Article: Miguel Sano Promoted to Triple-A Rochester

[Cody Christie]

Miguel Sano’s time in Fort Myers is over and he is being promoted directly to Triple-A Rochester. Sano had left the Miracle to tend to some family matters in the Dominican Republic. After returning to the United States, Sano was informed of his promotion.

 

It’s looking like his chances of returning to the big league level this season are on the rise.Sano’s time in a Miracle jersey is over.

In 19 games with the Miracle, Sano hit .328/.442/.453 with two home runs and two doubles. He posted a 21 to 13 strike out to walk ratio. Sano played 10 games at third base and nine games as the designated hitter. He committed one error in 23 chances at third.

 

His time at the big league level this year had been a mess. He was struggling at the plate by hitting .203/.270/.405 with a 66 to 14 strikeout to walk ratio. He had more than twice as many strikeouts as hits.

 

At the time of his demotion, Derek Falvey said the team wasn’t “going to follow the traditional view.” He went on to say, “We wanted to take a step back and blank canvas this a bit and say, ‘What do we think the best next steps are for him?’… We can do a lot of things with the facility we have here, around strength and conditioning and the work you can do from that side.”

 

Step 1 in the process was to head to Fort Myers and restart his once promising career. From there, Step 2 is to head to Rochester and show he is ready to start transitioning to the big league level.

 

What are your thoughts on Sano’s promotion? Will he make it back to the big league level this year? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

 

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[jkcarew]

Ironic.  Just today I had expressed the opinion that I wanted the Twins to be ultra conservative with Sano and make sure they take all time needed to ingrain new behaviors whether they be in game or preparation/conditioning.

 

I'm very happy that he's making good progress.  I just hope this isn't premature, and based on some short-sited urgency regarding the notion of getting back into it in 2018.  

[Thrylos]

 

 

 

Will he make it back to the big league level this year?

 

I will be surprised if he is not with the Twins as soon as the first of Dozier or Escobar get dealt.   10 days max.  Last thing you want is Sano around Rochester Garbage Plates.

Edited July 20, 2018 by Thrylos

[gman]

I agree that a 2018 return to Minnesota shouldn't be a major concern.  To me everything should be geared towards a productive 2019. Sano was having difficulty with sliders when he went down and I do think that Triple A pitchers have better breaking pitches and thus will provide a bigger challenge. 

[jkcarew]

 

I will be surprised if he is not with the Twins as soon as the first of Dozier or Escobar get dealt.   10 days max.  Last thing you want is Sano around Rochester Garbage Plates.

I do suppose you start running out of currently available and viable options...especially if both were to be moved.

[tvagle]

Sano and Buxton (if they are back for the stretch run) help counter-act the Hand acquisition by the Indians and any other LH pitching they face

 

 

[twins_89]

I'm hoping to see both Buxton and Sano back with the Twins for the last 50 or so games (back up shortly after the trade deadline). I'm also hoping that the time in the minors gets them both on track so that they can build some momentum going into the off-season.

[Vanimal46]

Ironic. Just today I had expressed the opinion that I wanted the Twins to be ultra conservative with Sano and make sure they take all time needed to ingrain new behaviors whether they be in game or preparation/conditioning.

 

I'm very happy that he's making good progress. I just hope this isn't premature, and based on some short-sited urgency regarding the notion of getting back into it in 2018.

That's my concern as well. Frankly I wasn't sure if he should be back in Minnesota anytime this season. It's encouraging that he's lost 20 lbs but I'm hoping for significant weight loss like Kyle Schwarber did last offseason.

[USAFChief]

 

Sano and Buxton (if they are back for the stretch run) help counter-act the Hand acquisition by the Indians and any other LH pitching they face

"It's just like making a trade"

 

an oldie but a goodie

[Mike Sixel]

Kind of surprised, actually. I am encouraged.

[Puckett34]

Feels premature.     The numbers look good, but do they mean anything?      I guess I was resigned to maybe seeing both Buxton and Sano in September, but no sooner.       Did not expect to see either of them at all until 2019.

