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Royce Lewis Ultimately Destined to Play… First Base?

Originally posted on Minnesota Sports Fan
By Ted Schwerzler | Last updated Feb 5, 2025 3:26 PM ET

Last season the Minnesota Twins put Royce Lewis at second base out of the blue, and he wasn’t a big fan. The thought of learning a new position on the fly, in the midst of a division race, didn’t sit well. This season he’ll have that skillset in his tool bag, though.

That doesn’t mean he’s going to play much second base. He’s destined to start at the hot corner for now. It also doesn’t mean that he won’t change positions again in the future.

MN Twins could move Royce Lewis again on defense

The Minnesota Twins have a lot of mouths to feed on the infield. Carlos Correa is the shortstop until he can’t be. That leaves second and third base for the agile defenders. That group includes Lewis, Brooks Lee, Jose Miranda, and Willi Castro. Who plays first base though?

Dan Hayes looked at the farm system for The Athletic, and by 2027 he has Royce Lewis playing first base. Here’s his 2027 defensive alignment.

Player	Position
Diego Cartaya	Catcher
Royce Lewis	First Base
Luke Keaschall	Second Base
Brooks Lee	Third Base
Carlos Correa	Shortstop
Emmanuel Rodriguez	Left Field
Byron Buxton	Center Field
Walker Jenkins	Right Field

Courtesy: The Athletic

The thought of Royce Lewis at first base is interesting. It may be a spot that switches his perspective off the diamond and ultimately preserves his legs. It also could be a situation in which his athletic ability goes under-utilized.

Luke Keaschall should be an option for the Twins this season. He’ll probably start at Double-A where he hit .281/.393/.439 last year despite a torn UCL. As he moves to Triple-A and ultimately the big leagues, a straightforward path to playing time seems like first base.

There was a time Lewis looked certain to move to the outfield. That’s not going to happen anymore. Last season he posted a -2 DRS (defensive runs saved) and +2 OAA (outs above average) at third base. Brooks Lee may be the better defender there, so a slide to second makes sense.

Royce Lewis with a very nice diving stop to start a highlight-reel 5-6-3 double play. pic.twitter.com/UoAVZMqwfs
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) June 3, 2023

It’s hard to believe that a 28-year-old Royce Lewis would welcome a shift to first base just a year before hitting free agency. Then again, his injury history and availability could certainly play a part in those decisions as well.

Regardless, the Twins situation at first base remains in flux. Much like failed starters can become great relievers, the first base role can be occupied by an infielder or corner outfielder that otherwise flamed out. Minnesota doesn’t have a straightforward answer that inspires confidence right now.

The more they look towards the future, the greater that the blueprint may change.

This article first appeared on Minnesota Sports Fan and was syndicated with permission.

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