Lewis goes No. 1 overall to Twins
Prep shortstop from California hit .377 with 25 steals.
The Minnesota Twins selected California high school shortstop Royce Lewis with the No. 1 pick in the Major League Baseball draft.
The announcement Monday night at MLB Network studios marks the third time the Twins have led off the draft, and first since they took hometown high school catcher Joe Mauer in 2001.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Lewis hit .377 with four homers and 25 steals for JSerra Catholic High School, establishing himself as a top prospect with excellent speed and a solid bat. Lewis, 18, played shortstop and outfield in high school, but the Twins classified him as a shortstop when Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the selection.
Lewis was a standout on USA Baseball’s gold medalwinning Under-18 team at the Pan American Championships last year. He was also selected as this year’s National High School Coaches Association’s high school senior baseball athlete of year.
With the second pick, Cincinnati took California high school right-hander Hunter Greene. At No. 3, San Diego selected North Carolina high school left-hander MacKenzie Gore. Louisville first baseman Brendan McKay was drafted fourth by Tampa Bay.
Astros: Right-hander Lance McCullers was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a back problem. McCullers (6-1 with a 2.58 ERA) joins ace Dallas Keuchel and righthander Charlie Morton on the 10-day DL. Houston has also been without starter Collin McHugh, who is on the 60-day DL, all season.
Phillies: Infielder Cesar Hernandez was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left oblique strain. He suffered the injury making a throw Friday.
Dodgers: First baseman Adrian Gonzalez could be headed back to the disabled list after he said his back “started locking up” on him over the weekend. Gonzalez was expected to undergo an MRI examination Monday. He said he is playing with a herniated disk, and first felt discomfort Saturday. He told manager Dave Roberts about it after three hitless at-bats Sunday.
Gonzalez, 35, went on the disabled list last month for the first time in his 14-year career.
Orioles: Third baseman Manny Machado was in the lineup Monday night after missing four games because of an injured left hand and wrist. The three-time AllStar is hitting .213 with 12 homers and 27 RBIs.
Mariners: Ace Felix Hernandez made his second rehab start with TripleA Tacoma on Sunday. He retired the first 14 batters before giving up a walk and a double. Hernandez allowed just one hit and struck out five. The right-hander is expected to make one more rehab start before rejoining the Mariners.
Red Sox: TV analyst Jerry Remy said he has been diagnosed with lung cancer for a fifth time and will have surgery in two weeks. Remy, 64, plans to work up until the surgery and expects to return after the All-Star break.
Angels: Outfielder Eric Young Jr. is hitting .318 with three doubles, two homers, seven RBIs and four steals since his promotion from Triple-A Salt Lake City on May 29 when Mike Trout went on the disabled list.