Twins dreaming of superstar potential for a healthy Lewis

MINNEAPOLIS -- No one needs to be reminded what Royce Lewis is capable of. He remembers it. Twins fans certainly remember it. Even his new manager remembers it.

At his healthiest, Lewis has been one of the most dynamic, most dangerous, best players in baseball. He keyed the Twins’ run to the postseason with a tremendous second-half surge in 2023, and before a late slump in ’24, he was driving them toward another apparent playoff berth.

Since late 2024, Lewis has searched not only for health, but for consistent form at the plate. If he can recapture the magic of his first 100 or so big league games, the entire outlook for the 2026 Twins would change.

“I truly believe if I play at the level that I’ve shown before that I can be one of the best hitters in the league, on any team,” Lewis said.

The Twins finished 10th in the American League in runs scored (678) in 2025 en route to a hugely disappointing 70-92 season. They are likely to run back many of the same players in '26, though they are expected to add a first baseman in free agency or via trade.

But any optimism regarding a bounceback for the lineup relies on their young offensive core living up to its potential. That’s a group that includes Brooks Lee and Matt Wallner, but it starts with Lewis, who slashed .309/.372/.548 in 58 games in 2023 and was slugging .685 in 23 games before the All-Star break in '24.

“This guy has a chance to be a superstar,” said Twins manager Derek Shelton.

And Shelton could play a major part in Lewis’ revival. Lewis’ struggles have resulted from a complicated mix of factors -- health has been a crucial one. He suffered a hamstring injury in Spring Training in 2025, and now believes he came back too quickly. That contributed to a slow start at the plate, and just as Lewis seemed to be getting going again, he aggravated it and missed more time.

Once he got a lengthy stretch of health in the second half of 2025, Lewis still found himself at times searching for a groove at the plate. And of course over the final two months, he looked around at a clubhouse that had changed drastically at the Trade Deadline. And though he and former manager Rocco Baldelli never outwardly clashed, it’s fair to say that Lewis will be ready for a fresh start with a new manager. That’s a big deal for Lewis, who thrives on feeling comfortable, confident and appreciated. Shelton made a trip to visit Lewis soon after he was hired, and the gesture was greatly appreciated.

“We definitely vibed really well,” Lewis said. “He came out to Texas to see me, and honestly I told him that meant my whole year. I was blown away that he came out to see me. I didn’t realize that I was that important to him and to the organization. I felt like I was starting to lose that kind of feeling and I just felt like a different vibe at the end of last year, parts of last year, but he definitely corrected that. And we’re still keeping in touch.”

Even as he managed ups and downs at the plate in 2025, Lewis showed some very encouraging other signs. He looked smooth and athletic on defense down the stretch, and he even began stealing bases. Athletically, he looked like himself again.

Now it’s a matter of staying healthy and getting locked in at the plate. And neither of those is guaranteed. But it’s easy to dream of what could be if it all comes together.

“I think Royce is at a point in his career where he’s starting to learn the ebbs and flows of it all, and he needs a lot of voices to help support him,” said Twins president of baseball and business operations Derek Falvey. “From the hitting side, the defensive side, the manager’s seat, our seats, an agent, family and others. No one does this on their own.

“I think he’s maturing right in front of our eyes in terms of the type of player that we think he can be.”