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Injured Minnesota Twins Take First Steps Toward Return
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- Injured Minnesota Twins Take First Steps Toward Return
Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Twins have lost 11 of their last 14 games , sending their 2025 regular season record plunging back below .500, at 37-38. Of course, much of this recent slide can be blamed on injuries.
After the roster briefly worked itself back to full-health for a few days, from the very end of May until June 3, when Pablo Lopez suffered a shoulder injury that will still cost him a couple more months.
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Then, Zebby Matthews hit the IL after him with a different shoulder injury , before both pitchers were followed by 3B Royce Lewis , who suffered yet another hamstring strain. it's also worth noting that Trevor Larnach was scratched from the MN Twins lineup on Friday with a bruised right hand.
Minnesota Twins get a little bit of good news on injury front
Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
But Saturday morning, far off in the distance, a small glimmer of hope has appeared over the horizon. According to La Velle E. Neal (Star Tribune) , two of the three injured players listed above have begun their road back to the Minnesota Twins' 26-man roster, even if both will still be a while.
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In an article posted in Saturday's paper, La Velle writes that, while it'll still be a while before Lopez (and OF Luke Keaschall ) return to baseball activities, Royce Lewis started running on his bad hamstring again Friday, the same day Matthews started throwing again.
Third baseman Royce Lewis , recovering from a left hamstring strain suffered on June 13 at Houston, began a running program Friday and will be evaluated daily.
Rookie righthander Zebby Matthews , on the injured list because of a right shoulder strain, started playing catch on Friday. He has to ramp up his throwing program and throw a couple of bullpen sessions before the Twins have a better idea of when he can return.
Neither guy will return imminently, but as the saying goes, you can't run before you walk. While neither Zebby nor Royce were carrying the Minnesota Twins when they went on the IL, this is now a roster desperate to get its most talented players back. Without a doubt, both Lewis and Matthews fit that bill.
Royce Lewis was looking better before injury
Royce Lewis has appeared in 30 games (110 PA) this season for the Twins, where he's struggled in aggregate, batting .202, with an ugly OPS of .585. On the season, he's bombed just 2 home runs and collected an underwhelming 9 RBI. In his last 10 games , however, Royce hit .367 with a .990 OPS… and then he injured himself again.
Royce Lewis missed a grand slam by about 5 feet but drives in a pair with a double off the wall pic.twitter.com/7eP5u09V4x
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) June 4, 2025
Related: MLB Insider Reveals Minnesota Twins Trade Target + Cost to Deal
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Zebby Matthews has all the tools to be a front-line MN Twins starter
Zebby Matthews was not up with the Minnesota Twins for very long, before he went on the injured list. He's started four big league games, posting a 5.21 ERA (1.474 WHIP), but his FIP is way low, at 3.01, signaling he's pitching better than what the results show.
As is usually the case with the 25-year-old flamethrower, his strikeout ratio is absurd, at 25 strikeouts (8 walks) in only 19 innings pitched. Minnesota called Matthews up after he posted a 1.93 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 32.2 innings pitched down at Triple A.
Zebby Matthews, 2Ks in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/L2zf5A3zkU
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 24, 2025
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