Royce Lewis named as a dark horse for 2024 American League MVP

Lewis hit 15 home runs and drove in 52 RBIs in 58 games last season

Twins young phenom Royce Lewis has been named a dark horse to win the AL MVP this season by MLB.com.

The 24-year-old has still only played 70 career major league games due to injury, but showed in 2023 he has what it takes to be a star, if he can stay healthy.

Lewis slashed .309/.372/.548 while clubbing 15 homers and driving in 52 RBIs in just 58 games last season. The third baseman also hit four home runs in the Twins' six playoff games last season.

Here is what MLB.com writer Mike Petriello wrote when selecting Lewis as a dark horse candidate:

"The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 Draft, Lewis’s path has been slow not because of any questions about his talent, but because of questions about whether he could stay healthy enough to remain on the field. We still don’t know the answer to that – he’s 70 regular-season games into his career – but in 58 games last year, he mashed out a .309/.372/.548 (.921 OPS) line, then hit four homers in six postseason games.

"He’s finally got a set position (third base) and the only thing that stands between him and stardom is if he can stay healthy. That’s a huge 'if,' to be fair, but we’d rather bet on talent to stay healthy than the opposite."

https://t.co/Z3s2EpgF39's favorites for AL & NL MVP in 2024.

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— MLB (@MLB) February 9, 2024

MLB.com listed Seattle's Julio Rodriguez as their favorite to win the award followed by New York's Juan Soto, Texas' Corey Seager, New York's Aaron Judge and Baltimore's Adley Rutschman.

Joe Mauer was the last Twins player to win MVP in 2009. Only four other Twins have ever won the award: Justin Morneau (2006), Rod Carew (1977), Harmon Killebrew (1969) and Zoilo Versalles (1965).

Oct 11, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis (23) walks in the in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros during game four of the ALDS for the 2023 MLB playoffs at Target Field / © Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports