Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: Plays hero as pinch hitter
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Lewis hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning off Alex Vesia to account for all of Arizona's offense in a 2-1 win over the Dodgers on Friday.
The 27-year-old was on the bench to begin the game with Dustin May on the mound for Los Angeles. Lewis delivered in a big way when he got a chance to pinch hit, erasing a one-run deficit with a blast to left field for his first hit as a Diamondback. He is expected to see the bulk of his action this season against left-handed pitching, but he could push his way into the regular mix at DH if he continues to come through in the clutch.
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Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: At leadoff for Arizona in opener
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Lewis will bat leadoff as the designated hitter in the Diamondbacks' season opener Thursday against the Dodgers.
Lewis was acquired via trade from the Mariners in November and made a terrific impression in Diamondbacks camp this spring, slashing .429/.529/.857 with three home runs and three doubles across 34 plate appearances. The 27-year-old could perhaps be in for a post-hype breakout if his health cooperates. He won AL Rookie of the Year honors during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.
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Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: On track for roster spot
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Lewis appears to have secured a spot on Arizona's Opening Day roster after Pavin Smith was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Sunday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Lewis put his best foot forward during spring training with three home runs and a .480/.581/.960 slash line in 31 appearances, which seems to have earned him a roster spot. The 27-year-old seems unlikely to have an everyday spot in the lineup but could see regular action against left-handed pitchers.
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Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: Looks good running
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Lewis went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in Sunday's spring game against Kansas City.
Lewis, who was delayed from playing Cactus League games while working to strengthen his legs, ran well while scoring from second base on a double to left field. "It was pretty much a full stride. He looked good. He looks like he's feeling good," manager Torey Lovullo told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Lewis is in the mix for a final bench spot with Pavin Smith considered his most likely competitor.
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Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: Strengthens roster bid
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Lewis went 2-for-2 with two doubles and three RBI in Friday's spring game against the Rockies.
Lewis leads the Diamondbacks with nine RBI in the Cactus League after getting a late start due to leg issues. He's looking to nail down a fifth outfield spot with Pavin Smith also in the mix. Each have posted results worthy of making the roster, but the decision likely comes down to which one manager Torey Lovullo thinks he'll use the most. From that perspective, Lewis' right-handed bat might give him an edge in an outfield that has three lefty-batters at the top of the depth chart.
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Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: Swats homer Tuesday
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Lewis went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's spring game against the Athletics.
Lewis made his second spring appearance at designated hitter after missing time while building up strength in his legs.
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Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: Hitless in debut
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Lewis started at designated hitter and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Sunday's spring game against Cleveland.
Lewis made his spring debut after dealing with leg issues early in camp. It sounds like the Diamondbacks gave the 27-year-old outfielder, who is coming off a variety of knee injuries the last two seasons, extra preparation more than it was Lewis experiencing anything serious. He could remain a DH-only deployment in the short term before the 2020 AL Rookie of the Year gets a look in the field. Lewis gives the Diamondbacks a right-handed bench bat amid a lefty-dominant lineup.
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Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: Making spring debut Sunday
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Lewis (leg) will make his spring training debut Sunday against Cleveland, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.
The 27-year-old will serve as the D-backs' designated hitter for his first few appearances before eventually working his way back into the outfield mix. Lewis slashed just .143/.226/.304 over 64 major-league plate appearances last season while battling injuries for most of the year, and his 2020 AL Rookie of the Year campaign is getting further in the rearview mirror.
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Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: Expected to debut this weekend
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Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Lewis (legs) is expected to make his spring training debut "by the weekend," Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.
The manager said Lewis has been dealing with leg fatigue, likely the result of numerous knee problems during his major-league career. The outfielder was the AL Rookie of the Year while with the Mariners in 2020 but has done little since.
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Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: Delayed for spring action
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Lewis is working on strengthening his legs and will be a non-participant in early spring games, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. "We have a plan and a process for him to just continue making sure that he's as game ready as possible," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.
Lewis' absence from game action was predetermined. Acquired from Seattle during the offseason, Lewis has dealt with knee problems throughout his career and managed to play in just 100 combined games over the last two years, including minor-league activity.
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Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: Reaches deal with Arizona
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Lewis agreed to a one-year, $1.61 million contract with the Diamondbacks on Friday to avoid arbitration, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
It's the first year of arbitration eligibility for Lewis, who was acquired from the Mariners in November. The 2020 AL Rookie of the Year has played in only 54 big-league games across the past two seasons and produced a .215/.301/.366 slash line during that span.
