Article: Twins Minor League Hitter of the Month - April

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1657-Twins-Minor-League-Hitter-of-the-Month-April

[Otto von Ballpark]

Too bad most of the big league club didn't get the memo about hot hitting starts!

 

Off-topic, but it would be fantastic if articles at this site could link to player's BB-Ref pages, like MLB Trade Rumors and other sites do. I find that I'm always opening new tabs to search BB-Ref, particularly for these minor league write-ups.

[Steve Penz]

The plate discipline that Sano has showed is awesome. The fielding stats are also no small matter. Last year he had 42 errors in 368 chances and this year he has 5 errors in 77 chances. His % has gone from .884 to .935. If you compare that to the MLB stats that puts at #19 for third basemen so he needs to continue improving but that kind of jump is awesome. If he were to continue on this fielding level and have the same amount of attempts, it will move his totals from 42 errors last year to 24 errors this year. Huge.

 

I realize that this article is about batting and not fielding. Additionally, 25 games is a very small sample but this is really promising. I believe it was Keith Law who said last year that he (Sano) looked disinterested in fielding. I don’t enjoy watching a player when they seem to be a diva that is above good fundamentals; no matter how much talent they may have. For him to improve his fielding this way is really great and says something about his character.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Regarding Rosario: "The 21-year-old has made great improvements and is statistically the best defensive second baseman in the Florida State League." Okay, I just moved from excited, to giddy...

[Shane Wahl]

Sano and Rosario sticking at 3B and 2B would be a dramatic development. If neither one needs to move to the OF and Sano doesn't have to move to 1B this means all sorts of possibilities could be opened up. Joe Benson and Adam Walker could have a chance in the OF, Vargas and Harrison at first (or even re-signing Morneau). The Twins would have less pressure to find a good offensive SS and they could go with Beresford.

 

With regard to Pinto, it would be nice if Doumit can start producing and be enticing for some AL team looking for a bat and DH/backup catcher for the playoffs. Oh, and the total end of the Drew Butera era.

[ericchri]

Pure speculation, but I can't help wondering if the presence of Buxton in the Twins system now isn't good motivation for Sano after a couple years of being the defacto best prospect by a good margin. Regardless, the early returns this year for many of our prospects are certainly exciting.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Pinto: a slower-developing Wilson Ramos? That would help Bill Smith sleep better at night, I think.

 

Also, no matter how many times I read "Florida State League" I think Florida State Prison, or at best a prison baseball league...

[Seth Stohs]

The plate discipline that Sano has showed is awesome. The fielding stats are also no small matter. Last year he had 42 errors in 368 chances and this year he has 5 errors in 77 chances. His % has gone from .884 to .935. If you compare that to the MLB stats that puts at #19 for third basemen so he needs to continue improving but that kind of jump is awesome. If he were to continue on this fielding level and have the same amount of attempts, it will move his totals from 42 errors last year to 24 errors this year. Huge.

 

I realize that this article is about batting and not fielding. Additionally, 25 games is a very small sample but this is really promising. I believe it was Keith Law who said last year that he (Sano) looked disinterested in fielding. I don’t enjoy watching a player when they seem to be a diva that is above good fundamentals; no matter how much talent they may have. For him to improve his fielding this way is really great and says something about his character.

 

I remember Law saying that, but I saw Sano play 6 games for Beloit, two in early June, four in early August. I never saw a lack of effort. I saw mistakes, sure, but not for lack of interest. Sano is confident, no question, and I don't think that's a bad time, but he does work. He's a kid. There were maturity issues earlier, but he's taken a step in that light too.

[Monkeypaws]

Wow, those OB+slugging numbers are insane.

 

These kids are raking.

[Steve Penz]

I remember Law saying that, but I saw Sano play 6 games for Beloit, two in early June, four in early August. I never saw a lack of effort. I saw mistakes, sure, but not for lack of interest. Sano is confident, no question, and I don't think that's a bad time, but he does work. He's a kid. There were maturity issues earlier, but he's taken a step in that light too.

 

 

Love it. I don't know how Law got that impression. I think he was in Beloit for 1-2 games so likely he meant to imply that it just looked that way during the short observation time he had.

 

They have a ways to go but these reports are great. To echo other comments, to have hitters like Sano and Rosario in system is really exciting. Add that to the possibility that they could occupy the 2B and 3B positions for the long-term and exciting turns into ridiculous.

[cmb0252]

Baseball America had this to say about his defense in a recent article:

As good as Sano has been offensively, he’s also making strides defensively. Fort Myers manager Doug Mientkiewicz and Twins infield coordinator Paul Molitor have worked to get Sano to set up a few steps farther back at third base. By playing deeper, Sano is getting eaten up by in-between hops less often, while his double-plus arm gives him a little extra time to get to a ball and still make a timely throw.