[Tom Froemming]

I guessed he was going to be back July 5, but I think the Twins falling so far behind may have given them less incentive to speed things along. They were four games back of Cleveland when he went down, but then were 11.5 back on the fifth.

 

Obviously I was wrong, but it never made sense to me to keep him down for an extended period if he was healthy. Establishing some new habits/routines shouldn't take months.

[Brandon]

If the Twins gain a game or two by the deadline and Sano is able to come up, maybe we buy a C or bench player and go for it. That would be more fun then giving up on this season.

 

If we fall back to 10 games it wont matter....

[twinsnorth49]

Sano and Buxton back up Aug 3 for the KC series.

 

My bet.

[Thrylos]

 

If the Twins gain a game or two by the deadline and Sano is able to come up, maybe we buy a C or bench player and go for it. That would be more fun then giving up on this season.

If we fall back to 10 games it wont matter....

 

It will matter if they do not get anything for Dozier, Escobar, Lynn, Santana, Rodney, Duke, et al.  At this point even if they make the post-season, there is no way they get past two of the Yankees, Red Sox, and Astros.

 

Enough with the one and outs and the almost good enoughs.  Had enough of those the previous decade.

 

 

About time to start thinking about having a really competitive team in 2019, get 4-5 new players and play players who are about to depart as MiLB like Vargas and Stewart to see if they can be counted as part of the future. Would suck to give up on a fourth overall pick and go some place else and flourish, while wasting MLB innings for the likes of Matt Belisle.

Edited July 20, 2018 by Thrylos

[jimbo92107]

If that photo is recent, then I have no worries. All of Miguel Sano's baseball problems stem from his conditioning problems. If he minds his diet and conditioning, there is nothing else stopping him from becoming a perennial all-star.

 

Full Stop. Reply to All. Press Send. Pack all my stuff, accompany Security to the front door. Get in car, drive away.

Edited July 20, 2018 by jimbo92107

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

. I'm also hoping that the time in the minors gets them both on track so that they can build some momentum going into the off-season.

I hope they can build some momentum going into the 2018 post-season.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

Feels premature.     The numbers look good, but do they mean anything?      I guess I was resigned to maybe seeing both Buxton and Sano in September, but no sooner.       Did not expect to see either of them at all until 2019.

I have to trust the powers that be regarding whether Sano is ready to try again. If a demotion from the major leagues to class A ball does not get Sano's attention, then what will? Everybody falls down some in life...it's how you get back up that counts.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

I guessed he was going to be back July 5, but I think the Twins falling so far behind may have given them less incentive to speed things along. They were four games back of Cleveland when he went down, but then were 11.5 back on the fifth.

 

Obviously I was wrong, but it never made sense to me to keep him down for an extended period if he was healthy. Establishing some new habits/routines shouldn't take months.

It took the US Army 8 weeks to change me from a carefree college boy to a lean, mean, green, killing machine. Seriously. 1967.

[Shaitan]

 

I will be surprised if he is not with the Twins as soon as the first of Dozier or Escobar get dealt.   10 days max.  Last thing you want is Sano around Rochester Garbage Plates.

 

I suspect that's the idea. Get him acclimated to the road lifestyle and, um, resisting temptation or whatever in a less structured environment.

[joeshmoe]

If we have Taylor Motter on the major league club what are we doing with Sano in AAA?

I understand having to reset Sano but really, if Taylor Motter is our “depth” then we have no depth. Let’s get the best players to the big league team.

[NewClearHarley]

 

If we have Taylor Motter on the major league club what are we doing with Sano in AAA?
I understand having to reset Sano but really, if Taylor Motter is our “depth” then we have no depth. Let’s get the best players to the big league team.

I generally agree with this statement but coming out of the ASB the only reason Motter was called up was to offer another bench body for the couple days till the Twins activate Santana to start. Sano needs at least a couple games at AAA to confirm his ability to deal with off-speed pitches. If he fares well this weekend, I expect him to be called up early next week. By then, Motter will likely be sent down or DFA'ed.

