Kyle Lewis

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Kyle Lewis

|image = Kyle Lewis 2019.jpg

|caption = Lewis with the Seattle Mariners in 2019

|team = Free agent

|number =

|position = Outfielder

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|7|13}}

|birth_place = Snellville, Georgia, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = September 10

|debutyear = 2019

|debutteam = Seattle Mariners

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2023 season

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .235

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 26

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 59

|teams =

Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2022}})
Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2023}})

|awards =

AL Rookie of the Year (2020)
Golden Spikes Award (2016)
Baseball America College Player of the Year (2016)

}}

Kyle Alexander Lewis (born July 13, 1995) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks. Prior to his MLB debut, he played college baseball for the Mercer Bears.

For his 2016 performance at Mercer, Lewis was named an All-American, Baseball America's 2016 College Player of the Year, and won the 2016 Golden Spikes Award. He was selected in the first round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft by the Seattle Mariners.

Lewis made his major league debut in September 2019, and was unanimously selected as the 2020 American League Rookie of the Year.{{cite web | last=Johns | first=Greg | title=Kyle Lewis wins 2020 AL Rookie of the Year Award | website=MLB.com | date=November 10, 2020 | url=https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/kyle-lewis-wins-2020-al-rookie-of-the-year-award | access-date=May 11, 2025}}

Amateur career

Lewis attended Shiloh High School in Snellville, Georgia. He played both baseball and basketball in high school.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballessential.com/news/2015/06/19/interview-mercers-kyle-lewis-left-basketball-baseball/|title=Mercer's Kyle Lewis left basketball behind for baseball – Baseball Essential|author=Jeff J. Snider|date=June 19, 2015|work=Baseball Essential}} He chose baseball over basketball and attended Mercer University, where he played college baseball for the Bears. As a freshman in 2014, he appeared in 42 games with 17 starts and hit .281/.340/.382 with two home runs and 17 runs batted in (RBI) over 89 at-bats.{{cite web|url=http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/archive/gwinnett-grads-shiloh-s-lewis-an-offensive-force-for-mercer/article_51b9f5af-4cd3-5753-9872-39d3816f525e.html|title=GWINNETT GRADS: Shiloh's Lewis an offensive force for Mercer baseball|author=Will Hammock|date=April 22, 2015|work=Gwinnett Daily Post}} After his freshman season he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) for the Cotuit Kettleers.{{cite web|url=http://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=700653&seasonid=28948 |title=#7 Kyle Lewis - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |access-date=September 25, 2019}} As a sophomore in 2015, he played in 54 games, hitting .367/.423/.677 with 17 home runs and 56 RBI. He was the Southern Conference Baseball Player of the Year and was the co-winner of the Gregg Olson Award, bestowed upon college baseball's breakout player of the year.{{cite web|url=http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/sports/shiloh-grad-lewis-makes-rapid-ascent-at-mercer/article_5f4e06d2-a1e4-596b-85bf-27ee254530dd.html|title=Shiloh grad Lewis makes rapid ascent at Mercer|date=March 10, 2016|work=Gwinnett Daily Post}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/archive/shiloh-grad-mercer-of-lewis-wins-gregg-olson-award/article_6f2722a9-e472-59bc-add2-e721115315b7.html|title=Shiloh grad, Mercer OF Lewis wins Gregg Olson Award|author=staff reports|date=July 2, 2015|work=Gwinnett Daily Post}} After the season, Lewis returned to the CCBL to play for the Orleans Firebirds and was named a league all-star.{{cite web|url=http://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20150702/sports/150709751|title=Cape League spotlight: Kyle Lewis, Orleans|work=capecodtimes.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://mercerbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/kyle-lewis/232|title = Kyle Lewis - Baseball}}{{cite web|url=http://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=782454&seasonid=29031 |title=#8 Kyle Lewis |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=July 20, 2021}}

