Article: Miguel Sano Optioned to Ft. Myers

[Seth Stohs]

One year ago, Miguel Sano was named to his first All Star Game.

 

Today, Miguel Sano was optioned to High-A Ft. Myers in an attempt to jump-start his career.Following the Twins 3-1 loss on Thursday in Detroit, Paul Molitor announced the Jake Cave was heading to Rochester. The surprise was that Miguel Sano is being optioned to Ft. Myers.

 

It isn't a surprise that Sano is being optioned. I think many of us expected that. That he's being optioned to Ft. Myers is more telling. He almost needs to start over. The Miracle are about to go on their All-Star break, so he should be able to get down there and have a week or so before even getting into a game. He can work at their facilities, and hope that by being down several notches, he'll be able to get to fundamentals.

 

Roy Halladay is a guy who pitched in the big leagues, but when he struggled and lost his mechanics, he was optioned to A-ball. He worked on those things with a clear mind, and he came back better.

 

Since the All-Star Game last year, things have gone abruptly downhill for Sano. Late last year, he fouled a ball off of his shin. He worked to come back, but the pain was bad. He had surgery following the season to insert a titanium rod into his leg. During the holidays, allegations of abuse were made against him. A long investigation led to no suspension, but clearly that was another blow to his reputation.

 

At Ft. Myers, he will be able to work with their hitting coach, Steve Singleton, and Twins minor league hitting coordinator Rick Eckstein. Those two are very well respected hitting instructors in the system. Playing for Ramon Borrego may also be a positive.

 

There was no easy answer for how to get Sano back on track. This is what the Twins have decided is the best route. It should not be a short-term deal. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. What do you think?

 

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[Han Joelo]

Wow.  Not even sure where to post.  I'll go with the front page.  I'm still finishing up listening to the Doors' "The End/Apocalypse Now" post that Jerr (I think) made on the game thread.  Does Ft. Myers have a blue bus?

[spanman2]

He needs to get right between the ears and decide if he wants to be a ballplayer or not.  Work on your craft lose some weight and rededicate yourself.  The talent is there no doubt.  Time to get to work Miguel!

[rv78]

A move that was long overdue. Why does it take so long for this organization to make moves that are so obviously needed? Now do something about Dozier, Grossman, Morrison, Kepler, Buxton, LaMarre, Wilson and everyone else that doesn't know how to hit. WOW the offense on this team is really bad.

[PDX Twin]

It would be very interesting to know more about the human side of this. What went on with the benching and now the demotion? What has his attitude been like in the clubhouse through the slump? How did he react to the news?

 

Based on observables, he totally deserves to ride buses for a while!

[waker107]

I feel like Sano is being put down there for a few reasons:

1. General conditioning is required.  I'm sure Sano's strength hasn't been in question.  A guy of his age and ability probably lost some strength in the offseason but nothing that the weight room wouldn't bring back even with injury.  I think his issue is his playing weight has increased enough that it's affecting how he moves and can play. Not to say he won't get there, but it's different and learning to play as a larger guy after injury is a mental and physical challenge that needs to be overcome.

 

2. Overconfidence with no performance. The team/Molly is tired of some clubhouse  behavior that would otherwise be excused for a veteran or a producing young guy. Sano has always come off as a happy and boisterous guy in the public. I'm sure he is fun to have in the clubhouse.  But the clubhouse and management may not like the attitude given the performance.  Instead of a slap on the wrist, management suggested a full reset to ensure Sano earns his way through his bat and not on his past achievements.

 

3. Sano needs a break mentally.  Who knows what's going on.  Maybe Sano suggested Ft. Myers after hearing the news of being optioned.  Go back to when he was the teams #1 prospect and mashing guys 2-3 years older than him.  He has played professionally since 16 years old and competitively for his entire life.  Ft. Meyers isn't perfect, but it may give him a chance to just condition, play semi competitive (for his skill) baseball and lead him to focus and energy.  Sano CAN ball, maybe he needs to figure out how to WANT to ball.

