Minnesota Twins top 2017 moments: Miguel Sano makes Home Run Derby Finals
The Minnesota Twins had an incredible run to the playoffs in 2017. Let’s remember some of the best moments of the year!
The Minnesota Twins had an incredibly fun season to follow as a fan. To close out the calendar year of 2017, we will take a look back at some of the biggest moments of the season!
This moment had no effect on the run to the playoffs the Twins had. It was still certainly fun to watch and enjoy as a fan!
Miguel Sano‘s 2017 Home Run Derby
There has never been a question about Miguel Sano’s ability to give a baseball a ride over the outfield fence. The summer of 2017 was the first opportunity he has had to showcase that power with several of the games other great home run hitters at the home run derby held during All-Star week. Sano’s performance didn’t disappoint.
The Derby
Sano had the privilege of lining up with the likes of Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge Justin Bour, Cody Bellinger, Charlie Blackmon, and would face off in the first round against Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas. Leading up to the derby, we highlighted here on Puckett’s Pond how Sano’s hitting had him profiled well for the home run derby. When putting words to that article never did we expect the results that Sano had.
The first round of the derby was full of highlights. One was seeing hometown slugger and derby favorite of many, Stanton lose to New York Yankee catcher Sanchez. Most importantly from the perspective of a Twins fan is that Sano was able to narrowly defeat Mike Moustakas 11-10.
After that first round victory, Sano set himself up to face derby “giant killer” Sanchez. Again we didn’t see Sano go on an amazing run of homers, but just enough to again advance to the next round of the derby. Sano defeated Sanchez by the same score he defeated Moustakas, 11-10. He also blasted this 491 foot home run along the way.
After taking down the “giant killer” in Sanchez, he would face his teammate the real giant of the derby, 6′ 7″ Aaron Judge. In what felt like destiny as the derby unfolded, these were the two hitters we profiled as the best built to win the competition as both showed power to all parts of the field.
Sano led off the round and looked to feeling fatigued from the previous two rounds in the night. He was still able to muster up 10 home runs and hand off the show to Judge. Judge took the stage and threw down his proverbial gavel as he blasted 11 home runs two minutes and two seconds into the four-minute round.
The results weren’t what Sano and Twins fans had hoped for, but it was certainly a wild ride through the 2017 Home Run Derby. Sano became only the second Twin to make it to the finals of the derby, joining Justin Morneau who faced off against Josh Hamilton to win the derby in 2008.
Next: Twins top 2017 moments: Buxton's defensive brilliance
This is part of our series of 2017 highlights. Which games or moments would you like to see us highlight next? Comment below!