As a junior at Mercer, he hit .395/.535/.731 with 20 home runs and 72 RBI, and was named an All-American by Louisville Slugger, Baseball America, the American Baseball Coaches Association, and Collegiate Baseball.{{Cite web|url=https://mercerbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/kyle-lewis/232|title = Kyle Lewis - Baseball}} Following that season, Lewis received the 2016 Golden Spikes Award, which is awarded annually to the best amateur baseball player in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/baseball/story/_/id/16659133/kyle-lewis-mercer-college-wins-golden-spikes-award|title = Mercer outfielder Lewis winner of Golden Spikes|date = July 2016}} In addition, he was the Southern Conference Baseball Player of the Year for the second straight year and was named both Baseball America{{'}}s College Player of the Year and the American Baseball Coaches Association's Division I National Player of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/college-player-of-the-year-lewis-powers-away-from-field/#41HSMlplkvsEZs7Z.97 |title=College Player Of The Year: Lewis Powers Away From Field |publisher=Baseballamerica.com |access-date=September 9, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.abca.org/ABCA/Awards/Players_of_the_Year/2016.aspx|title = 2016 ABCA Players of the Year}}

Professional career

=Minor Leagues=

The Seattle Mariners selected Lewis with the 11th overall pick in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|last=Johns |first=Greg |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mariners-select-of-kyle-lewis-in-mlb-draft-c183119784 |title=Seattle drafts Mercer OF Lewis in first round |publisher=MLB.com |date=September 3, 2019 |access-date=September 9, 2019}} He made his professional debut with the Everett AquaSox.[http://www.tri-cityherald.com/sports/mlb/tri-city-dust-devils/article84542437.html Mariners top draft pick makes pro debut at Gesa Stadium] Lewis only played 30 games for the Everett AquaSox due to a right ACL injury,{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=665152#/career/R/pitching/2016/ALL |title=Dean Kremer Stats, Highlights, Bio | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball |publisher=Milb.com |access-date=September 9, 2019}} batting .299 with three home runs and 26 RBIs. He spent 2017 with both the AZL Mariners and the Modesto Nuts, posting a combined .257 average with seven home runs and 31 RBIs in 49 games between both clubs, and 2018 with Modesto and the Arkansas Travelers, batting .244 with nine home runs and 52 RBIs in 86 games with the two teams.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=641786#/career/R/hitting/2018/ALL|title=Kyle Lewis Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=October 20, 2018}}

Lewis returned to Arkansas for the 2019 season,{{cite web|last=Weinberg |first=Becca |url=https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2019/4/5/18296261/mariners-moose-tracks-4-5-19-kyle-lewis-jacob-degrom-and-alex-morgan |title=Mariners Moose Tracks, 4/5/19: Kyle Lewis, Jacob deGrom, and Alex Morgan |publisher=Lookout Landing |date=April 5, 2019 |access-date=September 9, 2019}} hitting .263/.343/.398/.741 with 11 home runs and 62 RBI over 122 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mariners-kyle-lewis-raking-in-texas-league-playoffs/|title=Mariners' Kyle Lewis: Raking in Texas League playoffs|author=RotoWire Staff|website=CBS Sports|date=September 8, 2019|access-date=September 9, 2019}}

=Seattle Mariners=

The Mariners selected Lewis' contract and promoted him to the major leagues on September 10, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://marinersblog.mlblogs.com/mariners-select-justin-dunn-kyle-lewis-donnie-walton-and-art-warren-from-aa-arkansas-b010aae0d1a1|title=Mariners Select Justin Dunn, Kyle Lewis, Donnie Walton and Art Warren from AA Arkansas|author=MarinersPR

