Royce Lewis homers in St. Paul

Royce Lewis returned to Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday night and homered on the first pitch he saw. Minor League Baseball posted video of the swing on X, and the St. Paul Saints’ official game story said the two-run shot came in Lewis’ first at-bat after the Minnesota Twins optioned him earlier this week. St. Paul lost 11-3 to Omaha at CHS Field, but Lewis’ swing became the immediate focus online. The result gave Lewis another headline moment in a season that has already included one earlier Saints stint during an injury rehab assignment. ### When did Lewis go back to St. Paul? The Twins optioned Lewis to Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday after a difficult start to the 2026 season. Multiple reports said the move came with Lewis batting.163 and carrying a.539 OPS through 31 major league games. KSTP reported on Thursday that Lewis was set to bat third for the Saints against Omaha. (milb.com) Thursday’s game was his first appearance for St. Paul since that demotion. The Saints’ game recap described it as his “first swing since being optioned,” tying the home run directly to his return to the affiliate. ### What exactly happened in the at-bat? Omaha took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning before Lewis came up in the bottom half. (sports.yahoo.com) The Saints’ official recap said Lewis hit a two-run homer in the first inning to put St. Paul ahead 2-1. MiLB’s video clip of the play circulated on X on Thursday evening, matching the account in the game story. (milb.com) The Pioneer Press report said Lewis finished 1-for-4. That same report said the homer was his third at Triple-A this season, and that all three of his hits at the level have been home runs. ### Why was this return getting extra attention? Lewis had already produced in St. Paul earlier this season during a rehab assignment. (milb.com) MiLB’s video archive shows he homered for the Saints on April 20, and local reports at the time said he hit home runs in consecutive rehab games before rejoining Minnesota. (twincities.com) That history helps explain why Thursday’s swing drew such a quick reaction. The latest homer fit a familiar pattern for Lewis in St. Paul: immediate impact at the plate, even as the larger question remains when he will return to the Twins and whether the reset changes his major league form. The reports on that point were framed as a reset after his early-season struggles, not as a long-term roster move. (milb.com) ### Did the homer change the game for St. Paul? Omaha still won comfortably. The Saints’ official recap said the Storm Chasers reached the leadoff hitter in six of nine innings and scored each time, finishing with 16 hits to St. Paul’s six. Lewis’ homer briefly gave the Saints the lead, but the game moved away from them after the first inning. (sports.yahoo.com) The 11-3 final left St. Paul having lost two of the first three games in the series, according to the Pioneer Press report carried by Yahoo Sports. ### What comes next for Lewis? Friday’s schedule has St. Paul hosting Omaha again at CHS Field. The Pioneer Press report listed first pitch at 6:37 p.m. (milb.com) CDT, making Lewis’ next game available immediately as he begins what the Twins hope is a productive stretch in Triple-A. (sports.yahoo.com)