Minnesota Twins' Royce Lewis Makes Jeter Tribute Against New York Yankees

Minnesota Twins' third baseman Royce Lewis returned from the injured list and paid tribute to his idol Derek Jeter during his Yankee Stadium debut. Lewis, who grew up admiring Jeter, planned to imitate Jeter's batting stance for one pitch in his first at-bat against the Yankees rookie Luis Gil. Despite a 58-game absence due to a severe quadriceps injury, Lewis was excited to be back in the lineup and show respect for Jeter, who influenced his love for the game. The 25-year-old California native was thrilled to be playing in New York City for the first time and enjoyed the experience of the concrete jungle. Lewis, a promising shortstop, has faced multiple injuries in his career but has shown immense talent and potential when healthy, impressing Twins manager Rocco Baldelli with his hitting abilities. In a corresponding move, second baseman Edouard Julien was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul to make room for Lewis on the roster, as the Twins look to continue their success in the AL Central division.