Twins prospect Miguel Sano is on track to be a full participant during Spring Training after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
The third baseman missed the entire 2014 season after having the surgery, but he’s ready to return now.
“He’s doing pretty much everything,” Twins director of minor league operations, Brad Steil, told the Pioneer Press. “I don’t know if (trainers) are going to watch how much activity he has in the first few days; sometimes guys get in there and air it out and overdo it.”
Sano last played in an official game in October of 2013. He tore his ulnar collateral ligament while attempting to make an off-balance throw in an intra-squad game last Feb. 28.
Sano resumed throwing in July, but was held out of fall and winter leagues; he has been taking swings for months – just not at game speed.
He remains the Twins’ second highest ranked prospect, only behind Byron Buxton. But his absence did cause him to slip some in his overall prospect ranking.
Before the injury, Sano was regarded a top 10 prospect, but even afterwards he remains in the top 20.
According to Hardball Talk, the big question now is whether he’ll be able to establish himself as a third baseman over the long term. Even before he injured the elbow some questioned if Sano’s size would force him to an outfield corner spot or to first base.
Puckett’s Pond notes there will be some traffic for Sano to get around to play third base for the Twins. Trevor Plouffe is coming off his best season at third and Kennys Vargas is expected to occupy the designated hitter spot, so when Sano arrives in Minnesota is hard to say, but if all goes according to plan, it will be in 2015.
