Twins’ Royce Lewis exits three innings into Opening Day in another injury concern

The Twins may have won their Opening Day game 4-1 over the Royals on Thursday, but concerns over one of their star players certainly dampened the mood.

In the third inning, third baseman Royce Lewis was seen running gingerly into third base before leaving the game with what was later labeled a right quad injury.

Lewis, who singled in his second at-bat after homering in the first inning, appeared to hurt himself as he rounded second base and headed for third on a Carlos Correa RBI double.

He was looked at by head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta and manager Rocco Baldelli before walking off the field.

Of course Royce Lewis hits a home run in his first at-bat of the season!

In those three innings, Lewis went from the highest of highs to potentially the lowest of lows.

In his first at-bat of the season, the star infielder hit a solo home run — 423 feet off starter Cole Ragans — to put the Twins ahead.

After the game, Lewis described the injury as a “cramp,” and the Twins said he underwent an MRI exam, which they are now awaiting the results of.

“I was just confused,” Lewis told reporters after the game. “Honestly it just felt like a little cramp. It just tightened up and the first thing that was in my mind was that dang, it should be 3-1. [Correa] hit it perfectly down in the corner for me to score, I was just bummed that I couldn’t score.”

Baldelli said he and the team will look at how the MRI exam shakes out before making further decisions.

“He had an MRI and we’re going to take some time to evaluate,” Baldelli told reporters after the game, per the Associated Press.

“Not the way you want to start the season on the injury side of things,” he added, “but how you want to see your team go out and fight and get a win on opening day.”

Lewis is no stranger to injuries, however.

He tore his ACL prior to the 2021 season and missed the entire year.

He returned early in 2022 only to tear his right ACL again and miss all but 12 games.

Last season, a left oblique strain and a left hamstring strain caused him to play in only 58 games in the regular season.

In the games he did play in during 2023, he impressed, hitting .309 with 15 home runs and 52 RBIs.