Twins offer 2017 All-Star Miguel Sano reality check with demotion to Single-A
The Minnesota Twins have demoted 2017 All-Star infielder and DH Miguel Sano, but not to the usual landing spot of Triple-A – instead, he’s going all the way down to Single-A.
Miguel Sano is headed to Fort Myers. Jake Cave is headed to Rochester. Joe Mauer and another player will he added tomorrow.
— Dan Hayes (@DanHayesMLB) June 14, 2018
Sano, 25, is batting .203 with seven home runs, 27 RBI, and 66 strikeouts in 163 plate appearances. That’s a whopping 40 percent strikeout rate. In June alone, his numbers have only been worse: he went just 6 for 37 (.162) with 18 strikeouts in 40 plate appearances.
In his 2017 All-Star campaign, Sano batted .264 with 77 RBI and 28 home runs. But since the All-Star Game itself, his career has taken a major hit.
In November 2017, he had a permanent titanium rod inserted into his left shin as a result of fouling a ball off his leg months earlier, and had to take time off to recover. But when he returned for Spring Training in March 2018, Sano’s perceived lack of conditioning (read: weight gain) became a major topic of discussion. He also missed time early in the season with a hamstring injury.
Sano accepting of opportunity to improve
“We have his best interests in mind. We’re not getting what we expect from him. He’s got to go down there and get to work,” manager Paul Molitor told reporters.
Sano seems (at least publicly) at peace with the decision:
Sano: "It's a decision they took. I take it too. This is the opportunity they gave me. I know they love me here. No reason to get mad." #MNTwins
— Brian Murphy (@murphPPress) June 14, 2018
The steep demotion can be credited to multiple possible factors: either the Twins want specific coaches and developmental personnel to take a look at Sano to diagnose and correct his problems, or they wanted to send a strong message to Sano himself.
In the meantime, the Twins, who are 29-36, will likely play Eduardo Escobar (hitting .290/.340/.564 this year) at third base, with Logan Morrison and Joe Mauer (rwho will return from the DL imminently) splitting time at first base an DH.
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