Kyle Lewis is a professional baseball player for the Seattle Mariners. He was selected in the first round of the 2016 MLB draft and made his debut for the Mariners in 2019.
Lewis had an impressive debut season, but it was his breakout year in 2020 that really caught the attention of baseball fans and analysts.
Unfortunately, Lewis has hit a snag in his career over the past two seasons due to injuries. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at what happened to Kyle Lewis and how his recent injuries have impacted his playing time.
We will also explore his early career, breakout 2020 season, and what the future may hold for this young baseball star.
Kyle Lewis’s Early Career
Kyle Lewis was born on July 13, 1995, in Snellville, Georgia. He attended Shiloh High School in Snellville, where he played baseball and was a standout athlete.
In his senior year, Lewis hit .444 with eight home runs, 22 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. He was named Georgia’s Player of the Year and committed to play college baseball at Mercer University.
At Mercer, Lewis continued to impress, earning Southern Conference Player of the Year honors in his sophomore and junior seasons. In his junior year, he hit .395 with 20 home runs, 72 RBIs, and 48 runs scored in just 61 games.
In 2016, Lewis was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the first round of the MLB draft. He was the 11th overall pick and signed with the Mariners for a reported $3.286 million signing bonus.
After signing with the Mariners, Lewis began his professional career in the minor leagues. He played for the Everett AquaSox of the Class A Short Season Northwest League in 2016 and had a strong debut, hitting .299 with three home runs, 26 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases in just 30 games.
Lewis continued to progress through the Mariners’ minor league system, playing for the Clinton LumberKings of the Class A Midwest League in 2017 and the Modesto Nuts of the Class A-Advanced California League in 2018.
In 2019, Lewis played for the Arkansas Travelers of the Double-A Texas League before being called up to the majors in September.
Overall, Lewis’s performance in the minor leagues was impressive. He hit .263 with 29 home runs, 123 RBIs, and 34 stolen bases in 240 games over four seasons.
In September 2019, Lewis made his major league debut for the Mariners. He hit a home run in his first game and went on to hit six home runs and 13 RBIs in just 18 games. This strong debut set the stage for Lewis’s breakout 2020 season, which we’ll explore in the next section.
Kyle Lewis’s Breakout 2020 Season
Kyle Lewis’s impressive debut in 2019, where he hit six home runs and 13 RBIs in just 18 games, set the stage for his breakout 2020 season. In 2020, Lewis quickly established himself as one of the most exciting young players in baseball. Over 58 games, he hit .262 with 11 home runs, 28 RBIs, and five stolen bases.
Lewis’s 11 home runs led all American League rookies and tied for seventh overall in the league. He was also tied for the fourth-most doubles among rookies with 11. His performance was so impressive that he finished tied for 17th in MVP voting, even though he only played in about one-third of the shortened season.
Lewis’s 2020 season wasn’t just about his raw power, though. He also showed impressive plate discipline, drawing 34 walks to finish with a .364 on-base percentage.
He struck out 71 times, which is a high number, but it was a vast improvement from his 32.2% strikeout rate in his debut season.
Lewis’s 2020 performance earned him multiple accolades. He was named the American League Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and earned a spot on the MLB All-Rookie Team. He also won the Mariners’ Heart and Hustle Award and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player.
Overall, Lewis’s 2020 season showed that he has the potential to be one of the best players in baseball for years to come. Unfortunately, injuries have limited his playing time over the past two seasons, as we’ll explore in the next section.
Kyle Lewis’s Recent Injuries
Unfortunately, Kyle Lewis has been limited by injuries over the past two seasons. In 2021, Lewis suffered a right meniscus tear that sent him to the 60-day injured list.
The injury occurred during a game against the Texas Rangers in May, and Lewis was forced to undergo surgery to repair the damage. He missed over two months of the season and was limited to just 36 games, hitting .246 with two home runs and 14 RBIs.
In May 2022, Lewis suffered another injury, this time a concussion after being hit by a pitch during a game against the Houston Astros. The injury occurred when a fastball from Astros pitcher Jake Odorizzi struck Lewis in the helmet.
Lewis was removed from the game and placed on the 10-day injured list, but he was later transferred to the 60-day injured list. As of April 2023, Lewis has not returned to play and his timeline for a return is uncertain.
