In a season opener filled with excitement and anticipation, unfortunate injuries have taken the spotlight. The Minnesota Twins started the game strong, taking an early lead against the Kansas City Royals with a home run by promising young star Royce Lewis. However, Lewis' day quickly took a turn for the worse as he suffered a quadriceps injury while running the bases, forcing him to leave the game. The Twins announced that Lewis underwent an MRI last night to assess the extent of the injury.

Lewis, a former No. 1 overall pick, has shown tremendous potential at the plate, boasting an impressive .313/.369/.564 batting line in his limited career appearances. However, injuries have plagued him throughout his young career, including two torn ACLs and stints on the injured list for oblique and hamstring strains. The latest quad injury adds to the list of setbacks that have hindered his development as a budding superstar.

Meanwhile, the Twins' top prospect, Brooks Lee, will not be able to replace Lewis if he requires a stint on the injured list. Lee, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2022 draft, is currently dealing with a back injury and is expected to be out for about three to four weeks, according to Triple-A skipper Toby Gardenhire.

The injury concerns extended beyond the Twins, with right fielder Max Kepler also suffering a scare during the game. Kepler exited the game after fouling a ball off his leg, but fortunately, X-rays came back negative, indicating no structural damage.

In other injury news around the league, the Arizona Diamondbacks experienced a blow during spring training when left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez suffered a lat strain. Rodriguez, who signed a four-year, $80 million deal over the winter, is currently without a definitive timetable for his return. Manager Torey Lovullo mentioned that Rodriguez could resume mound work in about five days, but sources suggest he may be out for a month.

The Los Angeles Dodgers received mixed injury updates from skipper Dave Roberts. While pitchers Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw are ahead of schedule in their recoveries, right-handers Brusdar Graterol and Blake Treinen face longer odds. Graterol dealt with hip and shoulder troubles during camp, while Treinen suffered a bruised lung after being hit by a comeback line drive. Both pitchers are still in the early stages of their rehab process and remain a considerable distance away from returning.

Lastly, the San Francisco Giants faced their own injury scare as right-hander Luke Jackson left last night's game with a back injury. Jackson, who underwent an MRI, will undergo further evaluation to determine the severity of the injury. Last year, he missed a month with a back strain, but initial reports suggest that this injury may not be as severe.

These early-season injuries serve as a somber reminder of the physical toll that baseball can take on players. As teams navigate through the challenges of the long season, they will have to rely on depth and adaptability to overcome these setbacks. As for Lewis and the others, their recoveries will be closely monitored, with hopes that they can regain health and contribute to their respective teams in due time.