Minnesota Twins: Miguel Sano Named AL Player of the Week
Minnesota Twins slugger Miguel Sano was named American League Player of the Week for the last week in April. There could be more to come.
Minnesota Twins slugger Miguel Sano capped off an incredible April by being named American League Player of the Week for the final week of the month. Sano captured the honor by hitting .524 with three home runs and an AL-best eleven RBIs. He also had a 1.000 slugging percentage.
These awards could become commonplace for Sano, as he is starting to show his true MLB potential. Sano, one of the top prospects in baseball before making his major league debut, is racking up power numbers and leading an improved Twins team.
So far this season, Sano has hit .316 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs. At the rate he is going, he is looking at a season with 40 plus home runs and over 150 RBIs. Now that may be a stretch, as he is bound to cool off, but if his April is a sign of things to come he will be a top talent the rest of the season.
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Getting on base and driving in runs
Sano has been impressive since debuting in 2015, but he has had trouble hitting for average and striking out a lot without walking much. While the strikeouts are still there, he is currently leading the American League in walks.
His 18 walks this season put him on pace to walk as much as he did last season by the end of June. His patience has helped him at the plate.
Sano’s on base percentage has been up considerably because of his patience, as well. His .684 mark is over .200 points higher than last season, and that can be attributed to his boosted walk rate and ability to make more contact. His slugging percentage is also third-best in the AL.
Not only is he getting on base, he is driving guys in along with it. He currently leads the AL in RBIs, making him a perfect candidate for cleanup hitting duty. Unfortunately for Sano, that currently belongs to Joe Mauer. That could change as Sano continues to beat up pitching.
While it is a long season, Sano is off to an amazing start. With the first of what could be many honors to come under his belt, he is riding high. If he stays patient at the plate, he could be in for an MVP-type season.
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One can only hope he keeps playing at such a high level. The Twins are moving in the right direction and Sano is leading the charge. This award winning week may just be the start.