‘Where’s Royce?’: Twins third baseman Royce Lewis searching for answers

DENVER Royce Lewis can tell something is different even though his swing feels good to him When he watches himself on film when he looks back on his at-bats he notices something looks off His thoughts range from That s not Royce to I want it to be Royce to Where s Royce The production from Lewis that the Twins have become accustomed to getting hasn t been there this season and Lewis expressed a desire for a reset before Saturday s competition Lewis who was not in the starting lineup on Saturday entered the day hitting with just two home runs on the season He has a negative bWAR wins above replacement per Baseball Reference and his numbers have dipped from his career averages across the board To me in my head it feels the same he noted of his swing It s like until you look at yourself in the mirror you re like I m the best dressed I look good Lewis declared Then you look at yourself and Maybe I don t look good in yellow I m watching video and I thought it looked good but it does look a little different His swing he announced doesn t look the same as it did even last year His body is compensating for something he believes and after dealing with two hamstring strains this year including a very key one that he suffered in spring training he feels injuries have taken more of a toll on his body than he once realized Perhaps the -year-old stated it s because he s starting to get older Hitting coach Matt Borgschulte mentioned Lewis was continuing to put in the work to get back where he needed to be and explained he thought the third baseman was getting closer by the day But the lack of results it seems have gotten into his head In Friday s battle Lewis scorched a lineout at mph off the bat at second baseman Ryan Ritter In the past he commented he s done a good job of walking away from something like that thinking It s part of the process part of the contest Now his perspective has shifted I ve become more results-oriented because of how we run things here personally It s been harder for me mentally Lewis revealed This year it seems like if I don t or anybody in general they re quick to pull the trigger on you I m trying to do my best to get certain balls to fall and when that doesn t happen you re just like out of luck But Lewis despite dealing with the frustrations of this season still projected optimism for the remaining two and a half months of the season and called this year a major jump in terms of expansion and wisdom I m trying to figure it out Lewis noted Hopefully soon it looks like the Royce of old Reinforcements arrive The Twins welcomed Zebby Matthews back from the injured list on Saturday the first of a group they hope can impact them down the stretch Bailey Ober hip threw four scoreless innings on a rehab assignment at Triple-A on Friday night and the Twins have not yet detailed the next efforts for him Joining him with the Saints was Luke Keaschall arm who is expected to have a lengthy rehab assignment as he comes back from a fractured forearm And at a few point the Twins anticipate getting Pablo L pez shoulder back as well You definitely want to just keep getting guys healthy keep getting guys back You re going to be better for it ultimately Baldelli noted There could be various hard decisions that come along with it That s part of the match so we just want to keep on the healthcare side on the wellness side just keep getting stronger and stronger and keep giving us options Briefly Joe Ryan will make his first start of the second half of the season on Sunday at Coors Field Ryan who last pitched Tuesday in the All-Star Encounter has a ERA on the season Travis Adams was optioned to Triple-A to make room on the roster for Matthews Related Articles Chris Paddack hit early as Twins fall to Rockies Joe Ryan Byron Buxton relish experience at All-Star Meeting Five questions facing the Twins as season s second half begins Baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield to be honored at Toni Stone Stadium All-Star Contest Schwarber s homers break tie in first-ever derby decider