Royce Lewis could return to the Twins lineup much sooner than expected

As was the case when the season started back in March, the Minnesota Twins got chewed up by the injury bug when action resumed after the All-Star Break.

Minnesota began the second half of the season with Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis, and Jose Miranda all on the IL, with Kody Funderburk not far behind and Brock Stewart still working his way back. That's not an insignificant portion of the roster, but it sounds like things will get better much sooner than they did the first time around.

Correa is the furthest behind, but the Twins should be in no rush to play him before he's fully healthy. He dealt with plantar facitiis last season that hampered his production and Correa is now dealing with the same thing in his other foot.

Lewis has been on the IL since the beginning of July after suffering an adductor strain that most fans feared might keep him out until September. That doesn't seem to be the case, as both Lewis and Jose Miranda -- who hit the IL with back tightness before the All-Star Break -- could be back very soon.

Twins could get Royce Lewis and Jose Miranda back as soon as this weekend

The Athletic's Dan Hayes noted that both Lewis and Miranda are slated to begin rehab assignments but neither is expected to be very long. If all goes well, the pair could be back with the Twins as soon as this weekend's series against the Tigers.

"Lewis and Miranda could rejoin their teammates in time to catch Wednesday’s charter flight to Detroit, where the Twins open a series Friday evening," Hayes reported. "[Miranda] could be cleared Tuesday to join Lewis in St. Paul for the 7:07 p.m. first pitch."

Hearing that Lewis will be back this soon is massive, although it comes with the caveat of hoping he doesn't get injured for a third time. He's been open about perhaps moving too quickly through his recovery process, something he mentioned as a frustration after suffering his latest injury.

Lewis returning to the IL was bittersweet, as it was the second time fans had to watch him miss action due to an injury. His absence from the lineup created an opportunity for Brooks Lee to make his debut, and he's lived up to the hype in every way.

The rookie has played so well that it doesn't appear he'll be sent back down to Triple-A when Lewis returns.

Miranda was shut down after going on a historic hitting streak, reaching base in 12 straight at-bats. Getting both his offense, as well as Lewis', back in the lineup will be a massive boost for the Twins as they close the gap on Cleveland in the AL Central.

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