|website=MLB.com|date=September 10, 2019|access-date=September 10, 2019}} Lewis hit a home run off Trevor Bauer in his major league debut that night versus the Cincinnati Reds.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/kyle-lewis-hits-first-home-run|title=Lewis' 1st homer 'like an out-of-body experience'|author=Greg Johns|website=MLB.com|date=September 11, 2019|access-date=September 11, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://sports.mynorthwest.com/696786/watch-mariners-kyle-lewis-homers-mlb-debut/|title=Watch: Mariners 2016 1st-round pick Kyle Lewis homers in MLB debut|author=Brent Stecker|website=710 ESPN Seattle|date=September 10, 2019|access-date=September 11, 2019}} He hit home runs in each of his next two games as well, becoming the second player in history, after Trevor Story, to homer in each of his first three major league games.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/kyle-lewis-homers-in-each-of-first-three-games|title=Lewis leads rookie-laden lineup with third homer|website=MLB.com|date=September 13, 2019|access-date=February 7, 2020}} He finished the 2019 season with a .268/.293/.592 slash line along with 6 home runs and 13 RBIs in 71 at bats.

In 2020, Lewis became the first Mariners player to be selected for the American League Rookie of the Year award since 2001, finishing the abbreviated season with a .262/.364/.437 slash line, 11 home runs, and 28 RBIs across 206 at bats.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/kyle-lewis-wins-2020-al-rookie-of-the-year-award|title = Kyle Lewis unanimously crowned AL ROY| website=MLB.com }} He was awarded the title of American League Rookie of the Year by numerous other publications, including Sporting News.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/mlb-awards-2020-jose-abreu-kyle-lewis-jake-cronenworth/1kmlwcn6t11n816fhcg6ozrnhq|title = Sporting News 2020 MLB awards: Jose Abreu voted top player; Kyle Lewis, Jake Cronenworth take rookie honors| date=August 12, 2021 }}

On June 1, 2021, Lewis was placed on the injured list after suffering a right meniscus tear.{{Cite web |last=Zencka |first=TC |date=June 1, 2021 |title=Mariners Activate Marco Gonzales, Recall Taylor Trammell, Place Kyle Lewis On 10-Day Injured List, Option Robert Dugger |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/06/mariners-activate-marco-gonzales-recall-taylor-trammell-place-kyle-lewis-on-10-day-injured-list-option-robert-dugger.html |access-date=July 6, 2021 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} He was placed on the 60-day injured list on June 18 and subsequently missed the rest of the season.{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Steve |date=June 19, 2021 |title=Mariners Likely To Put Justin Dunn On IL, Select Vinny Nittoli |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/06/mariners-justin-dunn-injured-list-shoulder-vinny-nittoli.html |access-date=July 6, 2021 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}

Lewis went into MLB's concussion protocol after having been hit by a pitch on May 29, 2022. He returned to the active roster on July 22.[https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3452565/2022/07/22/mariners-reinstate-kyle-lewis-from-il-option-justin-upton/ "Mariners reinstate Kyle Lewis from IL, option Justin Upton,"] The Athletic (July 22, 2022). After continuing to struggle at the plate, and still dealing with issues related to his knee, Lewis was demoted to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers,Divish, Ryan. [https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/aug/18/mariners-sent-hobbling-kyle-lewis-down-to-rainiers/ "Mariners sent hobbling Kyle Lewis down to Rainiers, but he has yet to take field,"] Seattle Times (August 18, 2022). where he ended the 2022 season.

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

On November 17, 2022, the Mariners traded Lewis to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Cooper Hummel.{{cite web | url=https://sports.mynorthwest.com/1695878/mariners-trade-kyle-lewis-d-backs-cooper-hummel/ | title=Mariners trade Kyle Lewis to D-Backs for C/OF Cooper Hummel | date=November 18, 2022 }}

On January 13, 2023, Lewis agreed to a one-year, $1.61 million contract with the Diamondbacks, avoiding salary arbitration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/01/2023-mlb-arbitration-tracker.html|title=2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker|access-date=January 13, 2023|website=MLBTradeRumors}} He was non-tendered and became a free agent on November 17.