Watch: Former No. 1 pick hits home run in first game back from injury for Twins
In his first major league game of 2023, Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis hit a home run on the one-year anniversary of his ACL tear which caused him to miss most of the 2022 season.
The number one pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, Lewis suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his right knee in the 2021 season and then suffered another tear in the same knee the following season.
In his first taste of the majors in 2022, Lewis would put up a .300 batting average with two home runs and five RBI in 12 games before the knee injury.
Off to a hot in the minors, posting a .333 average with four home runs and four stolen bases in only 39 at-bats the Twins wasted no time bringing Lewis up to the major league squad.
Drafted as a shortstop, Lewis figures to be used primarily at third base while playing shortstop occasionally. His injury in 2022 occurred on a play in centerfield, so the team has decided to keep him out of the outfield during the 2023 season.
In his fifth season of professional ball, Lewis is still only 23 years old and will play a big part in the future plans of the Twins organization if he can stay healthy.
After signing shortstop Carlos Correa to a six-year, $200M contract with vesting options for four more years this past offseason the position is filled for the near future.
But injuries to Correa's lower half, which were the cause for concern during the offseason, are flaring up already this season which could lead to Lewis getting time at his natural position.
Lewis is looking to live up to the hype of being a first-overall draft pick in 2023.
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