A persistent complaint emanating from Twins fans last year was that their team’s division title was made possible only by the weakness of the American League Central. The complaint, if strange, was also accurate — the Twins had the seventh-best record in the league, yet won their division by nine games. This season, the complaint is defunct.
The Twins trail the excellent Cleveland Guardians in the 2024 race for the division title, and on Monday began a three-game series with one of the best young teams in baseball, the Kansas City Royals, with an 8-3 victory. In the top of the first inning at Target Field, Bobby Witt, Jr., the Royals’ phenom, lined a pitch into the leftfield stands off Twins ace Pablo López.
In the bottom of the second, Royce Lewis, the Twins’ stunning young star, launched a home run deep into the leftfield stands off Royals starter Brady Singer, who entered the game with a highly impressive 3.03 ERA. I don’t ask for much from the sports world.
I work in Minnesota. I’m not allowed to expect much. Please grant one request: Give me 10 more years of this.
Ten more years of Witt’s athletic brilliance, and Lewis’ wholesome showmanship, in beautiful outdoor ballparks separated by six hours of highway driving. Witt is a speedy shortstop on his way to a batting title. Lewis is a former shortstop now anchored at third base because of the presence of Carlos Correa.
Entering the game, Witt’s OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) was .988; Lewis’ w.