Sunday, February 23

MLB.com reporter Bill Ladson is filling in for Matthew Leach for this edition of the Twins Beat newsletter.

FORT MYERS, Fla. – If third baseman Royce Lewis isn’t playing third base for the Twins, it is almost a certainty that he is talking to kids before the game. The smile on Lewis’ face says it all: He enjoys talking ball with children.

“I love kids. I can’t wait to have my own,” Lewis said.

But here’s a first. Whenever a child (sorry, parents, you will not get one) asks Lewis for an autograph, he obliges. In turn, however, Lewis takes off his Twins cap and has the kid give him his or her John Hancock. The children are often hesitant at first, but they gladly put a signature on the cap.

Lewis started this gesture this spring. So far, he has more than a dozen signatures, and there is room for a few more.  

“It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. I want to create memories for myself and, hopefully, for the kids, too,” Lewis said. “I want to be different. They are always asking us for stuff. When I asked them, hopefully they will remember [that I asked]. 

“I remember a bunch of things [as a kid] when I asked for a bunch of stuff from Matt Kemp or Torii Hunter. These guys stuck out to me. That’s why they are my favorite players. They made me feel like the best person in the world when, in reality, I was looking at them as the best people in the world. I respect them so much. Now, it’s a full turn of events, and I get to work out with them. It’s a cool deal. That’s why I do it.”

Once the cap is filled with signatures, Lewis might start a new collection and see where it goes.

Byron Buxton is slated to be the Twins’ primary center fielder, with Harrison Bader as the backup. But manager Rocco Baldelli said Austin Martin will get a long look there during Spring Training. 

Martin, who made his Major League debut last year, played 40 games in center and had -7 defensive runs saved there, according to the Fielding Bible. Offensively, Martin had a slash line of .253/.318/.352 in 93 games.             

“I still want to give Austin a lot of time in the outfield and, in particular, center field," Baldelli said. "I think he has real potential in the outfield to affect the game. … I want him to be a defensive star out there. I think that he has the ability to do so, and the work ethic to do so. He's going to get his opportunities."  

Bader, who swings from the right side of the plate, likely will platoon with Trevor Larnach. 

• Larnach looks to build off breakout 2024

However, Bader needs to do better against left-handers. Last year, Bader had a slash line of .204/.261/.350 against southpaws while playing for the Mets. He batted .167 overall after the All-Star break, and he ended up losing his starting job in center field to Tyrone Taylor in late September.

“When I do sit back and think about it, I think the biggest thing is the routine before the game and not overevaluate, not getting too caught up in certain results,” Bader said. “There was a stretch where I was in a slump and really didn’t dig my way out of it. That’s a mental approach, because the physical work has always been there.”

Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, “In a Sentimental Mood”

Sly & The Family Stone, “Harmony”

Bob Dylan, “Highway 61 Revisited”

Otis Redding, “Hard to Handle”

Ray Charles, “Little Darlin’”

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