Shortstop Royce Lewis on finding out he’s joining Twins: ‘Shocked’

With infielder Luis Arraez on the Covid list, the Twins have called up top prospect Royce Lewis to take his roster spot. Lewis, 22, has been playing his first season at Triple-A in St. Paul, hitting .310 with three home runs and 11 RBIs for the Saints. Lewis turns 23 next month.

We met with Lewis before Friday’s game against Oakland at Target Field.

***Click the video box above to watch Lewis’ pregame media session***

After a year without minor league competition in 2020 due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lewis then tore the ACL in his right knee while doing an agility drill in an offseason workout before reporting to spring training last year. He sat out the entire 2021 season recovering from reconstructive surgery.

Lewis is the top Twins prospect, ranked 44th overall by MLB. The Twins made him the No. 1 pick in the 2017 Draft.

“We’re pressed into a situation now where he’s got to step up and go,” Twins president Derek Falvey said. “He’s going to have some good days, and he’s going to have some bad days.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report