustained the injury during the team’s Opening Day victory over the Kansas City Royals. The incident happened as he dashed from first to third base following a Carlos Correa double in the third inning. Edouard Julien stepped in to replace Lewis on the basepaths.
Lewis made a notable impact earlier in the game, launching a solo home run in the first inning and later delivering a single in the third.
The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 MLB draft boasts an impressive career record with 18 home runs, 58 RBI, and a .313 batting average (.933 OPS) across 71 games. Notably, his per-162 game average stands at an impressive 41 home runs and 132 RBI, as reported by Baseball-Reference.
However, Lewis has faced setbacks due to serious injuries, including two torn ACLs, which have hindered his consistent presence on the field. This marks his fifth stint on the injured list.
With Lewis temporarily out of action, Austin Martin steps into the limelight. The talented rookie, formerly with Vanderbilt, was selected as the fifth overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2020 MLB draft. Just a year later, Martin, along with pitcher Simeon Woods-Richardson, was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for starter Jose Berrios.
In his previous stint with Triple-A St. Paul, Martin showcased his prowess by hitting .263 with six home runs and 28 RBI over 59 games.
The Twins will look to navigate through their series against Kansas City, with the next game scheduled for Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET.
