Seth Stohs

What do you mean? What more to it?

MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger tweeted that a "well-placed" person told him that Miguel Sano would be promoted to the Twins in time for Thursday's game in Kansas City. Following the Twins Wednesday afternoon loss in Cincinnati, the team announced that DH Kennys Vargas was being optioned to AA Chattanooga. Speculation immediately became rampant. Image courtesy of Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger tweeted that a "well-placed" person told him that Miguel Sano would be promoted to the Twins in time for Thursday's game in Kansas City. Following the Twins Wednesday afternoon loss in Cincinnati, the team announced that DH Kennys Vargas was being optioned to AA Chattanooga. Speculation immediately became rampant. Since well before signing with the Twins in October of 2009, Sano has been a known commodity in the baseball world. He rose quickly through the Twins farm system. Unfortunately he missed all of 2014 after having Tommy John surgery. He was added to the Twins 40-man roster following the season and reported to spring training this year. He definitely showed signs of rust. Through May 1, he was hitting just .152. Since then, he has been on fire. In 46 games since that day, he has hit .320/.398/.616 (1.014) with 16 doubles and 11 home runs. He has 44 strikeouts in 201 plate appearances (22.9%). The hope is that he will inject some life into a stagnant Minnesota Twins offense. He is expected to be the Twins regular designated hitter, a position at which the Twins have struggled this year. The Twins designated hitters this year have posted a .663 OPS which ranks them second to last in the American League and far behind the league average of .755. The reality is that they've been even worse than that. The number includes an .872 OPS by Torii Hunter and a .777 OPS by Joe Mauer, both of whom play other positions and who only play designated hitter when manager Paul Molitor wants to give them a rest. The bulk of the at-bats at that position have gone to Kenny Vargas, who has had a .587 OPS from the spot. Earlier today Vargas was demoted to AA-Chattanooga. Sano was the #2 Twins Prospect in our Midseason Top 10 Rankings. He joins fellow Top 10 prospects Byron Buxton, Alex Meyer and Eddie Rosario on the Twins big league roster. Jorge Polanco has spent some time in the big leagues this season and last year. And JO Berrios was just promoted to AAA Rochester. It's a good time for Twins prospects. Sano signed with the Twins in 2009 and was one of the mostly widely hyped international prospects in years. If you would like to learn more about Sano, Twins Daily highly recommends the documentary Ballplayer: Pelotero, which you can watch for free if you have a Netflix account. It chronicles the efforts by several teams to sign Sano out of the Dominican Republic, and the seemingly shady tactics implemented by either some agents or Major League Baseball (depending on your interpretation of the events) to question Sano's age and restrict his ability to field offers in order to drive down his signing price. View full article

No question about it.

The news of Vargas's option to Chattanooga makes this even more likely.

Sending him to AA pretty much says what the next move is... but Sano not being in the lineup says a lot too, unless he's going up to AAA and Arcia or something is moving up?

I found it funny at first, but now it's just annoying. Seriously, find a helmet that works for simple running.

Hopefully Dozier's success can make people stop thinking so negatively of 4-year college seniors and realize that yeah, maybe they'll be a little older than the competition until they get to AA, but anything can happen. I first had Dozier on a podcast late in his Minor League Hitter of the Year season between Ft. Myers and New Britain. It was in talking to him that I could tell he was going to be special. Very thoughtful. Very smart. Works really hard. Quiet. Focused. But also really talented. Every time I go into the Twins clubhouse, he'll come over and pat me on the back and ask how I'm doing, how things are. We'll chat for 10 minutes about baseball or just about other things. This is a really great human being, and for me, it's fun to see him taking off into stardom!

Fryer is very deserving. I tweeted yesterday that a couple of former Twins, Andrew Albers (Blue Jays AAA) and Rene Tosoni (Sioux Falls - American Association) are on Team Canada. I don't think the Twins have any minor leaguers from Mexico right now. Not sure which other countries are involved in the Pan-Am games.

I think that Jones' DL stint will be short. He was great the first two months and just had a really rough June. He'll be alright. I'm hearing that Baxendale will go back into the Lookouts rotation.

