Miguel Sano blasting homers at #MNTwins Spring Training this morning. Live coverage tonight at 5 and 6 on Fox9. pic.twitter.com/7KDUy6ewoN
— FOX 9 Sports (@Fox9Sports) March 2, 2015
Twins fans have heard about the hitting power from prospect Miguel Sano. They have heard the minor league stories, read the prospect rankings and listened to the accounts.
But now, with the 21-year-old Sano healthy and fully recovered from the Tommy John surgery that cost him last season, those who have made the journey to Ft. Myers are finally getting a chance to see it – and Sano isn’t disappointing.
Sano has been making quite the impression at Twins camp, as noted in this story from 1500 ESPN’s Derek Wetmore.
“He was taking batting practice in the first week of spring training with Kennys Vargas and Josmil Pinto on a side field at the Century Link Sports Complex. One coach behind the portable batting cage announced that each batter would get to keep swinging if he got a base hit. Fail to get a base hit and make way for the next hitter.
Sano couldn’t help himself but to show off. He hit at least four home runs in a row out to left field. Some witnesses say he hit six.”
The power numbers for Sano have been impressive since he joined the Twins organization. Sano crushed 20 home runs in fewer than 300 plate appearances in rookie ball. In 2012, he slugged 28 homers in low-A ball. Then in 2013, Sano combined to hit 35 home runs split between Ft. Myers and New Britain.
Can’t make it to Ft. Myers to see Sano’s power display? Here’s a video of Vargas, Pinto and Sano taking B-P off Twins reliever Casey Fien.
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“I just keep hearing how far balls are going,” said Twins manager Paul Molitor to the Pioneer Press. “It’s fun for people to see. I hope he’s working on his whole game.”
It’s not Sano’s bat that would keep him from making the Majors, it’s his defense. And at 262 pounds, Molitor notes that some things will be a challenge for Sano at third base.
“I was working today on the bunt defenses; he trying,” Molitor said. “There are things that are going to be a challenge for him. We’ve got to keep an eye on him. He’s a big boy. He carries it pretty well, but you’ve got to have some athleticism. He’s got to keep that.”
