Minnesota Twins: Why Sano Should Be Demoted
With rumors swirling that the Minnesota Twins may look to move struggling infielder Miguel Sano to the minors upon Trevor Plouffe’s return from the Disabled List, I only have one thing to say.
By all means, make the move.
It’s not because I’ve given up on Sano, far from it, it’s just that Sano’s confidence has clearly been shaken – similar to what Byung-ho Park went through earlier this year.
And like Park, Sano may end up in the minors.
Unlike Park, Sano’s struggles aren’t just at the plate (he’s just 15-for-72 with one home run, six RBI’s and 28 strikeouts since the All-Star Break) but also on defense where he’s committed seven errors at third since the Midsummer Classic.
Unfortunately, unless a dramatic change happens, Sano may be looking at becoming more of a long-term designated hitter than anything else.
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And it’s not like we should completely give up on Sano or that his attitude is one of Yasiel Puig with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
It’s just as it stands, the Minnesota Twins have done well even without Sano’s bat in the lineup.
And with Jorge Polanco performing well on both ends, it’s going to be a lot more difficult to justify taking both him and Plouffe out of the lineup.
In fact, in the long run, if Polanco continues to excel at third, it may be for the better as that keeps a spot open for the eventual arrival of Nick Gordon at shortstop.
And while it is a small sample size, Polanco has yet to commit an error at third and looks more comfortable than he did at second or even short.
Sano’s struggles really define what the Twins have gone through all year
He’s also hit very well with a .298 average, one home run, eight RBI’s, two triples and six doubles.
In this case, it seems Polanco’s got the hot hand and Paul Molitor would be wise to stick with him.
This once again opens up the trade waters for Plouffe, who should be moved this coming offseason, like it or not.
But regardless, Sano’s sophomore season has been a huge disappointment as has the 2016 Minnesota Twins campaign in general.
But Sano’s struggles really define what the Twins have gone through all year.
The hope for next season being better with some surprise performances from some younger players is all we can ask for.
As it stands, in order for Sano to improve and regain his confidence not only at the plate but on the field, he should accept the demotion not only for his sake but for the Minnesota Twins.
Sano is an important piece of the Minnesota Twins’ future and perhaps another stint at Triple-A will help rebuild his leadership qualities as well.
At least, one can only hope.