As Twins fans, we have to (are required to) love the name Kirby/Kerby! Minier was brought up to E-Town last Thursday after getting a couple of GCL games in, kind of a rehab from his broken hand.

I can go with this. I think that makes sense to me.

It's really between him and Jason Kipnis for the top 2B in the AL right now. What makes that such a big statement is that guys like Robinson Cano, Dustin Pedroia, Ian Kinsler and Jose Altuve play 2B in the AL.

I think I'd give Tapia more than two starts to show he's ready, though I don't necessarily disagree. He's very talented. Good size.

For now, it makes room for JO Berrios on the roster.

There were a bunch of transactions, some involving big pitching prospects. There were three one-run games and a two-run game. There was a near no-hitter. There was a huge grand slam home run that proved to be a game-winner by an unlikely source. Which pitcher picked off three base runners? Which pitcher recorded a win about 20 miles from where he grew up? Image courtesy of Kelsie Redburn/Rochester Red Wings There were a bunch of transactions, some involving big pitching prospects. There were three one-run games and a two-run game. There was a near no-hitter. There was a huge grand slam home run that proved to be a game-winner by an unlikely source. Which pitcher picked off three base runners? Which pitcher recorded a win about 20 miles from where he grew up? Continue on to read everything that happened in a busy day in the Minnesota Twins farm system. TRANSACTIONS It was a busy day. As has been discussed here all day, JO Berrios was promoted from Chattanooga to Rochester where he will start on Friday night. He’ll be taking the place of Ervin Santana who will be activated by the Twins and start early next week. The Berrios promotion may not be made official until Thursday or Friday when he would need to be added to the roster to pitch. Hard-throwing Nick Burdi was sent down to Ft. Myers. Meanwhile Zack Jones was placed on the disabled list for the Lookouts. To take those two roster spots, relievers D.J. Johnson and Alex Muren were promoted. Dallas Gallant was activated from the Miracle disabled list. Following Rochester's game on Tuesday night, Ryan Wheeler was released by the Twins organization. RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 1, Pawtucket 0 Box Score The game was delayed, but Ervin Santana was able to make his final tune-up before he comes back to the Twins this weekend. It went quite well. He threw eight shutout innings. He gave up five hits, walked none and struck out five. He only needed 99 pitches and 70 of them were strikes. Michael Tonkin came on for the ninth inning and recorded his seventh save. He struck out one in a 1-2-3 inning. Santana’s counterpart in the game was up to the challenge. Lefty Henry Owens had a no-hitter into the seventh inning. However, Jose Martinez doubled to break it up. A couple of batters later, Danny Ortiz hit a sacrifice fly to score the game’s lone run. Oswaldo Arcia doubled later in the game. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga Box Score The Chattanooga Lookouts had a scheduled night off. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 2, Dunedin 1 Box Score Stephen Gonsalves was back on the mound for the Miracle. He threw well. He gave up five hits and walked two over five shutout innings. He helped himself out by picking off three runners at first base. He struck out five and improves to 2-0. Matt Summers came on and gave up one run in 2.2 innings. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck out three. Corey Williams came on and walked the batter he faced. He was replaced by Todd Van Steensel who got the final out of the eighth inning. He also got through the ninth inning without allowing a run. It was his ninth save. Mitch Garver went 2-4 in the game, continuing his hot June performance. Engelb Vielma went 1-3 with a walk. He stole his 18th and 19th bases. Zach Granite went 1-2 with a walk. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 3, Wisconsin 2 Box Score It may have been a long road to the Twins for Luke Westphal, but on Tuesday afternoon, the southpaw pitched (and won) a game just 20 miles from his hometown. The Clintonville, Wisconsin, native threw five innings against Wisconsin (in Appleton). He gave up one run on one hit. He walked two and struck out five. He was credited with the win. Randy LeBlanc’s impressive 24+ inning scoreless streak came to an end over the weekend when he gave up one run in an inning of work. One Tuesday, he started a new streak. He gave up just one hit and hit a batter over three scoreless innings. He struck out two. Cameron Booser came on for the ninth, trying to protect a one-run lead. He walked on and hit one, but got through the inning with just one run allowed to record his eighth save of the season. Brian Navaretto boosted his batting average to .195 with a 3-4 game. Zack Larson went 2-5. Nick Gordon and Tanner English each hit their ninth doubles of the season. Gordon stole his 18th base. Rafael Valera went 0-1 but walked three times. E-TWINS E-NOTES Elizabethton 3, Bristol 1 Box Score The E-Twins improved to 5-3 on the season with another strong pitching performance. Alexis Tapia started. The big-boned right-hander gave up one run on two hits over six innings. He struck out six batters without walking any. Sam Clay struck out three batters over the next two innings. He gave up a hit and a walk but no runs. Jose Abreu came on for the final three outs. He walked one and struck out two. Austin Diemer is now hitting .444 on the short-season after a 2-3 game. He hit his second double and a triple. Amaurys Minier had a two-run single. GCL TWINS TAKES GCL Twins 7, GCL Rays 3 Box Score Kerby Camacho was the Twins 11th round pick in the June draft out of the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in Puerto Rico. This was his second game played since signing. He had gone 0-7 when he came to the plate in a 3-3 game in the bottom of the 8th inning. He collected his first professional hit, his first home run and his first four RBIs as a pro with one swing. It proved to be the difference in the game. Jermaine Palacios was the other hitting star in the game. The infielder went 3-3 with a walk and two doubles. Luis Martinez added his second double. Bryant Hayman went 1-3 with a walk. Jose Martinez got the starting nod in this game. He went the first four innings and was charged with three runs, two earned, on five hits and two walks. He struck out just one. Dutch righty Matz Schutte walked one and struck one out in the fifth inning. Callan Pearce gave up a hit in a scoreless sixth inning. Miguel Gonzalez got the win. He struck out four over three perfect innings. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Ervin Santana, Rochester Red Wings Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Jermaine Palacios, Elizabethton Twins WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester @ Pawtucket (12:35 CST) – LHP Pat Dean Birmingham @ Chattanooga (6:15 CST) – LHP David Hurlbut Ft. Myers @ Palm Beach (5:35 CST) – RHP Aaron Slegers Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (7:05 CST) – RHP Felix Jorge Bristol @ Elizabethton (6:00 CST) – RHP Miles Nordgren GCL Twins @ GCL Rays (11:00 CST) – TBD Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Tuesday games. View full article

