The Minnesota Twins made a number of roster moves Tuesday, including a demotion of a former number one overall pick, and playoff hero.
First, Royce Lewis is heading back to AAA St. Paul. The rumored demotion became reality Tuesday after Lewis struggled since returning from a knee sprain on April 21.
Lewis was not in the lineup during the Twins 6-3 win over Houston on Monday. In Sunday's 5-4 win over the Brewers, struck out three times in three at-bats. He was removed late for a pinch-hitter. That's 10 strikeouts in his last 30 trips to the plate, and The Athletic's Dan Hayes told WCCO's Vineeta Sawkar that the team was running out of patience with the slumping Lewis.
"Royce Lewis certainly is struggling, and probably as much as I can recall him struggling, basically back to the end of the 2024 season," Hayes added. "I mean, yesterday he saw 15 pitches, he swung at 14 of them, or fouled off too with bunts. But, you know, he's just swinging from the heels right now, trying to do something, trying to do anything."
Since returning from the injured list on April 21, the third baseman has struck out 25 times in 68 plate appearances while batting just .132 with one home run and five RBIs.
Before the injury, Lewis hit .222 with two doubles, two homers, eight RBIs and an .822 OPS in 12 games.
The Twins have been patiently waiting for Lewis to return to the powerful hitter he showed in the 2023 season, and postseason. There, he hit 4 home runs and drove in 5 runs in 6 playoff games. Lewis hit a Minnesota Twins single-season record of four grand slams during the 2023 season.
Since then, it's been a series of injuries and prolonged slumps, with Lewis even suggesting to Hayes during an interview the Twins are hoping he fails so they could write him off and demote him to the minor leagues, or trade him.
The Twins made a similar move last week, demoting right fielder Matt Wallner to Triple-A St. Paul.Also, catcher Ryan Jeffers is headed to the 10-day injured list with a bone fracture. Jeffers has been one of the Twins hottest hitters of late, and was off to the best start of his Major League career. Jeffers was slashing 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.
The pitching staff was not immune either. Right-hander Garrett Acton is headed to the 60-day injured list, and right hander Justin Topa has been designated for assignment.
On top of all that, right-handed pitcher Travis Adams has been recalled from St. Paul, while the Twins also selected the contracts of infielder Orlando Arcia and catcher Alex Jackson.
This all comes ahead of Tuesday night's home game against the Houston Astros.
Houston Astros (19-30, fourth in the AL West) vs. Minnesota Twins (22-26, third in the AL Central)
Minneapolis; Tuesday, 6:40 p.m. Pregame at 6:00 p.m. on 830 WCCO and via the Audacy App (in-market only)
PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Lance McCullers (2-3, 6.86 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 43 strikeouts); Twins: Zebby Matthews (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, five strikeouts)
LINE: Twins -141, Astros +119; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros will attempt to break their three-game road skid in a matchup with the Minnesota Twins.
Minnesota has a 14-13 record at home and a 22-26 record overall. Twins hitters have a collective .324 on-base percentage, the sixth-ranked percentage in the AL.
Houston is 19-30 overall and 7-16 on the road. The Astros have a 12-7 record in games when they scored at least five runs.
Tuesday's game is the second time these teams match up this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Byron Buxton has 15 home runs, 13 walks and 23 RBIs while hitting .260 for the Twins. Kody Clemens is 11 for 33 with six doubles, a home run and three RBIs over the past 10 games.
Yordan Alvarez leads the Astros with 15 home runs while slugging .633. Zach Cole Jr. is 6 for 29 with two home runs and five RBIs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Twins: 6-4, .241 batting average, 2.57 ERA, outscored opponents by nine runs
Astros: 3-7, .192 batting average, 4.60 ERA, outscored by 27 runs
INJURIES: Twins: Ryan Jeffers: day-to-day (undisclosed), Byron Buxton: day-to-day (hip), Cole Sands: 15-Day IL (forearm), Cody Laweryson: 15-Day IL (forearm), Garrett Acton: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Mick Abel: 15-Day IL (elbow), Taj Bradley: 15-Day IL (pectoral), David Festa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Pablo Lopez: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Astros: Jose Altuve: 10-Day IL (side), Joey Loperfido: 10-Day IL (quadricep), Hunter Brown: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Bennett Sousa: 15-Day IL (elbow), Carlos Correa: 10-Day IL (ankle), Yainer Diaz: 10-Day IL (abdominal), Jake Meyers: 10-Day IL (oblique), Nate Pearson: 15-Day IL (elbow), Taylor Trammell: 10-Day IL (groin), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brandon Walter: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ronel Blanco: 60-Day IL (elbow), Josh Hader: 60-Day IL (biceps), Hayden Wesneski: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Catcher Ryan Jeffers is also heading to the injured list, and pitcher Justin Topa was sent to the minors
Catcher Ryan Jeffers is also heading to the injured list, and pitcher Justin Topa was sent to the minors
