With Simeon Woods Richardson traded to Toronto earlier this month, the Minnesota Twins now have four Black players: Josh Bell, Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis and Taj Bradley. All four played in last Sunday’s win over St. Louis.
Manager Derek Shelton spoke with reporters before the game, including the MSR, in his clubhouse office, touching briefly on each of the four.
Royce Lewis is back with the parent club after a 15-day stint in St. Paul working on his batting swing and fielding skills. Since being recalled on June 6, the infielder has hit .379 with two doubles, three home runs, three walks, five RBI and four runs scored. He left town on the team’s six-game, seven-day road trip riding an eight-game on-base streak.
“I think there’s been times in the past where we’ve seen Royce get really hot, and it’s good to see,” said Shelton. “He’s got some energy … that energy is great for us.”
Shelton added, “I love the fact that he took the demotion so professionally. A lot of kids that have had success at the major league level will go down and not work and pout. He did not do that. He went down there and forced his way back to the big leagues by how hard he worked, and I think it’s a credit to him.”
After infield practice, Lewis, who is now playing first base, told the MSR, “I’m enjoying playing baseball in the big leagues. Everything’s going well.”
Dating back to April 25, Buxton has 17 home runs, a .715 slugging percentage and 103 total bases entering Sunday’s contest. “What he’s doing on the field this year has been really fun to watch,” said Shelton of Buxton, the team’s longest-tenured player. “Just seeing him grow into the man he is, the husband he is, the father he is, the person he is… it’s gratifying.”
Bradley is the Twins’ only Black pitcher. Although he didn’t factor into Sunday’s decision, he had seven strikeouts in 6.2 innings in his 13th start of the season. “We have to remember with Taj that he doesn’t have a ton of major league experience,” Shelton said of Bradley, who has only two years of MLB service.
Bradley told reporters, including the MSR, “I was more elated … attacking hitters early. I was happy.”
Finally, Bell has hit safely in 14 of his last 17 games dating back to May 28. The first baseman-DH is hitting .295 with five doubles, two home runs, a walk, 11 RBI and nine runs scored in that stretch.
“I don’t think there’s enough superlatives or good things you can say about Josh Bell as a person, as a leader, as a teammate in our clubhouse. I think what he brings on a daily basis in terms of professionalism is something that’s really important, not only for our young players but for our organization,” Shelton said.
Twins take recess
Bell, Twins Bullpen Coach LaTroy Hawkins, Coach Toby Gardenhire and teammates Pablo Lopez and Anthony Banda took part in “Play Day” at Whittier Elementary School in Minneapolis on June 1 as part of the team’s fifth annual Minnesota Twins Week of Service. The five Twins joined Whittier students on the playground for recess.
“Oh, yeah, it was cool,” said Bell. “Just hung out and had recess for three or four different grades, played kickball and fetched some balls off the tee.”
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Copyright © Charles Hallman