Miguel Sano is ranked MLB.com's No. 9 prospect in their top 100.
photo by Tim Evearitt
MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger first reported the promotion Wednesday afternoon, saying a "well-placed source" revealed that the right-handed Sano would be coming up.
Sano, 22, is batting .274 with 15 homers, 48 RBIs, five steals and a .374 on-base percentage in 66 games with Chattanooga this year. He leads the Southern League with 55 runs scored, ranks second in homers, second with 131 total bases, third in steals and fifth in OPS (.918).
The 6-foot-4 third baseman entered the year as the Twins' No. 2 prospect behind Byron Buxton despite missing all of 2014 after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.
He showed his power potential in 2013, hitting .280 with a career-high 35 homers and 103 RBIs across three levels in the Minors after hitting 28 homers and plating 100 runs in 2012. He batted .292 with 20 long balls in his first full season in 2011.
Lookouts center fielder Byron Buxton was called-up to the Twins on June 14.
Sano has been hot of late, with three homers and 12 hits over a six-game hitting streak as of June 29. He started slowly this season, batting just .159 in April, but adjusted back to Double-A pitching a month later, when he hit .303 in May and .329 in June. He's batting .375 against left-handers and .274 with runners in scoring position this year.
The native of the Dominican Republic has seen time at Major League camp in 2013 and 2015 -- he went 3-for-10 with an RBI in his first invite before homering twice in six games for the Twins this spring. Minnesota optioned him to Double-A on March 16.
Since then he's produced several big games, including a pair of four-RBI performances April 17 and May 10. He clubbed a pair of homers on May 15, went 4-for-6 on June 26 and has collected three hits or more in a game six times.
Sano has hit .278 with 105 homers and 339 RBIs in 445 career games since 2010.
The Twins are looking for a power bat for the middle of their lineup, and based on his track record, Sano could provide it.
-- Source: MiLB.com
TWINS' PRESS RELEASE
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have recalled infielder Miguel Sano from Double-A Chattanooga. Sano, who will make his major league debut, hit .274 (66-for-241) with 18 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs and 48 RBI in 66 games for the Lookouts. His 15 home runs are second most in the Twins system, second most in the Southern League and tied 12th in all of the minor leagues.
The 22-year-old was ranked as the 11th best prospect in baseball by MLB.com and as the second best prospect and best power hitter in the Twins system by Baseball America entering 2015. The Dominican Republic native was originally signed by the Twins as an undrafted free agent in 2009 as a 16-year-old. The 2015 Southern League All-Star has a career minor league average of .278 (450-for-1616) with 110 doubles, 18 triples, 105 home runs and 339 RBI in 445 games.
Sano will be available for tonight’s game at Kansas City and will wear uniform number 22.
Sano is a third-baseman who will be used as designated hitter.
photo by Tim Evearitt