Twins' Royce Lewis is determined to make a splash this season, and he's taken significant steps to ensure he does. With a new manager, Derek Shelton, in place, Lewis is embracing a transformative offseason, driven by a desire to become a star. His journey began with a visit to Texas, where he impressed Shelton with his maturity and barbecue prowess. Lewis, now 26, has evolved significantly since his earlier days in the organization, and his upcoming season could be pivotal for the team's success.
One of the key changes Lewis made was hiring a private hitting coach, Jeremy Isenhower, who has worked with Kansas City star Bobby Witt Jr. and former Twin Jorge Polanco. Isenhower's expertise has been instrumental in refining Lewis's approach, focusing on his preset and loading mechanism. Lewis's dedication to improving his game is evident, as he incorporated back squats into his routine, despite not doing so for years. This decision was influenced by his agent, Scott Boras, who has been guiding Lewis towards a more powerful and explosive training regimen.
The offseason also brought a delightful reunion with former teammate Carlos Correa, who treated Lewis to delicious meals, including pancakes, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and burgers. This period was described as Lewis's 'favorite', and he's eager to translate his hard work into results.
Looking back on the previous season, Lewis's performance was underwhelming, with a .237 batting average, 13 home runs, and 52 runs batted in. His .671 OPS was the lowest of his career, and his 83 OPS+ was 17 percent below the league average. However, Lewis is determined to turn things around, recognizing the need for external advice and a mature mindset to achieve stardom.
