Royce Lewis goes 2-for-2 with solo homer and RBI single in first spring training game of 2026
The Minnesota Twins lost their Grapefruit League opener against the Boston Red Sox by a score of 7-2 on Saturday, but third baseman Royce Lewis gave fans something to smile about, smashing a solo homer against lefty Payton Tolle in his first at-bat and driving in Luke Keaschall, who reached base by hitting a triple, on a hard-hit, ground-ball single to left fielder Masataka Yoshida against righty Seth Martinez in his second and final at-bat. Lewis also stole second base after collecting his RBI single.
Royce Lewis smacks this ball PAST THE BERM! 🌴 pic.twitter.com/PsZFqOopNA
— MLB (@MLB) February 21, 2026
Royce Lewis' strong performance refreshing for Twins fans to see after Pablo López, Joe Ryan injury news
Lewis' performance on Saturday was a breath of fresh air for Twins fans after hearing the news that Pablo López will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery and Joe Ryan was scratched from Saturday's game with low back tightness in his right side. It's yet to be determined how serious Ryan's back tightness is.
Lewis has taken a major step back after emerging as a star during 2023, when he slashed .309/.372/.548 (149 OPS+) with 15 homers, seven doubles and 52 RBI over 58 regular-season games and went 5-for-22 with four homers, four walks and five RBI during the postseason. After being one of the main reasons Minnesota won its first playoff series in 21 years, Lewis became one of the biggest disappointments on the Twins over the last two years.
Injuries have impacted Lewis' ability to stay on the field, as he appeared in just 82 games in 2024 and 106 in 2025. He struggled significantly when healthy during the last two seasons, hitting .233/.295/.452 (107 OPS+) in 2024 before slashing .237/.283/.388 (83 OPS+) in 2025.
Best version of Royce Lewis could help Twins return to postseason
Of course, it's important not to look too deeply into spring training stats. Still, Lewis's hot start to Grapefruit League action this spring could signify a strong 2026 season. When Lewis is at his best, he is an MVP-level hitter. A Twins team with Lewis, Buxton, Keaschall and others at full strength could surprise the league and make a postseason run, even with López sidelined for the whole season.
During the offseason, Twins manager Derek Shelton flew to Dallas to meet with Lewis and gave the third baseman the confidence he had been searching for. Lewis appeared as confident as ever on Saturday, and hopefully that carries into the regular season. Let's also keep our fingers crossed that the former No. 1 pick stays healthy.