Christina Kahrl (ESPN) picks Sano as breakout hitter

[gunnarthor]

Boring part of the baseball  year now but Christina Kahrl posted her 10 breakout hitters for 2016 and Miguel Sano was #1.  

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/67405/picks-to-click-breakout-hitters-for-2016

 

Fun read.  Likes Sano's power and finishes her write up on him with "So, while the 2014 injury delayed his arrival, Sano is just beginning to come into his own. He won't just be the centerpiece in a much-improved Twins lineup, he'll be an instant MVP candidate. And if I'm going to pick anybody to win the American League home run crown in 2016, I'm picking Sano, here and now."

 

Also fun, #10 on her list is Park - "When I asked ESPN Insider's Dan Szymborski for a peek at what ZiPS might project, an OPS around .800 and 27 home runs was on the table, which is well worth talking about here. Between Park and Byron Buxton, the Twins should have a tandem with the talent between them to take home the AL's Rookie of the Year award in 2016."

 

[Halsey Hall]

Didn't read the article, but Sano broke out last year. Should be big things coming from him this season if they don't mess around with him to much.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I think a guy who ripped 330-ish PAs to the tune of a .900 OPS with 18 homers already "broke out" but okay, sure, he'll break out in 2016 as well.

[nicksaviking]

 

I think a guy who ripped 330-ish PAs to the tune of a .900 OPS with 18 homers already "broke out" but okay, sure, he'll break out in 2016 as well.

 

I agree that if he didn't "break out" last year, it was simply because everyone was too preoccupied watching the rookie shortstops instead.

 

However if someone wants to argue that Sano's production last year was nice but we ain't seen nothin' yet, well I'm not going to be too upset about that.

[tobi0040]

 

I agree that if he didn't "break out" last year, it was simply because everyone was too preoccupied watching the rookie shortstops instead.

 

However if someone wants to argue that Sano's production last year was nice but we ain't seen nothin' yet, well I'm not going to be too upset about that.

 

Agreed.  His .916 OPS would have been 10th in baseball last year.  His 18 HR would have been a 36 HR pace.  Kind of looks like he broke out already

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/sort/OPS/order/true

[Oldgoat_MN]

Nice to hear some folks are high on Park, too.

 

Sure hope they're right. On both counts.

 

 

edit: She also picked Tyler Duffey as her #8 breakout pitcher.

 

[h2oface]

"After belting 15 homers in Triple-A to earn a promotion, Sano hit 18 homers to help keep the Twins in the American League wild-card hunt down the stretch."

 

How much credibility can one give a writer that reports Sano's history wrong, or doesn't even know that Sano never played AAA ball?

[h2oface]

I can understand the perspective that it takes more than a half season to "breakout". Danny Valencia, Danny Santana, Kennys Vargas, Oswaldo Celestino Arcia, Josmil Oswaldo Pinto...... Scott Diamond ....... it takes more than a short halfish season or less to assign a breakout for me.

[bluechipper]

 

"After belting 15 homers in Triple-A to earn a promotion, Sano hit 18 homers to help keep the Twins in the American League wild-card hunt down the stretch."

 

How much credibility can one give a writer that reports Sano's history wrong, or doesn't even know that Sano never played AAA ball?

Well she got Xavier Bogaerts right last year.

[Han Joelo]

While Sano's "breakout" didn't go unnoticed by hardcore baseball fans, I would say he didn't get near the love that say Kris Bryant got.  This year he will "break out" in the national media, I guess.

 

While articles like this are somewhat meaningless, it is fun to have the words "MVP candidate," "home run champ," and "Minnesota Twins" in the same article.  Maybe the Twins can sweep the Quadruple Crown of individual awards--MVP, ROY, Manager, and Comeback (Hughes?)

[Dantes929]

 

While Sano's "breakout" didn't go unnoticed by hardcore baseball fans, I would say he didn't get near the love that say Kris Bryant got.  This year he will "break out" in the national media, I guess.

 

While articles like this are somewhat meaningless, it is fun to have the words "MVP candidate," "home run champ," and "Minnesota Twins" in the same article.  Maybe the Twins can sweep the Quadruple Crown of individual awards--MVP, ROY, Manager, and Comeback (Hughes?)

Comeback (Mauer?)

[jbissell]

I agree with the general sentiments that Sano has already broken out. I personally believe 2016 will be the year of the Buxton Breakout! ;-)

[DrNeau]

Check out the depth chart on the official Twins website. Sano cannot be found at the top of any spot, which is laugh-out-loud outrageous. Very odd.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/team/depth_chart/index.jsp?c_id=min