AL DIVISION SERIES: TWINS VS ASTROS

October 10, 2023

Royce Lewis

Alex Kirilloff

Target Field

Minnesota Twins

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. Royce, how does it feel to be back at third? Are you confident in your ability to make every play, like even the tough ones?

ROYCE LEWIS: Yeah, I'm confident in any ability that I have. I just go out there with the mentality that we've got to do whatever we've got to do to win. I'm really excited to get back out there. Especially now that it's colder, I can stay warm out there too.

Q. When you guys were coming up together throughout the Minor Leagues, how much, if at all, did you talk about the possibility of playing in playoff baseball games together? What is it like to experience it together?

ALEX KIRILLOFF: Yeah, I think we talked about the future and obviously our goals growing up and coming up through the system. Obviously this is kind of a dream come true to spend the time we have together and experience the things that we've gone through. It's just been a lot of fun.

We're excited for today and the challenge ahead of us, and we're just looking forward to getting to work.

ROYCE LEWIS: I'm really excited. I love spending time with these guys. I love that we get to talk mess about fantasy football while we're playing baseball still. I love that we get to experience what it's like to be in the postseason.

I feel like this is the first of many to come for our young team. I'm just very excited. We're taking it all in. We're not taking this for granted. We're also winning and competing each and every day, which is awesome for me, just because that's our mindset, just to compete and go out there and have fun.

Q. For Royce, you mentioned third base was a Rocco decision, but when did it start -- your hamstring start feeling well enough that you thought this was a possibility you'd be able to play third?

ROYCE LEWIS: I think just in general, when you play, you have adrenaline, especially when you're at home in front of these fans. They're going crazy, and I feed off that. I loved it.

So I think it would have been fine from day one, but it's also like a thing that, between the trainers, the doctors, and Rocco and staff, they've got to sometimes help me from hurting myself.

So in a way it was smarter for me to back off. I think it was the best decision. I think we waited until ultimately I can start moving and make all the plays necessary without having to think about a hamstring or hurting myself in a sense. I think today is a great day, first day for that.

Q. Royce, would you describe the safety squeeze and whether you thought your life might end trying to score that run? The entire state of Minnesota thought we'd never see you play again on that play.

ROYCE LEWIS: Yeah, I don't get hurt every single play. It might seem like it, but I don't.

No, I think it was a good safety squeeze. I think ultimately looking back I would have probably just kept running to try to score and make the pitcher make a play.

But the way I saw it, the bunt was down and coming towards third base. From when I was younger, at a very young age, high school and even middle school, I was taught that safety squeeze is you've got to see it down to the right side so you see the pitcher's back. When you see his back, that means you can go because it's hard for him to turn to the right, make a throw to home and get you out.

So I did what I was naturally taught. But talking with coaches and stuff, I probably could have, with my speed, probably got there. I'll have to admit the hamstring did put a little -- in the back of my head, was like maybe I shouldn't run and go all out trying to score here already up five.

Q. Alex, you're limited by the roster, obviously, to first base here because there's a lot of outfielders. Are you still preparing to play the outfield, and with the injury late this year, is outfield in your future anymore? Or are you just kind of focusing on first base?

ALEX KIRILLOFF: I think versatility is important. So for me I just want to stay in that spot where I can play all three positions. I still think it would be a goal for me moving forward this off-season and the rest of this season as well is just staying active, keeping my legs loose, and going out there and shagging whenever I can.

Even though I may not be playing out there as much during the games, just still being ready for whenever that time kind of presents itself.