[slash129]

He could stay down there next year too, correct? Only used the option in 2015.

[Platoon]

Who are the hitting coaches on those teams. Fort Meyers coach more respected, more fundamentalist? Otherwise the problem with this is he is going to see some very easy stuff to hit, there won't be good off speed stuff to hone that flaw in his game. Or is this more disciplinary? A wake up call? That I could see. That also explains why he didn't PH today for Cave. Although with Molitor managing its really hard to ascribe a rationale to any particular move. I still think there is way more to this than meets the eye.

[deanlambrecht]

I hope they make him earn his way back up through every level.   The guy could not be more lost and look less like a ballplayer than what he's shown us this season.

 

Edit to add:   here is mlbtr's take, which provides a little bit different/more context:   https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/06/twins-option-miguel-sano.html

[Shane Wahl]

This is a stupid, stupid, stupid move. 

[Vanimal46]

What was your favorite "Buxton/Sano Era" moment?

[Seth Stohs]

 

This is a stupid, stupid, stupid move. 

 

My personal opinion, its a wise, wise move. 

[Mike Sixel]

Still waiting for a superstar for the twins to work out.... Seems like plenty of other top prospects are, all across the league. Bummer.

[Squirrel]

This is a stupid, stupid, stupid move.

Why do you think so? I’d really like to know

[nater79a]

 

Who are the hitting coaches on those teams. Fort Meyers coach more respected, more fundamentalist? Otherwise the problem with this is he is going to see some very easy stuff to hit, there won't be good off speed stuff to hone that flaw in his game. Or is this more disciplinary? A wake up call? That I could see. That also explains why he didn't PH today for Cave. Although with Molitor managing its really hard to ascribe a rationale to any particular move. I still think there is way more to this than meets the eye.

 

In Fort Myers he'd have access to Miracle Hitting Coach Steve Singleton and Minor League Hitting Coordinator Rick Eckstein.  

[Seth Stohs]

 

Who are the hitting coaches on those teams. Fort Meyers coach more respected, more fundamentalist? Otherwise the problem with this is he is going to see some very easy stuff to hit, there won't be good off speed stuff to hone that flaw in his game. Or is this more disciplinary? A wake up call? That I could see. That also explains why he didn't PH today for Cave. Although with Molitor managing its really hard to ascribe a rationale to any particular move. I still think there is way more to this than meets the eye.

 

I added a paragraph on this. Steve Singleton is the Miracle hitting coach. he's good. I think he's' the right guy to work with him. Also, minor league hitting coordinator Rick Eckstein is probably going to be down there a lot. I think he can be helpful too.

 

I think this is a restart for Sano. The pitching may be easier, but it's not easy... and frankly, Sano needs to go down there and almost start over mechanically. 

[Shane Wahl]

I marvel at this organization. Yangervis Solarte, Aaron Hicks, and Niko Goodrum are all playing well and yet this team is playing LeMarre, Wilson, Grossman, Morrison, and Adrianza. 

Something is wrong, and I am not going to simply blame Byron Buxon and Miguel Sano about this.

[notoriousgod71]

He can be joined by about 20 other teammates as far as I'm concerned.

[John Kelsey]

 

Still waiting for a superstar for the twins to work out.... Seems like plenty of other top prospects are, all across the league. Bummer.

 

Berrios ain't bad. 

[jkcarew]

I'm sure the plan is to have him work for some period of time...probably an extended period of time...in Fort Myers.  Then, if the response and results are as hoped, he'd do some time at Rochester before he comes back.  That would be the 2018 scenario.  If the response/results are not as hoped, then all bets are off.

 

So Mauer is officially back?

[Vanimal46]

I added a paragraph on this. Steve Singleton is the Miracle hitting coach. he's good. I think he's' the right guy to work with him. Also, minor league hitting coordinator Rick Eckstein is probably going to be down there a lot. I think he can be helpful too.

 

I think this is a restart for Sano. The pitching may be easier, but it's not easy... and frankly, Sano needs to go down there and almost start over mechanically.