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Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: Dealt to Arizona
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Lewis was traded from the Mariners to the Diamondbacks on Thursday in exchange for Cooper Hummel, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Lewis was named the American League Rookie of the Year in 2020, but he appeared in just 54 major-league games over the last two seasons due to injuries and poor production. He slashed .215/.301/.366 with eight homers, 21 runs, 16 RBI and two stolen bases over that stretch but will now have a chance to get a fresh start with the potential to see more playing time in the big leagues with the Diamondbacks.
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Mariners' Kyle Lewis: Stays put in Triple-A
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Lewis, who owns a .290 average and .740 OPS over the first eight games of his current stint with Triple-A Tacoma, was passed over for a Sept. 1 promotion to the Mariners in favor of fellow outfielder Taylor Trammell.
Lewis was initially resistant to playing for the Rainiers once he was optioned Aug. 10 after struggling badly at the big-league level, and once he finally suited up in Tacoma, he went just 1-for-12 with six strikeouts in his first three games. While the 27-year-old has completely turned it around over his subsequent five contests -- a stretch during which he's produced three multi-hit efforts on his way to a .400/.455/.550 slash line with a home run and five RBI -- it appears Lewis will remain on the farm for the balance of the Triple-A regular season in anticipation of a fresh start in spring training with the big-league club.
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Mariners' Kyle Lewis: Struggling early at Tacoma
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Lewis owns just a .200/.231/.200 slash line and a 38.5 percent strikeout rate over the 26 plate appearances covering his first six games since being demoted to Triple-A Tacoma.
The outfielder initially resisted the demotion to the Rainiers and consequently didn't play in his first game for the team until nine days following the move, but if early returns are any indication, Lewis does indeed have some work to do before facing big-league arms again. The 27-year-old has shown some signs of coming around over the last three games by going 4-for-14 with a pair of RBI and a run in that span, yet he's still in search of his first extra-base hit since being sent down.
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Mariners' Kyle Lewis: Agrees to play at Triple-A
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Lewis, who has not played at Triple-A Tacoma since being optioned Aug. 10, is in the Rainiers' lineup as the designated hitter Friday.
This will be the first time he has been placed on the lineup card at Triple-A since his demotion, as Lewis was apparently stunned and upset by the team's decision to bump him off the 26-man roster, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. According to Divish, Lewis has been having his own rehab therapist consult with the Mariners regarding his recovery from season-ending knee surgery in 2021. However, his absence from the Triple-A lineup over the past week has been his decision, not related to injury. The 27-year-old corner outfielder/designated hitter slashed .143/.226/.304 in 18 games in the majors and the Mariners' were reportedly frustrated by Lewis' lack of availability to play the outfield, given his struggles at the plate.
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Mariners' Kyle Lewis: Bound for Triple-A
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The Mariners optioned Lewis to Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday.
Lewis will surrender his spot on the 26-man active roster to Dylan Moore (back), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and offers more versatility off the bench due to his ability to play both the infield and outfield. Upon returning from a stint on the 7-day concussion IL on July 22, Lewis managed just four hits in 41 at-bats (.098 average) with the Mariners while striking out at a 39.1 percent clip. Lewis had already moved into a bench role last weekend, when Mitch Haniger came off the IL and replaced him as a lineup regular.
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Mariners' Kyle Lewis: Losing playing time
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Lewis is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
Lewis is on the bench for the third time in four games, with his downturn in opportunities coinciding with Mitch Haniger's return from the 60-day injured list Saturday. With Haniger expected to settle into a regular role in either right field or at designated hitter, Lewis and Carlos Santana could have to vie for one spot in Seattle's everyday lineup moving forward. Santana would seem to have the upper hand on playing time over Lewis, who is 4-for-40 with 17 strikeouts in 13 games since returning following the All-Star break from his own extended stay on the IL.
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Mariners' Kyle Lewis: Sits for afternoon game
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Lewis is not in the lineup for the afternoon portion of Saturday's doubleheader against the Angels.
Lewis finds himself on the bench for the second game in a row, though his fragile health track record means the Mariners were never likely to ask him to start both halves of Saturday's twin bill. Ty France will rest his legs as the designated hitter in Lewis' absence.
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Mariners' Kyle Lewis: Sits amid slump
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Lewis is not in Friday's lineup against the Angels.
Lewis is hitting .111 with one home run, 13 strikeouts and five walks in 12 games since coming off the injured list. Adam Frazier will start in right field while Abraham Toro starts at the keystone.
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Mariners' Kyle Lewis: Slugs third homer Monday
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Lewis went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Yankees on Monday.
The struggling slugger gave fantasy managers something to celebrate with his third homer, a 387-foot shot to left in the second inning that put Seattle on the board. Lewis' only other two homers during his injury-plagued season had come in consecutive games May 27-28, and Tuesday's blast served as his first extra-base hit in the 10 games he's played since the All-Star break.
