Miguel Sano

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #2 prospect in 2015
  Signed out of the Dominican Republic for $3.15 million, the fifthhighest bonus in Twins history, Sano weathered a lengthy pre-signing ordeal that included an age dispute. He rocketed to the top spot on the Twins' prospect list after 2012 before stepping aside for Byron Buxton in 2013. He had Tommy John surgery in mid-March 2014, wiping out his first big league spring training as well as his entire season. Blessed with scale-busting power and an advanced understanding at the plate, Sano now is a year removed from a 35-homer season that ranked him fourth in the minors. His surgery didn't entirely come as a surprise after he missed all but two games last winter in the Dominican League with soreness in his throwing elbow. A below-average runner, he used the down time to continue shedding fat and improving his all-around athleticism. The Twins still hope to keep him at third base, though his throwing accuracy was an issue even before surgery. Even with incumbent third baseman Trevor Plouffe coming off surgery to repair a fractured left forearm and in line for another hefty raise via arbitration, Sano likely must wait another half-season or so before taking over the hot corner for the Twins. Adding him to the 40-man roster will finally be a necessity this November.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #2 prospect in 2014
  How many athletes have starring roles in not one but two documentaries by age 20? That's life for Sano, who signed for $3.15 million after a long ordeal that included an age dispute, bone-density scans and sour grapes from some of the teams that fell short in the bidding. He quickly rose to No. 1 on the Twins prospect list after 2012 before ceding the top spot to Byron Buxton, whom he joined at the Futures Game in 2013. Sano was benched for four games last July by Double-A New Britain manager Jeff Smith following a 29-second home run trot against former teammate Bobby Lanigan. The report on Sano starts with the power, which earned him best power prospect in both the Florida State and Eastern leagues. He crushed a combined 35 homers in 2013, fourth-most in the minors. He also hit .330 in the FSL, where rival managers voted him best batting prospect and most exciting player. Sano's average dropped off after he was promoted to the EL on June 10, but his power played against better competition. Defensively, he worked with Hall of Famer Paul Molitor, the Twins' roving infield instructor, to improve his footwork and hands, which still need polishing. He has a plus arm and made progress in 2013, committing 23 errors and nearly halving his total in 2012. He's a below-average runner. Sano was shelved after two games in the Dominican League with a strained throwing elbow. That could cost him momentum as he heads into 2014, when he figures to open at Triple-A Rochester, but shouldn't slow his fast path to Minnesota.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #1 prospect in 2013
  Whether Sano is actually 19 or not almost seems immaterial at this point. The Twins signed him to a $3.15 million bonus (their largest ever for an international player) after a lengthy Major League Baseball investigation process, which confirmed his identity but not necessarily his age. Sano has been under the microscope for years. Already part of one documentary, the Bobby Valentine-produced "Pelotero" that began filming him at age 15, Sano now is involved in the follow-up. He has thrived in pro ball, ranking as the No. 2 prospect in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, No. 1 in the Rookie-level Appalachian League and No. 2 in the low Class A Midwest League the last three seasons. He led the MWL in homers (28), RBIs (100), total bases (238) and extra-base hits (60) while ranking second in walks (80) and third in slugging (.521). Sano has enough juice to earn comparisons to Giancarlo Stanton, the only righthanded hitter in the game who matches his 80 raw power on the 20-80 scouting scale. He's strong enough to hit the ball out to any part of any park and he uses his lower half well. Minnesota envisions him as a future cleanup hitter thanks to his present power, improved patience and pitch recognition. Sano is learning to lay off breaking balls out of the strike zone and pound pitches in his hitting zone. When he slows the game down, he keeps his fast hands back and waits on pitches. He made adjustments as 2012 went on, pulling out of a June swoon to hit .291/.398/.564 in his final 51 games. His bat attracts attention, but his glove does as well, usually for the wrong reasons. His defensive ability and where he'll play are the biggest questions facing Sano, who is large but moves well for his size. He has easy arm strength for third base, earning some 80 grades, and his errors come more frequently from lack of focus than ability. He made 42 miscues in 2012, the fourth-highest total in the minors. He did improve defensively