Twins option former top pick Lewis; Jeffers out with hamate fracture

MINNEAPOLIS – Ryan Jeffers is headed to the injured list and Royce Lewis is headed to the Minor Leagues. Those were the two biggest pieces of news as the Twins made a string of transactions on Tuesday afternoon.

Lewis, the team’s starting third baseman for most of the year and a former No. 1 overall pick, is being optioned to Triple-A St. Paul after finding himself mired in a deep slump. And Jeffers, who was removed from Monday night’s 6-3 win over the Astros with what was initially believed to be a left wrist sprain, is going on the IL with a left hamate bone fracture.

Minnesota purchased the contract of veteran infielder Orlando Arcia and catcher Alex Jackson to fill the two spots on the 26-man active roster. Additionally, reliever Travis Adams was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul, while right-hander Justin Topa was designated for assignment. The move with Topa clears one spot on the 40-man roster. Reliever Garrett Acton was transferred to the 60-day injured list to clear another.

Jeffers, 28, was off to the best start of his Major League career and was making a case to be an All-Star for the first time. He sports a .295/.408/.541 line with seven home runs and has also shown himself to be one of the best users of the ABS challenge system. He suffered the injury when he fouled a ball off and broke his bat late in Monday’s game.

Lewis got off to a decent start to the season and carried an .822 OPS when he suffered a right knee sprain on April 9. Since returning from the injured list on April 21, however, he has struggled mightily. He has a .132/.189/.191 line in that span with 25 strikeouts in 74 plate appearances.

Arcia has hit .318 with eight homers in 39 games at St. Paul this year, while Jackson has a .239/.295/.511 line for the Saints. Topa surrendered three runs in two-thirds of an inning in Monday's win and has an 8.05 ERA in 23 appearances this season.