Twins' young slugger Lewis off and slamming
It didn't take long into spring training for Royce Lewis to remember what it feels like to hit a grand slam.
He did it four times last year. And in his first opportunity with the bases loaded in spring training, he did it again on Friday.
The 24-year-old Minnesota Twins slugger went deep in the third inning of a 5-3 win over the Boston Red Sox. Lewis' homer came off Boston minor league pitcher Jordan DiValerio on a 3-0 pitch that he decided not to let go by.
“I think these guys are just like, `What the heck, man, I don't know what's going on,'” Lewis told reporters in Fort Myers, Florida. “I said the same thing. I really don't (know). I just enjoy it. Take advantage of the opportunities when they come because they'll go away soon. You just take advantage while you get them.”
Lewis, the No. 1 overall pick out of JSerra High in 2017, has five total grand slams in the first 66 games of his major league career. He hit one early in the 2022 season before a torn ACL in his right knee that cost him almost an entire calendar year. Last year, Lewis hit four slams in just 12 plate appearances with the bases loaded, setting a new franchise record. He did it despite being limited to just 58 games and 217 at-bats.
“Well, you almost laugh to yourself a little bit that you're in the situation again,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters. “Even without the homer, you're still sitting there like, `My god, it feels like we load the bases for this guy a lot,' and he just keeps coming through, over and over again. It's a good time. It's fun. I hope we're talking about it again in April, May and June.”
Canó to play with team in Mexico
Former major league second baseman Robinson Canó has signed with the Diablos Rojos of the Mexican Baseball League, the Mexico City club announced.
The 41-year-old Canó finished with 1,306 RBIs, fourth all-time among second baseman, in a 17-year career, most of which he spent with the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners. The eighttime All-Star also played for the New York Mets and San Diego Padres and last played in the big leagues in 2022, with Atlanta.
Canó will have a chance to play against the Yankees, who are set to play two exhibition games against the Diablos Rojos (Red Devils) in Mexico City on March 2425. The Dominican native played his first nine seasons for the Yankees was part of their most recent World Series-winning
team in 2009.
The Diablos Rojos are the winningest team in Mexican baseball with 17 titles.
Canó played the 2023-24 season with Estrellas Orientales in the Dominican Republic.
Mariners get good news on Brash
Seattle Mariners top reliever Matt Brash is not expected to need surgery after having inflammation in his right elbow. General manager Justin Hollander said that after several exams, Brash was told he could resume throwing next week. He will still need a full build-up and won't be ready for the start of the season.
Brash appeared in a big league-high 78 games last season and had a 3.06 ERA with 107 strikeouts in just 70 2/3 innings.
Veteran catcher Mejia inks deal with Rays
Catcher Francisco Mejia has agreed to a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Mejia, who was released by the Angels last week, hit .227 with five home runs and 19 RBIs in 50 games with the Rays last season.
The 28-year-old is a .239 career hitter with 29 homers and 118 RBIs over portions of seven seasons with Cleveland, San Diego and Tampa Bay.