as the year progressed, developing better instincts as he got more reps at third base after primarily playing shortstop in the past. Sano's hands remain hard, though, and he'll have to improve his footwork to get better hops and make more accurate throws. He's a below-average runner out of the box who's closer to average once he's underway. In addition to his playing ability, he also excites the Twins by showing leadership skills, even throwing in a dugout speech or two in his second language. With continued maturity and repetitions at third, Sano should be able to stay on the dirt. He is headed for high Class A Fort Myers in 2013, and the Twins believe their step-by-step approach will serve him well as he learns to become more consistent. He should reach Minnesota by 2015.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #1 prospect in 2012
  The Twins built their success in the last decade mostly on the draft and astute acquisitions, with few homegrown contributors from Latin America. Minnesota has struggled to land talent from the Dominican Republic but went all-in in 2009 when Sano came on the open market. Twins scout John Wilson was so overwhelmed while watching him take batting practice, he filmed the session on his phone's camera. Wilson played it for club officials back in Minneapolis and said, "I don't care how old this guy is, we've got to get him." Sano was regarded as the top talent in a 2009 international class that also included Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez and Rangers shortstop Jurickson Profar. It took a lengthy investigation process as well as a bidding war with the Pirates before the Twins snared Sano with a $3.15 million bonus. He spent his first full year in the United States in 2011, ranking as the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie level Appalachian League and finishing second to teammate Eddie Rosario with 20 homers. Scouts inside and outside the organization love Sano's easy power. Elizabethton manager Ray Smith, who has been in the Appy League for more than 20 years, says the only players who have come through the circuit and produced similar sound off their bat to Sano are Josh Hamilton and Joe Mauer. A physical specimen, Sano already has added 40 pounds since signing and may not be done growing. He drives balls to all fields effortlessly, incorporating his strong lower half into his swing. Sano regularly expanded his strike zone at the start of the summer, then adjusted. He improved his weight shift and began staying back and trusting his hands. He led the Appy League with 45 extra-base hits, with six of his final 10 homers coming to center field or right. Sano won't stay at shortstop. At 232 pounds, he has outgrown the position and will have to work to maintain his agility to remain at third base. He has a strong arm and sure hands, though sloppy footwork and inexperience at third base led to 15 errors in just 48 games. Minnesota doesn't intend to move him off third base any time soon, but an eventual shift to an outfield corner is possible. If he keeps getting bigger and loses his presently fringy speed, he might have to move to first base. Sano is ready for his fullseason closeup at low Class A Beloit. The Twins usually try to take it slow with their prospects, but he could be an exception if he improves his pitch recognition and cuts down on his strikeouts. He has the highest ceiling of any Minnesota prospect since Joe Mauer and could be in the Twin Cities by 2014, allowing him two full seasons in the minors. Sano profiles as at least a 30-homer threat at third base, a luxury the Twins haven't had since Gary Gaetti's heyday in the late 1980s.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #3 prospect in 2011
  The Twins have dedicated more time, energy and money to signing players out of the Dominican Republic in recent years, and Sano is the crown jewel of those efforts. They spent $3.15 million on him in 2009 after sweating out a thorough MLB investigation into his age. Sano already has grown significantly since the Twins signed him, from 195 to 230 pounds. He has prodigious tools to go with his size, starting with ferocious raw power. The strength, bat speed, swing path and leverage are all there for him to hit 30 homers once he refines his approach and learns to recognize pitches. Like many young hitters, he sometimes struggles with spin, but he also shows encouraging opposite-field power. Though he split time between shortstop and third base in his 2010 pro debut, his range fits much better at the hot corner, where he shows solid hands and feet and plenty of arm strength. He projects as a below-average runner. Sano's future is tied up with how big he gets. If he doesn't grow much more, he should be able to hold down third base or an outfield corner. Even if he outgrows those spots, he could have enough bat for first base. Headed for Rookie-level Elizabethton in 2011, he has the higher offensive ceiling among Twins farmhands.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #4 prospect in 2010