[Larsbars08]

Baseball America had this to say about his defense in a recent article:

As good as Sano has been offensively, he’s also making strides defensively. Fort Myers manager Doug Mientkiewicz and Twins infield coordinator Paul Molitor have worked to get Sano to set up a few steps farther back at third base. By playing deeper, Sano is getting eaten up by in-between hops less often, while his double-plus arm gives him a little extra time to get to a ball and still make a timely throw.

 

Those two might be the best in the business. Mientkiewicz was probably my favorite 1st baseman to watch in the field, and if anyone can teach Sano, it's definitely him. I think the Twins have so far handled Sano's development wonderfully. I think a lot of teams would have given up on him playing in the infield and rushed him through the minors. If Sano can stick at 3rd base, the Twins deserve a ton of credit.

[chuchadoro]

I'll admit that last year I was one of those guys doing the whole "ZOMG another toolsy HS outfielder we need pitchers aaaarrrgghh!". Holy crap, was I ever wrong.

[mlhouse]

I'll admit that last year I was one of those guys doing the whole "ZOMG another toolsy HS outfielder we need pitchers aaaarrrgghh!". Holy crap, was I ever wrong.

 

I was too. Not going to say I was totally wrong because the need for pitching, particularly pitching we can bring along quickly, is still there. But, Buxton's play has certainly made up for that.

[Mike Sixel]

Bill Smith, no idea what he was doing acquiring these guys*

 

*sorry, couldn't help myself. I feel the guy gets a bad rap (largely deserved) for the state of the MLB club, and I am certain Ryan will get a ton of credit when Smith's best players come up....kind of a gip (jip?), imo.

[chuchadoro]

I was too. Not going to say I was totally wrong because the need for pitching, particularly pitching we can bring along quickly, is still there. But, Buxton's play has certainly made up for that.

 

They definitely still need more high-upside pitchers in the org, I just meant Buxton's talent really looks like it was too much to pass up.

 

I've been more critical of the Twins than most fans but I have to praise them on this one. Well done by the scouting dept. and FO for recognizing the talent and taking a long-term view of the system. Even though many thought Buxton was the #1 prospect in the draft, the easy move would've been to go with one of the college pitchers to try to help their pathetic starting staff quickly (had to get a shot in).

[Seth Stohs]

I'll admit that last year I was one of those guys doing the whole "ZOMG another toolsy HS outfielder we need pitchers aaaarrrgghh!". Holy crap, was I ever wrong.

 

I always believe in drafting Best Available... but based on my little knowledge and trying to know some of the players last year, I wanted the Twins to take Kevin Gausman... Buxton's been amazing, but Gausman could be with the Orioles in a month.

[ashbury]

kind of a gip (jip?), imo.

 

Gyp. Bit of an offensive term to gypsies.

[Mike Sixel]

I always believe in drafting Best Available... but based on my little knowledge and trying to know some of the players last year, I wanted the Twins to take Kevin Gausman... Buxton's been amazing, but Gausman could be with the Orioles in a month.

 

Just further proof Seth and i agree more than we realize......

[Mike Sixel]

Gyp. Bit of an offensive term to gypsies.

 

To be clear, I liked this because you caused me to ignore my work call, and look up the origins of the word, and you taught me something. I had no idea. Now I'm not sure I can keep using the word......

[ThePuck]

I always believe in drafting Best Available... but based on my little knowledge and trying to know some of the players last year, I wanted the Twins to take Kevin Gausman... Buxton's been amazing, but Gausman could be with the Orioles in a month.

 

I wanted Gausmann or Zimmer...either one...Gausmann was my first choice.

[Physics Guy]

To be clear, I liked this because you caused me to ignore my work call, and look up the origins of the word, and you taught me something. I had no idea. Now I'm not sure I can keep using the word......

 

But now you do know that you shouldn't. Don't feel bad, it's pretty amazing how many phrases like that have bad connotations that people are unaware of. Well done ashburyjohn.

[ashbury]

But now you do know that you shouldn't. Don't feel bad, it's pretty amazing how many phrases like that have bad connotations that people are unaware of. Well done ashburyjohn.

 

I grew up hearing the phrase "I nickeled him down" meaning bargained hard. Never thought anything about it, just a casual phrase, until one time a Jewish friend looked at me funny. Oh....

[TRex]

Funny how.... haha funny, or like your avatar?

[ashbury]

Funny how.... haha funny, or like your avatar?

 

Funny how much she reminds me of your sister.

[ThejacKmp]

To be clear, I liked this because you caused me to ignore my work call, and look up the origins of the word, and you taught me something. I had no idea. Now I'm not sure I can keep using the word......

 

Yeah, you defiitely shouldn't use that word.

[Mike Sixel]

"nickel him down"....my grandfather out and and out said "jew him down"....I was disgusted by that. Now I live in St. Louis Park, and my Jewish neighbor says the same thing, but I would never do it.

 

And yes, I have now completely taken this thread off topic....

[Physics Guy]

Anybody else find it interesting that the Twins picked Buxton as their hitter of the month instead of Sano? It's hard to argue either way, but I just found it interesting.

[70charger]

They probably flipped a coin.