Back from injured list, Royce Lewis aims to play “a little bit smarter”

When Royce Lewis first injured his hamstring running to first base in a spring training meeting in mid-March the Twins third baseman didn t think he d be back at this point Not that his absence felt quick anything but for Lewis who has become all-too-familiar with rehab process in the early years of his major league career Lewis returned on Tuesday after missing the organization s first games of the season The hamstring strain was the latest in a long line of injuries for him and a frustrating outcome after all the work he had put in on his body in the offseason to avoid a similar fate You need to be smart in general Whenever I play the competition I ve just got to play a little bit smarter Lewis explained That s what selected of these other guys I ve seen play the challenge at a high level do to be able to play If I had Royals star Bobby Witt speed I think I d run a lot but I m not there anymore with all the injuries So it s just play smart whenever I get in the box Lewis played several third base while on his rehab assignment with the Triple-A Saints but has been at designated hitter in each of his first two games back he went for in his season debut on Tuesday as the Twins ease him back in I m tired of being the guy that s on the IL Lewis noted I think it sucks Seems like these injury bugs they just stick on one guy for a while Hopefully I got mine off New addition The Twins had a noticeable new addition in their clubhouse when they returned home from their seven-game road trip through Cleveland and Boston No not a new player Just a new ping pong table that relievers Jhoan Duran and Jorge Alcala were happily taking advantage of on Wednesday a inadequate hours before the challenge On their last road trip the Twins visited the Guardians who have a brand new visitors clubhouse In it a ping pong table which was a hit among Twins players This table came courtesy of starting pitcher Chris Paddack who worked with the band s clubhouse attendants to get the table into the Twins home clubhouse Just something different in the clubhouse I think this challenge drains us a lot We re human beings We can have fun in life too Paddack reported Just trying to change the lifestyle a little bit bringing good vibes As for the best ping pong player in the clubhouse that s yet to be determined Paddack called himself not outstanding but above average and announced Edouard Julien who was in the past few days optioned to Triple-A and shortstop Carlos Correa had a pretty good rally in Cleveland Carlos I feel like he s just good at everything so we were like No way he s going to be good at ping pong Paddack noted Sure enough he s a freaking beast Briefly Bailey Ober will start Thursday s series finale against the Baltimore Orioles which will start at p m He is replacing Joe Ryan who was scheduled to start but is dealing with illness Ober will be opposed by Dean Kremer