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Royce Lewis’ demotion shows how quickly things have unraveled for the Twins originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Just a few years ago, Royce Lewis looked like the future face of the Minnesota Twins franchise. Now, the former No. 1 overall pick is headed back to Triple-A in one of the most sobering developments of Minnesota’s season. The Twins officially optioned Lewis to Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday amid a brutal offensive slump, continuing what has become a troubling trend for a player once viewed as one of baseball’s brightest young stars.
And the timing could hardly feel worse for Minnesota.
Royce Lewis’ decline has become impossible to ignore
Lewis burst onto the national scene in 2023 when he hit .309 with a .921 OPS and looked capable of becoming an annual All-Star. His postseason heroics that year only accelerated expectations surrounding him. Since then, though, injuries and inconsistency have completely altered the trajectory.
Lewis is slashing just .163/.261/.279 this season with a strikeout rate above 31 percent, and his struggles intensified after returning from a knee injury earlier this year. Since coming off the injured list in April, his production has cratered even further, leaving the Twins with little choice but to send him down in hopes of rebuilding his confidence.
The numbers paint an alarming picture. Lewis’ OPS has dropped every season since 2023, falling from .921 to .747 to .671 and now all the way down to .539 in 2026. For a player once viewed as a franchise cornerstone, that is a staggering decline. Still, Minnesota’s public messaging around the move suggests the organization has not given up on him.
Twins officials repeatedly framed the demotion as a “reset” rather than a punishment, emphasizing Lewis’ work ethic and continued effort despite the mounting struggles.
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Twins’ lineup problems suddenly look much bigger
Lewis’ demotion alone would have been a major story. Instead, it arrived alongside another massive blow for Minnesota.
Starting catcher Ryan Jeffers is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after suffering a fractured hamate bone that will require surgery. Jeffers had been one of the Twins’ best hitters this season, batting .295 with seven home runs while emerging as a potential first-time All-Star. Losing both Jeffers and Lewis within hours dramatically changes the outlook of Minnesota’s offense.
The Twins are already dealing with injuries throughout their pitching staff, and the organization recently sent struggling outfielder Matt Wallner to Triple-A as well. Suddenly, a team trying to stay competitive in the AL Central is relying heavily on patchwork solutions and organizational depth. Veterans Orlando Arcia and Alex Jackson were added to help stabilize the roster, but neither move fully replaces what Minnesota hoped Lewis and Jeffers would provide.
The Twins are entering a defining stretch
At 22-26, the Twins are still close enough to remain relevant in the AL Central race. But the margin for error is shrinking quickly. What once looked like a disappointing first two months is now beginning to feel more serious. Minnesota is not simply battling injuries anymore. The organization is confronting difficult questions about whether some of its projected long-term core pieces are developing the way it expected.
Lewis remains talented enough to change the narrative if he rediscovers his swing in Triple-A.
But for now, one of baseball’s most promising young careers has reached an unexpectedly difficult point.
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