According to The Athletic's Dan Hayes, new Twins manager Derek Shelton flew to Dallas on Saturday to meet with third baseman Royce Lewis for barbecue before heading to Las Vegas for the general manager meetings.
“[Shelton] told me I was important to him and our organization," Lewis said. "I told him at points last year I didn’t feel like that. It was really important to me to feel that kind of confidence.”
Derek Shelton may have given Royce Lewis the confidence he needs to return to best version of himself on the diamond
Even before Lewis' recent quote, most fans could tell he lacked confidence last season. He still had plenty of great offensive stretches, but he often appeared to be off-balance and guessing at the plate throughout the year. Due to his struggles, Lewis frequently found himself hitting in the bottom third of the lineup, which couldn't have been great for his confidence. Hopefully, Shelton treats Lewis like a star and displays that he thinks of him as one by placing him near the top of the lineup.
Twins fans know Lewis can be among the best hitters in the game, as he slashed .309/.372/.548 (152 wRC+) with 15 homers and 52 RBI over 58 regular-season games in 2023. He hit even better in the 2023 playoffs, posting a 1.119 OPS with four home runs in 26 plate appearances.
Injuries have hindered Lewis' ability to stay on the field consistently and have likely impacted his performance as well. In just 82 games in 2024, Lewis hit .233/.295/.452 (106 wRC+) with 16 home runs and 47 RBI. In 106 games this past season, he slashed .237/.283/.388 (85 wRC+) with 13 home runs and 52 RBI.
Hopefully, Lewis actually stays healthy this season. If that ends up being the case, Shelton has hopefully given him the confidence he needs to return to the 2023 version of himself. Hearing that Shelton is prioritizing boosting his players' confidence is a good sign for Twins fans. It's especially a good sign that he prioritized meeting with Lewis, as the third baseman should be among the team's best players if his potential is fully unlocked.