What’s next for the Minnesota Twins and Miguel Sano?

The Minnesota Twins have surged to the highest of the American League Central this season, however one participant misplaced within the shuffle is Miguel Sanó.

It is astounding to assume {that a} participant that Sports activities Illustrated’s Albert Chen in comparison with Miguel Cabrera in 2013 would not have a job within the Twins’ success, however after finishing a rehab stint within the minors, the Twins both want to search out room for the 29-year-old or transfer on.

Sanó’s profession wasn’t alleged to be this manner. He was one of many prime worldwide free brokers when he was 16. In line with a 2015 article from The Guardian’s David Lengel, the Pittsburgh Pirates scouting workers had nicknamed him “Hanley Pujols” as a cross between All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez and future Corridor of Famer Albert Pujols.

Chen took it even additional in his article, telling a narrative the place Sanó hit eight straight house runs throughout a exercise for scouts within the Dominican Republic. The efficiency led a frenzied negotiation interval that was featured within the 2012 documentary Ballplayer: Peleroto and led Chen to match his energy to a younger Bryce Harper.

“The final teenager with this sort of uncooked energy was a sure faux-hawked bro from Las Vegas; whenever you see Sano’s swing and energy in individual, the Harper comps make sense,” Chen wrote.

Sanó instantly grew to become one of many Twins’ prime prospects and raced by the group together with Byron Buxton. He smashed 105 homers from 2010 till 2015 and ranked as excessive as sixth on Baseball America’s High 100 Prospects checklist. All of this occurred whereas lacking the 2014 season after present process Tommy John surgical procedure.

The Twins known as up Sanó in the course of the 2015 season and he lived as much as the hype. He hit 18 house runs in 80 video games throughout the second half of the 12 months and displayed a veteran eye on the plate, drawing 53 walks in 335 plate appearances (15.8% stroll fee).

Sanó’s numbers slipped the next season, however he rebounded to make his first All-Star look and completed runner-up to Aaron Choose within the House Run Derby. All the pieces gave the impression to be in place for Sanó to take off till he suffered a stress fracture in his left shin.

Since then, Sanó has been a special participant. He was despatched down in the course of the 2018 season to get again in form however he by no means regained the shape that made him seem like a future cornerstone.

Since then, there have been highs and lows. Sanó hit .199/.281/.398 throughout the 2018 season however hit 34 homers in 2019. He slugged 33 homers between the 2020 and 2021 seasons but additionally logged a 37% strikeout fee. He dropped 25 kilos final offseason and hit .093/.231/.148 within the first 17 video games this season earlier than tearing his meniscus. 

The most recent chapter has come throughout his rehab task the place he hit .348/.423/.826 with three homers throughout a rehab task with the St. Paul Saints. The saga has been complicated however much more worrisome for the Twins’ entrance workplace, who want to determine if Sanó has a spot on the roster.

A platoon of Luis Arraez, Alex Kirilloff and Jose Miranda has supplanted Sanó at first base and the designated hitter place has been reserved to both give gamers a break day within the subject or assist Buxton together with his balky knee.

The Twins might ship down Gilberto Celestino or Kyle Garlick to make room for Sanó however each have sturdy roles on the workforce and Nick Gordon is at the moment out of choices, which requires him to cross waivers earlier than being despatched to St. Paul.

After Saturday’s win over the Detroit Tigers, Twins supervisor Rocco Baldelli remained quiet on which route the Twins had been leaning.

“He type of has to come back out now and type of re-figure out and re-get his timing again,” Baldelli stated. “That is why this rehab task was so necessary. And it type of leaves us the place we’re at proper now. We have used each attainable at-bat that we might get him as a result of we all know that that is going to be necessary for him to be a superb participant.”

Regardless of which method the Twins resolve, it seems that Sanó’s days in Minnesota are numbered. The place some followers will level to Eddie Rosario’s magical October to maintain him round, others consider it is time to transfer on, making Sanó the Twins’ final enigma.