Lewis isn’t set and forget at 3B

TWINS POSITION BREAKDOWN >> THIRD BASE

Using the young star at different positions in 2024 could signal a change in infield

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Twins infielder Royce appeared to be the long-term answer at third base for Minnesota, but a position switch late last season could signal a different approach. MATT KROHN — ASSOCIATED PRESS

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By Betsy Helfand

bhelfand@pioneerpress.com

The Twins planned to park Royce Lewis next to Carlos Correa on the left side of the infield and have him be their starting third baseman, letting him settle in at a position of his own.

But by the time the 2024 season ended, the man who played the most third base wasn’t Lewis but rather Jose Miranda, who started the season at Triple-A and worked his way back into the Twins’ plans.

2024 recap

Lewis lasted two at-bats into the 2024 season before getting injured, suffering a right quadriceps strain while running the bases on Opening Day. He missed 58 games before returning to the Twins in early June.

A month later, he landed on the injured list again, this time with an adductor strain that kept him out for most of the month of July.

Initially, Willi Castro slid over and filled in while Lewis was sidelined. Eventually, Miranda was called up and reestablished himself after an injury-plagued 2023 season. Kyle Farmer, now a free agent, saw time at third base, as did Brooks Lee, who looked very smooth there down the stretch.

Lewis, meanwhile, played 51 games at third and had some throwing issues, leading the Twins to try him briefly at second base. In total, he played in 82 games, the most for him in any season in his major-league career and he spoke late in the year about having to manage his body through it and the toll it was taking on him.

His numbers tailed off late in the season. He finished the year hitting .233 with a .747 OPS and 16 home runs in just over half a season.

2025 outlook

A simple answer would be to put Lewis back at third base. But Lee is likely the better defender of the two at both spots.

The Twins must decide if they plan on having Lewis stay at third or if they want to try him at second — a position he was resistant to — once again and shift Lee to third.

Though third base has been Miranda’s primary position as a major leaguer, the Twins currently have a hole at first base with Carlos Santana reaching free agency and Alex Kirilloff retiring and Miranda will likely see most of his time there.

Castro, while an option, is likely to keep moving around the field with some third base mixed in.

While third base is not a position that needs to be addressed externally, there are some questions here. In all likelihood, all of that group — Lewis, Lee, Castro and Miranda — should see some playing time at third base next season.