Minnesota Twins infielder Royce Lewis is heading back to the shelf.
Lewis exited Tuesday’s contest with the Detroit Tigers after experiencing tightness in his groin. He was placed on the 10-day IL on Wednesday with a right adductor strain.
Lewis, 25, has struggled to stay healthy during his first three seasons in the big leagues, playing a combined 94 games across three years with the Twins.
Through 24 games this season, Lewis is hitting .292 (26-for-89) with five doubles, 10 home runs, 18 RBI, 18 runs scored, a .354 on-base percentage, a .685 slugging percentage and a 1.039 OPS.
Taken by the Twins with the first-overall selection in the 2017 MLB Draft, Lewis delivered a glimmer of what he can bring regularly, when healthy, to Minnesota’s lineup during last year’s AL Wild Card series with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Lewis smashed a two-run homer off Kevin Gausman in the bottom of the first inning to vault Minnesota into a lead — his first of two long balls in the games — and eventually ahead of the Jays 1-0 in the series.
Infielder Brooks Lee was called up to the Twins’ roster as Lewis’ replacement on Wednesday. The 23-year-old has played in 20 games for the St. Paul Saints, Minnesota’s Triple-A affiliate, this season, hitting .329 (28-for-85) with five doubles, seven home runs, 21 RBI and 20 runs scored.
To make room for Lee on the 40-man roster, the Twins have transferred right-handed pitcher Brock Stewart (right shoulder tendinitis) to the 60-day Injured List.
