From the moment he was two, Aiden Lewis’s mother struggled to get him to take off his baseball uniform. He wore it proudly to every Little League game.
“He would argue with me about taking off his spikes,” Christina Ruiz shared.
“I even had to let him nap in them to get him to remove his shoes.”
As excitement builds around Lewis ahead of the 2026 MLB Draft set for July, it seems clear that the standout shortstop from Stony Brook School is poised for a bright future in baseball.
“It was always a dream,” Lewis stated. He’s projected as the No. 38 pick by Major League Baseball.
“Whenever I stepped on the field, I felt confident I could change the game,” added the nearly-graduating 19-year-old, who also took two extra years of eighth grade due to the pandemic.
Comfort in the Moment
Big moments and impressive figures are becoming familiar for Lewis. He’s won a gold medal with Team USA at a World Championship, was named All-World Shortstop in 2025, played with the Yankees’ area-code team, and trained alongside his mentor, Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor.
“We often discuss fielding,” Lewis mentioned regarding his time with Lindor. “Meeting your heroes is always special.”
He shares a close friendship with former teammate and University of Virginia pitcher Jaden Stroman, the son of MLB player Marcus Stroman, who moved from Stony Brook to Patchogue-Medford for high school.
“Over the years, we’ve pushed each other to become better and really learned the game side by side,” Lewis said. “It’s definitely strengthened our friendship.”
The two have been teammates and opponents since they were twelve and are eager to reunite on the college playing field, although Lewis has to wait a bit longer for his turn to shine on the big stage.
“It would be awesome. We’ve talked about it a lot,” he noted.
Returning to Roots
Baseball holds a revered place in Lewis’s family, especially in their Woodhaven, Queens home, where he enjoyed playing catch with his older brother, Daniel.
“I’ve always had a bat and glove in hand,” Lewis reflected, adding that his family is a mix of Yankees and Mets fans who simply love watching good baseball.
His father, Sam, played in the minor leagues for the White Sox during the 1980s. Daniel played at Ohio Northern University about ten years ago, while his sister Alyssa starred in high school softball. His mother has been a softball coach for many years.
Just like Daniel and Alyssa, Lewis wears the number 45 on his jersey.
Moreover, his late grandfather, Sandario, fostered a deep love for baseball in Sam and Aiden after they immigrated from Puerto Rico and settled in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
“My dad has been at every game since I was a kid,” said Sam, who also played in the Mets and Marlins systems but didn’t make it to the majors.
Sandario, who didn’t miss any of Aiden’s games, once jokingly told Sam, “You know he’s better than you, right?”
Lewis shared that losing his beloved grandfather during middle school was one of his toughest challenges. Sam expressed his disappointment that Sandario couldn’t witness Aiden’s promising journey.
Fortunately, Sam has been consistently present, continuing the family legacy as Aiden navigates his path in baseball.
“He drove up here every day this year to practice with me,” Aiden said.
“Just being on the field with my dad was something special. We spent countless hours together there,” he added, reminiscing about their time together.
The family is looking forward to what’s next and hoping for good news in July instead of waiting for Lewis to fully launch into his collegiate career.
No one shares this excitement more than Lewis’s grandmother, Hilda, Sandario’s long-time wife.
“She always said she was watching me get drafted,” Lewis recalled. “Her support keeps me motivated to work hard and compete.”
