Over the past two seasons, Royce Lewis has shown an uncanny knack for hitting home runs immediately after returning from the injured list. His defense, he says, requires more of a learning curve. Lewis will stick at third base this season after the Twins contemplated moving him to second base during the winter.

The 25-year-old former No. 2 overall pick is catching positive attention this spring after starting a new tradition where he asked kids for their autographs in exchange for his signature.

Rays starter Zack Littell got most of his planned work in, throwing 34 pitches over two innings. He struck out two while allowing one hit, a homer to Royce Lewis, in his spring debut. Littell was slated to face one batter in the third but was pleased with the work he was able to get in.

Royce Lewis has young fans sign his cap during Spring Training. Subscribe to MLB Morning Lineup wherever you get your podcasts

Royce Lewis — left, with Carlos Correa last week in Fort Myers, Fla. — had a miserable final month for the Twins last season, and so did the rest of his team. (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribu

Royce Lewis lines a solo home run to left field to tie the game at 1 in the top of the 2nd inning

Due to injuries, 2017 first overall pick Royce Lewis hasn’t seen the field for more than 82 games in any of his three years in the MLB, leaving people wondering what success he could have in a full season.

The Twins' young star needed a winter of quiet to get off the rollercoaster that has been his career to this point, and find his way back to himself. He's in a new frame of mind this spring.

Tuesday marked the Minnesota Twins' third exhibition game of spring training and it was a good one in terms of expected regular-season contributors slugging home runs.

Who else but Royce Lewis would hit the Twins' first home run of spring training? In the second inning of Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Lewis was all over a 1-0 pitch from Zack Littell, crushing it over the wall in left field.

Minnesota Twins Matt Wallner (38) is greeted by Royce Lewis (23) after his two-run home run in the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York

Port Charlotte, Florida, USA; Minnesota Twins third base Royce Lewis (23) celebrates with catcher Christian Vazquez (8) after hitting a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays