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Minnesota Twins Injury Bug Strikes Lineup
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- Minnesota Twins Injury Bug Strikes Lineup
Matt Blewett-Imagn Images Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
Of course the lineup couldn't feel left out by the Minnesota Twins pitching staff. The rotation has already dealt with injuries to three players , and Pablo Lopez won't be coming back .
Earlier this spring Joe Ryan was scratched "out of an abundance of caution." He's now being joined in that designation by oft-injured slugger Royce Lewis .
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Royce Lewis scratched from MN Twins lineup
On his first at bat of Grapefruit League action, Royce Lewis brought the theatrics and launched a home run. Looking as though he had bulked up some this offseason, Lewis said that was intentional as he hopes to maintain his body throughout the season.
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Royce Lewis smacks this ball PAST THE BERM! 🌴 pic.twitter.com/PsZFqOopNA
— MLB (@MLB) February 21, 2026
Last year Lewis suffered a significant hamstring strain at the end of spring training. He then aggravated it later in the season and wound up missing multiple months. Prior to Thursday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates , Lewis was scratched for cautionary reasons.
#MNTwins scratched Royce Lewis from today's game. Per media relations: Lewis experienced tightness on right side after running the bases pregame. Scratched "out of abundance of caution."
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) February 26, 2026
The tightness that Dan Hayes (The Athletic) describes was not noted to be upper or lower body, but simply his right side. That would lead one to believe the lower half is not necessarily in question, but could cause reason for concern regarding an oblique injury.
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Last season Lewis played in a career-high 106 games, but that number still highlights how often he was unavailable due to different maladies. He also struggled to the tune of a career-worst .237/.283/.388 slash line .
The Minnesota Twins having any semblance of hope this season has been predicated on stellar pitching, and competent developed hitting. The former has already taken a hit, and Lewis going down would severely impact the latter.
Contingency plans for Minnesota Twins
Lewis is the unquestioned starter at third base if he is healthy. There isn't a great group of veteran options behind him either. Gio Urshela is in camp and started there for the Twins previously, but has fallen off significantly (78 OPS+) the past two seasons.
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It's possible that Ryan Kreidler or Tristan Gray could fill in, but neither of those options have much upside. If the Twins wanted to get really aggressive early in the season, they could call Kaelen Culpepper's number.
Opposite field double for Twins prospect Kaelen Culpepper.
Future starting shortstop. pic.twitter.com/2CLEZ3Ddt3— Ted (@tlschwerz) February 25, 2026
The star prospect would take over at shortstop and push Brooks Lee to third. Lee is not likely to show well at shortstop , and Culpepper appears to be a fit there. He has yet to appear at Triple-A, but was close to a promotion last season ( .289/.375/.469 in 113 A+/AA games ) and has a chance to showcase his stuff in camp.
Ideally the Minnesota Twins aren't forced into drastic decisions regarding Royce Lewis any time soon. The unfortunate reality is that he has struggled to provide consistencies to suggest otherwise.
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