Twins insider hints at when Royce Lewis will return, and it's perfect timing

It's been so unbelievably long since we've seen Royce Lewis play baseball for the Minnesota Twins, but our wait might soon be over.

Lewis exited Opening Day with what ended up being a right quad strain that has held him out of action ever since. He started a rehab assignment last weekend in St. Paul and all signs point toward him returning to the MLB roster soon.

When exactly that will be is yet to be determined.

There was hope that he'd make his triumphant return this weekend against the Houston Astros, which ironically would have been the exact same place he re-introduced himself last season. Lewis returned from a second ACL tear almost a year ago to the day, re-joining the Twins on May 29th and instantly having an impact.

That's the expectation again this time around, but his debut will have to wait until after the Houston series. Poetically that's a bummer, but it could set up an even more perfect stage for Lewis to return.

Royce Lewis might make his return to Twins lineup next week vs. Yankees

Twins insider Aaron Gleeman said on Friday's episode of the Gleeman & The Geek podcast that he thinks Lewis will make his return next week during Minnesota's series in the Bronx.

"I believe Royce Lewis will be in the lineup, barring a setback with his quadriceps rehab, I believe Royce Lewis will be in the lineup for Game 1 at Yankee Stadium," Gleeman speculated. "I don't think he'll return versus the Astros this weekend because I think they're going to want him to play a little more third base than he's play so far on the rehab."

Minnesota hasn't outlined any specific plans for Lewis to return, and have spent more time being annoyed at how hard he's trying to prove he's back. Lewis reportedly 'horrified' Twins brass in the first game of his rehab assignment when he went rogue and started stealing bases.

The Twins quickly put an end to that, but the point was emphatically made that Lewis is both healthy enough to return and has the motivation to come out of the gate hot.

Doing that against the New York Yankees to help avenge a series sweep earlier this month would be a perfect way for him to return. Lewis joined the Twins last May and single handidly jump started the offense, strapping the team on his back and carrying them to a win in his first game.

More of that, but this time against the Yankees, would only further add to the growing legend Lewis has among Twins fans. Nothing is official yet in terms of when he'll return, but all indications are that we won't have to wait long a nationally televised game against the Yankees feels like a perfect stage.

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