I wouldn't over-think facial expressions, but there is no doubt that confidence is a huge factor for all athletes. Confidence is a big thing with Meyer. Hopefully they stick with him because it's clear when he's pitching how good his stuff can be, but he needs to throw strikes. That's the same issue he had in AAA. It's the game he's shown in spring training and even last year. He's had a lot of short outings because of the control. But the upside of him as a late-inning guy is evident.

All three aren't on the 40 man roster. Duffey and Berrios need to be added this November. Berrios next November. Duffey has done it in AAA now and he's in line for an opportunity soon too. But, if Berrios dominates, he can reclaim that billing as the next guy. As someone mentioned, the Twins did call up Buxton, though that was in mid-June. I would call up Berrios in August if they're contending and he's doing well, but i wouldn't call him up for September unless they're still in contention. Duffey and Rogers, I think come up in September.

Hicks has been out with a pectoral muscle. He's in Ft. Myers rehabbing, but he hasn't played in any games yet. No timetable that I've heard.

Jack Barrie was also released. Today, JO Berrios announced that he has been promoted to Rochester. Also hearing that Nick Burdi is being demoted to Ft. Myers, with DJ Johnson heading back to the Lookouts.

JO Berrios himself has confirmed his promotion on Twitter.

Despite missing the entire 2014 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last March, Miguel Sano remained the preseason #2 Minnesota Twins prospect here at Twins Daily. It was assumed that Sano would need some time to shake off some rust – and it did – but Sano has come back with a vengeance since a slow start and remains #2 on this list. Image courtesy of Craig Gordon Despite missing the entire 2014 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last March, Miguel Sano remained the preseason #2 Minnesota Twins prospect here at Twins Daily. It was assumed that Sano would need some time to shake off some rust – and it did – but Sano has come back with a vengeance since a slow start and remains #2 on this list. Age: 22 2015 Stats (AA): .273/.370/.546 (.916), 18-2B, 15-HR, 48 RBI ETA: 2015 2015 Preseason Ranking: 2 What's To Like Since signing with the Minnesota Twins as a 16-year-old “shortstop” way back in October of 2009, Sano has been in the spotlight. Touted as the most talented prospect to come from the Dominican in a while. Baseball America immediately place him in their Top 100 Prospect Ratings (#94) before the 2010 season. He moved up to #60 before the 2011 season. He has been a Top 20 prospect for Baseball America each of the four years since then. Even after missing the entire 2014 season, Sano came in as their #13 prospect this spring. He is a consensus top 15 prospect by all of the major rankings. Despite this being his sixth professional season, and missing all of 2014, Sano only turned 22 years old in May. At 6-4 and 255 pounds, he is an intimidating presence at the plate. His power production has been strong since arriving on the pro scene. His 20 homers at Elizabethton was second only to teammate Eddie Rosario in 2011. In 2012, he launched 28 doubles and 28 home runs in a full season in Beloit. He combined to his 35 home runs in 2013, splitting the season between Ft. Myers and AA New Britain. After missing all of 2014, and starting out slow, he already has 15 home runs in 66 games in Chattanooga. With his power, it is fair to expect some strikeouts. However, Sano has also always been able to coax walks as well. He has made great improvements on his plate discipline and approach over the past couple of seasons. After a look at his overall numbers, it’s easy to say that they look very strong, and they are. However, consider that after going 0-3 on May 1, Sano was hitting .152/.300/.364 (.664). He was displaying some power, but his at-bats were not always pretty. He had 23 strikeouts in 80 plate appearances (28.8%). Since that day, Sano has been very good, reminiscent of his past years. In 46 games since that day, he has hit .320/.398/.616 (1.014) with 16 doubles and 11 home runs. He has 44 strikeouts in 201 plate appearances (22.9%). He has been very good in June. In 21 games this month, he has hit .329/.422/.671 (1.093) with eight doubles and six home runs. On Monday, he was named the Southern League hitter of the week after going 13-28 in his last seven games. In that time, he hit .464/.531/1.000 (1.531) with six doubles and three home runs. On Monday night, he went 1-3 with two walks. What's Left To Work On Twins fans may hate to hear it, but the word that can and will likely be used in describing Sano is “consistency.” Since his slow start with the bat, Sano has been very good and pretty consistent. Defensively, it’s a different story. There have always been those who questioned whether Sano could play third base in the big leagues. I personally have believed that he could since seeing his first half to second half improvement in the Midwest League in 2011. Despite his size, Sano is a very good athlete and has made many diving, spectacular plays. His errors have often come on more routine plays. Some have questioned his arm following surgery. He threw close to 94 mph before the surgery. Even if his velocity drops to 89 mph, that’s a very strong arm for third base. All reports have said that his arm remains very strong. What's Next Any rust that Miguel Sano had following Tommy John surgery and a missed season has been shaken. Sano is back to putting up the types of numbers that we had come to expect from him. The reality is that if Trevor Plouffe were to get injured and need to go on the DL, Sano would come up. He is ready. The other reality is that the Twins have not had much production from the DH position this season. It’s very possible that if the GM wants to inject some offense, Sano could be the guy to get that call. If nothing else, a promotion to AAA Rochester could be coming soon. I tend to think that he will jump from AA to the big leagues. Miguel Sano is the biggest power-hitting prospect that the Twins have had since, well, Justin Morneau? Maybe Harmon Killebrew? Yesterday Nick wrote about JO Berrios who has continued to pitch very well and in most organizations could be the number two, if not the number one, prospect. After missing a year, Sano has come back and been able to maintain that number two ranking which says a lot about the Twins organization. It also says a lot about Miguel Sano. View full article

Yes, it's because of the strikeouts... and Sano is about a year-and-a-half younger. Sano walks a lot more. But I would argue that Walker is ranked too low in prospect rankings.