Royce Lewis

Royce Oliver Lewis was born on June 5, 1999, in Aliso Viejo, California. He distinguished himself early in his academic and athletic career at JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, California. During his junior year, Lewis achieved notable recognition as the Los Angeles Times high school baseball player of the year in 2016, hitting .429 with nine doubles and four home runs. His exceptional talent led him to be named MVP of both the 2016 Under Armour All-American Game at Wrigley Field and the Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park. He also contributed to the USA Baseball 18U National Team’s gold medal win in the 2016 COPABE Pan American AAA Championship, playing a crucial role in defeating Cuba.

In 2017, Lewis was selected as the first overall pick in the MLB draft by the Minnesota Twins, marking a significant milestone in his career. He made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Twins and was quickly promoted to the Cedar Rapids Kernels. His early minor league career showcased his offensive and defensive capabilities, earning him titles such as Midwest League Midseason All-Star in 2018 and Midwest League Postseason All-Star the same year. He was also recognized as the Midwest League Prospect of the Year and named the top prospect in the Twins system by Baseball America. Injuries, including two torn ACLs in his right knee in 2021 and 2022, tested his resilience, but he consistently returned to play at a high level.

Lewis made his Major League Baseball debut on May 6, 2022. He quickly made an impact, hitting his first career grand slam on May 13, 2022, becoming only the second player in Twins history to achieve this feat for their first home run. Despite subsequent injuries, he demonstrated impressive comeback performances, particularly in the 2023 season. That year, he not only set a new Twins franchise record with four grand slams in a single season but also became the fastest player in MLB history to hit five career grand slams in just 66 games. His contributions earned him the American League Rookie of the Month award for September 2023 and the Bill Boni Award as the Twins’ Most Outstanding Rookie.