The Minnesota Twins are expected to activate infielder Royce Lewis and outfielder Max Kepler from the injured list ahead of Monday’s series opener against the Houston Astros.
Lewis is the most notable return as he is coming back from an ACL tear last May that was his second in a span of 15 months.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft appears to have no ill effects from the injury as he hit .333/.395/.692 with four home runs, 11 RBI and four stolen bases in 10 games with Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul during his rehab assignment.
“I think this is the culmination of a lot of hard work from Royce,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said via MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park after Sunday’s loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. “He can jolt you with the enthusiasm and all of the exciting things that he can do, but he’s a good young player and he’s had a long road to get back to this point.”
Meanwhile, Kepler is returning from his second trip to the injury list this season after suffering a hamstring injury on May 12. The 30-year-old is hitting .212/.298/.44 with six homers and 14 RBI in 28 games this season.
To make room for Kepler and Lewis, the Twins will reportedly send down outfielders Kyle Garlick and Matt Wallner to Triple-A St. Paul.
Wallner has been up and down with the Twins this season but is hitting .294/.429/.529 with one homer and four RBI in 10 games with Minnesota this season.
Garlick was called up for his second stint with the Twins on May 19 and is hitting .235/.316/.647 with two homers and four RBI in eight games this season.
