Miguel Sano is a power-hitting third baseman.
photo by Mandatory credit: Brad Penner USAToday Sports
Cuts in the morning and more cuts in the afternoon for the Minnesota Twins on a busy, busy Sunday for the ball club. This morning the team sent out Max Kepler to the Lookouts, along with Jose Berrios, Byron Buxton and others who were sent to minor league camp. They added to the list after Sunday’s game, including Jorge Polanco who was sent to the Lookouts' camp
Earlier it was noted that Miguel Sano had not been sent out of major league camp but that is no longer true.
Sano has been cut and sent to the the Chattanooga Lookouts. An announcement from the Twins is expected to come -- likely on Monday.
Writer writer Mike Bernadino reported that Sano tweeted him with the news that he would start the season with the Chattanooga Lookouts. Phil Miller tweeted,
An extremely upbeat Miguel Sano just said he's being sent to minor league camp and said, "Good experience, playing with these guys."
Sano, 21, missed time due to injury last year, as he underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in March. But Sano made his return to game action against the University of Minnesota this past Wednesday night in an early Spring Training game. On Saturday, he hit a long two-run homer against the Cardinals.
Sano is ranked as the No. 2 prospect of the Twins and No. 11 MLB prospect by MLB.com.
Sano has been showing off his prodigious power during batting practice, impressing many in camp. But just as important, Twins' manager Paul Molitor is glad to see that Sano hasn't had any issues throwing during any of his defensive drills at third base.
With Trevor Plouffe the starting third baseman, general manager Terry Ryan hasn't ruled out Sano making his Major League debut late in the season.
He hit 35 home runs between Class-A Advanced Fort Myers and Double-A New Britain in 2013. With Sano's power, however, comes a lot of swings and misses. He has struck out more than 140 times in both of his years in full-season ball.
UPDATE: Twins Press Release, Monday morning
Ft. Myers, FL – The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have optioned left-handed pitcher Jason Wheeler and right-handed pitcher Lester Oliveros to Triple-A Rochester and infielder Miguel Sano to Double-A Chattanooga.
The Twins now have 45 players in camp (11 non-roster): 21 pitchers (2 non-roster), 6 catchers (3 non-roster), 10 infielders (3 non-roster) and 8 outfielders (3 non-roster).