  Sano was the consensus top prospect available in the international amateur signing period last summer. While the Pirates were considered the leader to sign him for most of the summer, the Twins landed him for $3.15 million in September. It was the second-largest bonus in franchise history, trailing only Joe Mauer's $5.15 million as the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2001. Sano's tools fit perfectly with the profile major league clubs look for at third base. He's a physical, aggressive hitter who should hit for average and power. He has thunder in his hands and forearms and could hit 30 homers annually down the line. His arm strength is well above-average, and he has the hands to stay in the infield. Sano is already too big for shortstop, and it's possible he could outgrow the infield altogether and end up in right field. He has no obvious physical limitations, so he'll just have to prove that his obvious tools will play against pro competition. The last significant hurdle for Sano was to get his work visa, which he did in December. After getting the stamp of approval from Major League Baseball's investigations unit, he's cleared to play. The Twins like to handle prospects conservatively and likely will keep him in extended spring training before starting his career in Rookie ball.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Southern League #1 prospect in 2015
  Sano spent the second half of 2015 in Minnesota, helping the Twins in their pursuit of an American League wild card, but he began the season in a very different place. The hulking third baseman missed the entire 2014 season, plus winter ball in the Dominican Republic, as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, then he hit just .159 for Chattanooga in April as he shook off the rust. Sano picked up the pace in May, improving his timing and approach at the plate, and he proceeded to hit 33 home runs on the season, including his time in the majors. In fact, his 15 home runs (in 66 games) for the Lookouts were enough to rank third in the SL. Sano swings and misses excessively--his major league strikeout rate tipped the scales at more than 35 percent--though he has an idea of how pitchers attack him and takes his share of walks, so becoming an average hitter isn't out of the question. SL observers raved about Sano's "unreal" makeup and enthusiasm for the game. According to his manager Doug Mientkiewicz: "He holds his teammates accountable."" Still, the slugger has limitations. He's a below-average defender at third base who, despite a cannon arm, lacks lateral agility and balance, owing in part to a bulky 260-pound frame that appears larger than a season ago. Thus, the Twins played Sano at DH nearly 90 percent of the time.
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  Ranked Florida State League #2 prospect in 2013
  Sano seemed to be cruising to No. 1 prospect status until Buxton showed up, 15 days after Sano played his last FSL game. The third baseman helped Fort Myers get off to a 12-0 start with five home runs in that span, and he never really stopped hitting. Any evaluation of Sano starts with 80-grade raw power. While his strikeout rate remained just north of 25 percent, he punishes the ball when he does make contact. Two scouts compared Sano?s offensive package to Adrian Beltre, from his swing path to his finish, and both said Sano had as much or more offensive potential than Beltre. He?s no Beltre defensively, but Sano moves well for his size and has an exceptional throwing arm. He played a bit deeper this year, giving him more time to react, and showed improved defensive efficiency. He?ll have to continue to improve to stay at third long-term, but his bat would play even if he moves to first base.
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  Ranked Eastern League #2 prospect in 2013
  When you?re 20 years old and have two documentaries devoted to you, there?s a good chance your future is pretty darned bright. Such is the case with Sano, who boasts 80 raw power and a 70 arm at the hot corner. More than the arm, Sano showcases strong athleticism and solid reactions at third base, though his footwork could use a little polishing before the Twins are ready to pull back the curtain on one of their most prized assets. Scouts praise Sano?s approach at the plate, including his improved?though not perfect?plate discipline. Combine that with his top-shelf bat speed and sculpted frame, and he could be a player who hits between .275 and .300 with 30-plus homers a year. Some league observers have questions about Sano?s makeup, especially after the Rock Cats sat him down for a few games after he styled on a home run late in the season. The concern is minor and, based on anecdotal evidence, he has learned from his showboating ways. ?I think he hit three home runs against us,? Binghamton manager Pedro Lopez said, ?and on none of them he showed anybody up.?