These injuries have significantly limited Lewis’s playing time over the past two seasons. In 2021, he missed over two months of the season due to his right meniscus tear, and in 2022, he has yet to return to play after suffering a concussion.
These injuries have prevented Lewis from building on his breakout 2020 season and developing his skills as a player. However, it’s worth noting that Lewis is still just 27 years old and has plenty of time to recover and continue his development as a player.
The Future for Kyle Lewis
The future for Kyle Lewis is somewhat uncertain, given his recent injuries. However, there is reason to believe that he can make a full recovery and continue to be a valuable player for the Seattle Mariners.
Lewis is a talented and hardworking player, and he has shown that he has the potential to be one of the best players in baseball.
Assuming that Lewis can recover from his injuries, it’s likely that he will continue to be a key player for the Mariners in the future. However, it’s possible that his playing time may be affected in the short term, especially if the Mariners want to be cautious with his recovery.
Additionally, the Mariners have a number of other talented outfielders on their roster, including Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez, who could compete for playing time with Lewis.
It’s unclear how the Mariners plan to utilize Lewis in the upcoming seasons, but it’s likely that they will continue to give him significant playing time if he is healthy.
Lewis is a versatile player who can play all three outfield positions, and he has shown that he has the ability to hit for power and get on base. If he can stay healthy, there’s no reason to believe that he won’t be a key player for the Mariners for years to come.
Overall, the future for Kyle Lewis is somewhat uncertain given his recent injuries. However, assuming that he can recover fully, there’s reason to believe that he will continue to be a valuable player for the Seattle Mariners.
It will be interesting to see how the Mariners utilize him in the upcoming seasons and how he continues to develop as a player.
Kyle Lewis’s statistics over his MLB career:
| Statistic | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games played | 18 | 58 | 36 | 18 |
| At bats | 71 | 206 | 116 | 60 |
| Hits | 20 | 54 | 27 | 14 |
| Home runs | 6 | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| RBIs | 13 | 28 | 13 | 4 |
| Batting average | .268 | .262 | .232 | .233 |
| OBP | .293 | .364 | .323 | .267 |
| Slugging percentage | .488 | .437 | .415 | .283 |
| OPS | .781 | .801 | .738 | .550 |
The table summarizes Lewis’s statistics for each year he has played in the MLB, including his games played, at bats, hits, home runs, RBIs, batting average, OBP, slugging percentage, and OPS.
The table shows that Lewis had a breakout season in 2020, but his playing time and production have been limited by injuries in 2021 and 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
What position does Kyle Lewis play?
Kyle Lewis is an outfielder who can play all three outfield positions (left, center, and right).
What was Kyle Lewis’s draft position?
Kyle Lewis was selected 11th overall by the Seattle Mariners in the 2016 MLB Draft.
Has Kyle Lewis won any awards or honors during his career?
In addition to his impressive 2020 season where he was in consideration for the AL MVP award, Kyle Lewis was also named the 2020 AL Rookie of the Year.
How old is Kyle Lewis?
As of 2023, Kyle Lewis is 27 years old.
What is Kyle Lewis’s batting stance?
Kyle Lewis is a right-handed hitter, and his batting stance is fairly upright with his hands held high above his shoulder.
Where is Kyle Lewis from?
Kyle Lewis was born and raised in Snellville, Georgia.
What is Kyle Lewis’s contract status?
As of April 2023, Kyle Lewis is still under team control with the Seattle Mariners, meaning he is not yet eligible for free agency. His current contract expires after the 2024 season.
To Recap
Kyle Lewis is a talented young outfielder who has shown that he has the potential to be one of the best players in baseball. He had a breakout 2020 season, hitting 11 home runs and finishing tied for 17th in MVP voting.
However, over the past two seasons, he has been limited by injuries, including a right meniscus tear and a concussion.
Despite these setbacks, there is reason to believe that Lewis can make a full recovery and continue to be a valuable player for the Seattle Mariners.
He is a hardworking and versatile player who can play all three outfield positions and has shown that he has the ability to hit for power and get on base.
It’s likely that the Mariners will continue to give him significant playing time in the future, assuming that he can stay healthy.
Overall, while Lewis’s recent injuries have been a setback for him and the Mariners, he still has a bright future ahead of him. He is a talented and exciting young player who has the potential to be a star in the league for years to come.
