Minnesota Twins Facing Royce Lewis Decision After Minor League Demotion

The Minnesota Twins have had an interesting season so far, full of highs and lows. After nearly two months of play, they sit at 25-27, just five games back of the American League Central lead. They are close enough to stay in the race, but it is fair to wonder where they would be if they had received the production they expected from third baseman Royce Lewis.

Lewis has dealt with both performance issues and injury concerns in 2026. He missed nine games with a left knee sprain, and when he has been on the field, he has struggled.

His lack of production led to his demotion to Triple-A this past Tuesday. In 31 big-league games, he hit .163 with a .261 on-base percentage, .539 OPS, three home runs and 13 RBIs. That is nowhere near what the Twins envisioned from the former first overall pick.

With the trade deadline approaching, many believed Lewis might benefit from a change of scenery and that he may have already played his last game in a Twins uniform. That still may be the case, but his early performance in Triple-A has complicated the picture.

In his first three appearances with St. Paul, Lewis has already launched three home runs and driven in five runs. His bat has come alive immediately, and the Twins now have a decision to make about what comes next.

Royce Lewis has homered twice for Triple-A St. Paul tonight and has three homers in three games since his demotion.— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) May 24, 2026

The Twins will now have to decide how long Lewis should remain in Triple-A and how much sustained success he needs to show before earning a call up.

More than likely, Lewis will need to maintain this level of production for at least a week before the Twins seriously consider bringing him back.

It could take longer. If his swing truly is rediscovered, he may still have a future in Minnesota. The Twins have a clear opening for him at third base, but he has to earn it. Brooks Lee has handled the hot corner since Lewis's demotion, but Lewis clearly has the higher ceiling.

However, Lewis has more to prove. If he cools off or struggles again, it increases the likelihood that he has played his final games in Minnesota, which would be a disappointing end to a long journey.

Lewis was the first overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft and has spent nearly a decade in the organization. He flashed real promise from 2022 through 2024 but never stayed healthy long enough to fully break out.