It’s been a rough few season for the Minnesota Twins, as they’ve piled up 90-plus losses in each of the last three since making the playoffs in the inaugural season of Target Field.
The one thing that seemed sure around the organization, was that better days were coming, with two of the top three prospects in baseball on their way in relatively quick fashion.
Tonight, we learn from the Pioneer Press that Tommy John Surgery may be on the horizon for one of those prospects, third baseman Miguel Sano.
Sano, who was shut down earlier this offseason with a strained ulner collateral ligament, seemed to be progressing well towards a spring training return to the diamond, a preseason in which it looked like he may be given the chance to win the starting third base job with the big club.
But according to the St. Paul paper, Twins general manager Terry Ryan did not rule out the massive surgery today, saying that it is the team’s hope that Sano can avoid the procedure, but that he can’t “tell you for sure” the superstar-in-the-making won’t need it.
Tommy John surgery is one of the most serious issues a baseball player can go through, with many believing the player is not back to 100 percent until the second season after the surgery.
Typical recovery time from the surgery ranges anywhere from 12 to 18 months.
Sano hit 35 home runs in 123 games between Class A Fort Myers and Class AA New Britain last season.
