Beyond this first-round series against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Minnesota Twins seem to have a bright future with Quebec rookie Édouard Julien, but also with Royce Lewis.
“We’re just getting started, we’re young, we’re good and we’re ready for what’s next,” Julien said with his usual confidence in an interview with TVA Sports after Tuesday night’s meeting.
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For the second time in a row, Julien was in the front row of the Twins’ offensive lineup from the start on Wednesday. He also recorded his first career hit in the playoffs, a runaway single in the third inning. If the 24-year-old Quebecer is contributing to his team’s success, it was Lewis who stunned the crowd in the series’ first playoff game against the Jays by hitting a home run in each of his first two at-bats.
“This player is so incredible and I hope everyone finds out how good this guy is at baseball,” commented Julien.
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Lewis, also 24, became just the third player in Major League Baseball history to hit two home runs in as many appearances in his playoff debut, according to Elias Sport Bureau statistics. The first two were Gary Gaetti, also with the Twins, in 1987, then Evan Longoria with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008.
Twins underestimated?
The Twins’ youth and enthusiasm still make them an underrated club for the remainder of the playoffs.
“It’s certainly because we’re based in Minnesota and it’s a smaller market,” Julien explained. We have young players, a little less well-known, but we are successful. We may have fewer big names, but Royce Lewis is doing one right now.”
Édouard Julien is also starting to get people talking. Alex Kiriloff and Matt Walner are also among the most promising young talents in Minnesota.