The race for the American League Rookie of the Year award is turning into a two-man race, and one of those players is helping the Twins climb back into the playoff picture.
Miguel Sano’s 12th home run of the season, a three-run shot to dead center, jump-started the Twins in an 11-7 win over the Rays Tuesday night. It was Minnesota’s fifth consecutive win.
Where would the Twins be without their prized 22-year-old rookie? Who knows, but probably not within a half game of the Rangers for the second Wild Card spot in the American League.
Sano and Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa appear to be the frontrunners to be named the league’s top rookie.
The Twins Miguel Sano has a higher Avg, OBP, and Slugging %, (and, of course, OPS) than Houston's great rookie Carlos Correa. #SanoROY
— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) August 26, 2015
CBS Sports calls Correa the frontrunner to win the award, with Sano, Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor and Toronto’s closer Roberto Osuna “in the mix.”
In 68 games, Correa is hitting .278 with 15 homers, 43 RBIs, 28 walks, 11 stolen bases and he has an OPS of .857. In 45 games, Sano is hitting .287 with 12 homers, 37 RBIs, 30 walks, 12 doubles and he has an OPS of .989.
Sano’s super high OPS doesn’t qualify among the league leaders because he hasn’t had enough at bats, but if it did, it would rank fifth behind Bryce Harper, Paul Goldschmidt, Joey Votto and Nelson Cruz.
According to ESPN, Sano has become one of three players in MLB history to rack up 12 homers and 37 RBIs in his first 45 career games before the age of 23. The other two are Albert Pujols and Hall of Fame member Orlando Cepeda.
Miguel Sano:12 HR, 37 RBI in first 45 games
Only others to do that in first 45 games, before turning 23- Orlando Cepeda, Albert Pujols
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 26, 2015
It’s no wonder Torii Hunter believes Sano has a chance to be one of the best hitters in Twins history.
Torii Hunter on Miguel Sano: He’s very polished and that’s probably why he’s going to be one of the best hitters the Twins have ever seen.”
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) August 26, 2015
Miguel Sano has homered in each of the last 4 parks he has played. Indoor, outdoor, hitters park, pitchers park – it doesn't really matter.
— Dustin Morse (@morsecode) August 26, 2015
Don't look now but Miguel Sano is climbing the ladder when it comes to the AL Rookie of the Year race. If Twins get in playoffs, he's it.
— Judd Zulgad (@jzulgad) August 25, 2015
