The highly anticipated Major League Baseball debuts of third baseman Miguel Sano, outfielder Byron Buxton and right-hander Alex Meyer may not come on Opening Day this spring, but they’ll have a chance to compete for a spot on the Minnesota Twins roster.
All three prospects were invited to Spring Training, according to the Star Tribune. The chances of any of them making the team may, however, be a long shot.
“Well, some guys are more realistic than others,” Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said. “Buxton was in A-ball last year, so it would be very difficult [to make the team]. “Meyer, he’s quite a bit more advanced. He pitched well in the Arizona Fall League, he’s been in camp before, and he deserves to get a real close look.”
Baseball America ranks Buxton and Sano the first and third best players in all of minor league baseball.
Buxton was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s the top prospect in baseball because he has a rare blend of speed and power. MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo describes Buxton like this:
His speed is his best present tool and that will help him be a threat on the bases and play a very good center field. He has plenty of bat speed and while his power isn’t going to show up just yet, most feel he’ll grow into it as he develops. More than anything, he just needs to go out and play, so he can learn how to use his tremendous tools consistently on the field.
Buxton’s professional career got off to a fast start last summer as he hit .334 with 12 home runs, 19 doubles 18 triples, 55 stolen bases and 77 RBI in 125 games between low Class A Cedar Rapids and high Class A Fort Myers. His numbers were so impressive that he earned Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year, according to FOX Sports North.
Sano hit 35 home runs between Class A and Double-A last year. His 28 home runs led the Midwest League, according to SB Nation.
Meyer was acquired in the trade that sent former Twins outfielder Denard Span to the Washington Nationals. 1500 ESPN says he has “top of the rotation upside.”
Twins Spring Training starts in approximately five weeks.