[yarnivek1972]

I suspect part of the Taylor Motter transaction was to make room for Sano on Rochester’s roster as well. Although, to say minor league rosters are flexible compared with the ones at the MLB level is a big understatement.

[nater79a]

 

I do suppose you start running out of currently available and viable options...especially if both were to be moved.

 

Oh ye of little faith in Gregorio Petit and Taylor Motter!

[Riverbrian]

 

Last thing you want is Sano around Rochester Garbage Plates.

 

I'm trying to restore my faith in humanity and sentences like this... just plain make it harder for me to do so.  

 

This is a Cheap Shot

 

 

 

 

 

[Thrylos]

 

I'm trying to restore my faith in humanity and sentences like this... just plain make it harder for me to do so.  

 

This is a Cheap Shot

 

Cheap Shot indeed.  Intended towards the Twins' AAA team and their marketing practices, and not Sano.

Edited July 21, 2018 by Thrylos

[Riverbrian]

 

Cheap Shot indeed.  Intended towards the Twins' AAA team and their marketing practices, and not Sano.

 

Then I retract my complete contempt and replace it with a disapproving head shake because you surely know how every Sano thread is derailed by such things. 

 

 

[Thrylos]

 

Then I retract my complete contempt and replace it with a disapproving head shake because you surely know how every Sano thread is derailed by such things. 

 

Agreed.

 

Fact: He lost 20 lbs in a month at Fort Myers working his ass off.

 

Haters will hate.

[DocBauer]

I guessed he was going to be back July 5, but I think the Twins falling so far behind may have given them less incentive to speed things along. They were four games back of Cleveland when he went down, but then were 11.5 back on the fifth.

 

Obviously I was wrong, but it never made sense to me to keep him down for an extended period if he was healthy. Establishing some new habits/routines shouldn't take months.

 

Tom, going to have to disagree with you somewhat here. This "re-set" for Sano was for his good, and the good of the franchise. The Twins, rather publicly, stated as much and stated it was not a punishment issue. One can only assume they took care and diligence to lay this all out for Sano as well. Now, only those closest to the situation truly understand what has been taking place, what they see daily in this process. What is most important is the future of Sano, for himself, as well as the organization. Despite some rather glowing reports of attitude and weight loss, etc, I have to ask, was this enough time to truly establish what was intended? He took a few days off, which is fine. Personally, I would have brought him right back to Ft Myers for another week or so to get back in to his routine and then promoted him.

 

Of course, none of us are as close to the situation as the organization is. But I have to disagree about "months" to change habits. This was a fairly major challenge, albeit, one he seems to have embraced. Hopefully his dedication going forward is real and honest. Hopefully, the Twins will continue to work with him the rest of the season and the off season. But I would have fully embraced another week upon his return before promotion.

[jokin]

Tom, going to have to disagree with you somewhat here. This "re-set" for Sano was for his good, and the good of the franchise. The Twins, rather publicly, stated as much and stated it was not a punishment issue. One can only assume they took care and diligence to lay this all out for Sano as well. Now, only those closest to the situation truly understand what has been taking place, what they see daily in this process. What is most important is the future of Sano, for himself, as well as the organization. Despite some rather glowing reports of attitude and weight loss, etc, I have to ask, was this enough time to truly establish what was intended? He took a few days off, which is fine. Personally, I would have brought him right back to Ft Myers for another week or so to get back in to his routine and then promoted him.

 

Of course, none of us are as close to the situation as the organization is. But I have to disagree about "months" to change habits. This was a fairly major challenge, albeit, one he seems to have embraced. Hopefully his dedication going forward is real and honest. Hopefully, the Twins will continue to work with him the rest of the season and the off season. But I would have fully embraced another week upon his return before promotion.

 

I suspect that there is some temptation in moving things along and having Sano more ready to jump into the lineup to deal with the potentially imminent loss of Escobar and/or Dozier. The front office still has tickets to sell... and having the likes of Motter and Adrianza rounding out the infield going into August isn't going to turn the turnstiles too much.