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  Ranked Midwest League #2 prospect in 2012
  Pelotero, a movie documenting Sano's signing for $3.15 million, drew critical acclaim when it came out in July. By that time, he long ago had received two thumbs up in the MWL. He homered three times in his first four games and went on to top the league in homers (28), RBIs (100), extra-base hits (60), total bases (238) and rank second in walks (80). Capable of driving the ball out of any part of any ballpark, Sano has 80 power on the 20-80 scouting scale and a selective approach that should allow him to hit for average as well. Already huge as a teenager, he moves well for his size and has a cannon arm. His hands and instincts are nothing special at third base and he made 42 errors in 125 games, so he may wind up in right field, where he'd have the upside of a Giancarlo Stanton. "I like him better than all the power guys who have come through the Midwest League," the AL scout said. "He's not as good a hitter as Carlos Gonzalez or Justin Morneau was, but he's every bit as good a prospect as they were. He's much more athletic than I thought."
• 
  Ranked American League #1 prospect in 2011
  The Twins signed Sano for $3.15 million in October 2009, landing the consensus top talent on that year's international market. He hit four home runs in 41 games in the Gulf Coast League during his U.S. debut a year ago but learned to turn on fastballs in the Appy League this season, crushing a league-leading 45 extra-base hits--including 20 homers--in 66 games. Sano hits from a strong base, with powerful legs and a live body that lend him plus-plus power that could translate into 30 homers annually if he improves his pitch recognition. "The ball has serious exit velocity off his bat--and it's loud," Smith said. "Baseballs look like golf balls when he squares them up." Sano frequently chases out of the zone now, leading to an elevated strikeout rate, but Smith said he improved his weight shift as the season progressed and began to hit with authority to all fields. Among Sano's final 10 over-the-fence homers, two went to right field and another four went to center. He also went 27-for-77 (.351) in his final 18 games, raising his average 24 points. Sano has above-average arm strength that will play on the left side of the infield if he cleans up his footwork and improves his reaction times. Six of the 11 errors he committed at shortstop occurred on throws--he tends to force the issue--while 12 of his 15 errors at third base came on fielding miscues. Sano figures to slow down considerably as he fills out, but he has the raw tools to profile as a first-division third baseman.
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #2 prospect in 2010
  Sano signed for $3.15 million in September 2009, getting the largest bonus ever for a Latin American amateur position player. After breaking into pro ball by crushing Rookie-level Dominican Summer League pitching to the tune of .344/.463/.547, he arrived in the GCL and continued to hit well. Sano is exceptionally strong for a 17-year-old and should hit for a solid average with plus power. Like many young players, he'll have to make adjustments to hit breaking pitches and refine his plate discipline. Though he split his time between third base and shortstop in the GCL, he'll almost certainly wind up at the hot corner. As he gets bigger, he figures to lose a step and have below-average range at shortstop. His arm and bat profile well for third base.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #13 prospect in 2015
• Ranked Baseball America's #6 prospect in 2014
• Ranked Baseball America's #9 prospect in 2013
• Ranked Baseball America's #18 prospect in 2012
• Ranked Baseball America's #60 prospect in 2011
• Ranked Baseball America's #94 prospect in 2010

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Whether Sano is actually 19 or not almost seems immaterial at this point. The Twins signed him to a $3.15 million bonus (their largest ever for an international player) after a lengthy MLB investigation process, which confirmed his identity but not necessarily his age. Sano has been under the microscope for years and drew fans, Twin Cities media and a movie crew to low Class A Beloit in 2012. Already part of one documentary, the Bobby Valentine-produced "Pelotero"that began filming him at age 15, Sano now is involved in the follow-up. He has thrived in pro ball, ranking as the No. 2 prospect in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, No. 1 in the Rookie-level Appalachian League and No. 2 in the low Class Midwest League the last three seasons. He led the MWL in homers (28), RBIs (100), total bases (238) and extra-base hits (60) while ranking second in walks (80) and third in slugging (.521). Scouting Report: Sano has enough juice to earn comparisons to Giancarlo Stanton, the only righthanded hitter in the game who matches his 80 raw power on the 20-80 scouting scale. He's strong enough to hit the ball out to any part of any park and he uses his lower half well. Minnesota envisions him as a future cleanup hitter thanks to his present power, improved patience and pitch recognition. Sano is learning to lay off