Miguel Sano
photo by Tim Evearitt
OAKLAND -- Twins rookie designated hitter Miguel Sano was held out of the lineup with a sore right ankle on Sunday, and is expected to be out for at least the next three to five days with the injury.
Sano, who has been a major part of the offense since being called up on July 2, injured his ankle while taking grounders at first base during batting practice before Saturday's 3-2 loss to the A's.
Sano played in the game, going 0-for-3 with a go-ahead sacrifice fly in his final at-bat in the ninth. The injury worsened for Sano as the game went along, and he said he felt it the most while running to first base on his sacrifice fly.
He was given crutches after the game as a precaution and entered the clubhouse on crutches again on Sunday, but it was just to keep the weight off his ankle, according to Twins manager Paul Molitor, who added it was more of a rolled ankle than a sprain.
Sano said he suffered the injury while stepping on a ball at first base, as he didn't see the ball behind him after it hit off the protective screen. He said he also thinks he'll only be out for a few days, but will stay away from hitting on Sunday.
The good news for Sano is that there was only minor swelling on Sunday, and it's not severe enough for the Twins to have him undergo an MRI exam.
Molitor added that he saw Sano suffer the injury during batting practice, but didn't notice any issues with Sano during the game. It wasn't until he came off the field after his last at-bat that Sano told him his ankle was feeling worse.
Molitor also said that if Sano is only out three to five days, he'll be able to avoid the 15-day disabled list.
Byron Buxton, who along with Sano spent significant time with the Chattanooga Lookouts, remains on the 15-Day DL with a thumb injury.
--- Source: MLB.com
Manager Doug Mientkiewicz with Byron Buxton
photo by Tim Evearitt