Twins Select Touted California Shortstop to Open MLB Draft
SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have 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 stolen bases for JSerra Catholic High School, establishing himself as a top prospect with excellent speed and a solid bat. He played both 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 medal-winning 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.