breaking balls out of the strike zone and pound pitches in his hitting zone. When he slows the game down, he keeps his fast hands back and waits on pitches. He showed a fine ability to make adjustments as 2012 went on, pulling out of a June swoon to hit .291/.398/.564 in his final 51 games. His bat attracts attention, but his glove does as well, usually for the wrong reasons. His defensive ability and where he'll play are the biggest questions facing Sano, who is large but moves well for his size. He has easy arm strength for third base, earning some 80 grades, and his errors come more frequently from lack of focus than ability. He made 42 miscues in 2012, the fourth-highest total in the minors. He did improve defensively as the year progressed, developing better instincts as he got more reps at third base after primarily playing shortstop in the past. Sano's hands remain hard, though, and he'll have to improve his footwork to get better hops and make more accurate throws. He's a below-average runner out of the box who's closer to average once he's underway. In addition to his playing ability, he also excites the Twins by showing leadership skills, even throwing in a dugout speech or two in his second language. The Future: Sano isn't a clear choice over 2012 first-rounder Byron Buxton as Minnesota's top prospect. Buxton should develop into a more well-rounded player, but there's no projection needed when it comes to Sano's righthanded power. With continued maturity and repetitions at third, he should be able to stay on the dirt. He could develop into a lesser version of Miguel Cabrera, with not as much feel for hitting but better defensive ability at either infield corner. Sano is headed for high Class A Fort Myers in 2013, and the ever-patient Twins believe their step-by-step approach will serve him well as he learns to become more consistent with his prodigious tools. He should reach Minnesota by 2015.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The Twins built their success in the last decade mostly on the draft and astute acquisitions, with few homegrown contributors from Latin America. Their best signees from that part of the world have been Venezuelans such as Jose Mijares (who was non-tendered in December) and Wilson Ramos (since traded to the Nationals). Minnesota has struggled to develop talent from the Dominican Republic but went all-in in 2009 when Sano came on the open market. Twins scout John Wilson was so overwhelmed after watching him take batting practice, he filmed the session on his phone's camera. Wilson played it for club officials back in Minneapolis and said, "I don't care how old this guy is, we've got to get him." Sano was regarded as the top talent in a 2009 international class that also included Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez and Rangers shortstop Jurickson Profar. It took a lengthy investigation process as well as a bidding war with the Pirates before the Twins snared Sano with a $3.15 million bonus. He spent his first full year in the United States in 2011, ranking as the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie-level Appalachian League and finishing second to teammate Eddie Rosario with 20 homers. Scouting Report: Scouts inside and outside the organization love Sano's easy power. Elizabethton manager Ray Smith, who has been in the Appy League for more than 20 years, says the only players who have come through the circuit and produced a similar sound off their bat to Sano are Josh Hamilton and Joe Mauer. A physical specimen, Sano already has added 40 pounds since signing and may not be done growing. He drives balls to all fields effortlessly, incorporating his strong lower half into his swing. Sano regularly expanded his strike zone at the start of the summer, then adjusted. He improved his weight shift and began staying back and trusting his hands. He led the Appy League with 45 extra-base hits, with six of his final 10 homers coming to center field or right. While he's from San Pedro de Macoris, which became famous in the 1980s as the cradle of big league shortstops, Sano won't stay at shortstop long-term. At 232 pounds, he has outgrown the position and will have to work to maintain his agility to remain at third base. He has a strong arm and sure hands, though sloppy footwork and inexperience at third base led to 15 errors in just 48 games. Overconfidence contributed as well, as Sano thinks he can still play shortstop and make every play. Minnesota doesn't intend to move him out of the infield any time soon, but an eventual shift to an outfield corner is possible. If he keeps getting bigger and loses his presently fringy speed, he might have to move to first base. The Future: Sano is ready for his full-season closeup at low Class A Beloit. The Twins usually try to take it slow with their prospects, but he could be an exception if he improves his pitch recognition and cuts down on his strikeouts. He has the highest ceiling of any Minnesota prospect since Joe Mauer and could be in the Twin Cities by 2014, allowing him two full seasons in the minors. Sano profiles as at least a 30-homer threat at third base, a luxury the Twins haven't had since Gary Gaetti's in the late 1980s.