Obviously these things happen over the years, like Knoblauch losing all ability to throw the baseball.

 

It's still fascinating and frustrating how someone can have a mechanical breakdown like this.

 

How does this happen?

[TFRazor]

 

Who are the hitting coaches on those teams. Fort Meyers coach more respected, more fundamentalist? Otherwise the problem with this is he is going to see some very easy stuff to hit, there won't be good off speed stuff to hone that flaw in his game. Or is this more disciplinary? A wake up call? That I could see. That also explains why he didn't PH today for Cave. Although with Molitor managing its really hard to ascribe a rationale to any particular move. I still think there is way more to this than meets the eye.

 Hitting coaches: Ft. Myers is Steve Singleton. Javier Valentin for Double A. Chad Allen for Rochester. I will say that Borrego at Ft. Myers is the only Latino manager the twins have and he was the field Manager of our Dominican Academy in 2009, which if memory serves was around the time Migs was drafted. Maybe they A) think that a manager who can speak directly to him and not through an interpreter will help. Or maybe Miguel actually played for Borrego in the DR.

[nater79a]

It's Fort Myers for Sano...  I see the decision as more about treadmills and the state-of-the-art nutrition center than about baseball.  

[yarnivek1972]

Maybe this should have been done before Petit was DFA. Now the Twins have no reserve infielder until Polanco is eligible, which is still almost a month away.

 

Poor roster management.

 

Even if the Twins got an offer for Dozier, they would have to pass because they lack an infielder (they are willing) to call up.

[Blake]

My complaint lately, not aired, because, well, lazy, was that this team was trying the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.

 

This is definitely a change.

 

And I think there should be a few more players that should understand the FO isn't going to play around at the trade deadline if the team continues to under perform.

 

I would think last year should have been a warning.

[DuluthFan]

This is a welcome development. Escobar has clearly outplayed and earned the 3B spot. If a guy like Sano can't hit his home runs, he needs to at least get on base, unfortunately he hasn't been able to do that. Shuttling around Cave and LaMarr can only do so much to improve the offense this year. Looking back through the lineups clearly point to both Sano and Buxton as being the weakest links. If the team scores more runs without them, then clearly they need to work on something.

[nater79a]

 

Still waiting for a superstar for the twins to work out.... Seems like plenty of other top prospects are, all across the league. Bummer.

 

Was thinking this the past couple days too.... Acuna, Albies, Soto.  Probably Vlad Jr. too if he didn't get hurt.  Impact players immediately.   Then we have Buxton and Sano trying to find their way four years into it.

[gunnarthor]

 

Maybe this should have been done before Petit was DFA. Now the Twins have no reserve infielder until Polanco is eligible, which is still almost a month away.

Poor roster management.

Even if the Twins got an offer for Dozier, they would have to pass because they lack an infielder (they are willing) to call up.

If they trade Dozier, they'd have an open spot on the 40 man for Gordon or Petit.

[gunnarthor]

 

Was thinking this the past couple days too.... Acuna, Albies, Soto.  Probably Vlad Jr. too if he didn't get hurt.  Impact players immediately.   Then we have Buxton and Sano trying to find their way four years into it.

True, but we don't remember the big names that don't make it unless they are ours.

[gocgo]

I was encouraged by Sano taking an outside pitch to right field against Detroit.  I thought it was evidence that he was getting back on track, keeping his front shoulder closed and his nose on the ball....and then I watched his next two at bats and he looked like a 10 year old kid trying to hit the ball a mile.  His front shoulder was opened up all the way to third base and his chin was pointing towards the shortstop.  There was no chance of hitting the ball anywhere meaningful.  So, something had to be done.  I thought maybe some work in the cage with a focus on hitting to the opposite field.  Maybe putting his shirt in his mouth to keep his head still...and then it occurred to me that he is a big league hitter who should know better than to do the things that he is doing and to correct them on his own.  This is evidence that he doesn't and he's not.  Get back to hitting the ball and stop trying to kill the ball.  To me, it's that simple.