Jim Rantz has worked in the Twins farm system since 1970 but in four-plus decades has never seen a Twins 18-year-old prospect with the power of Miguel Sano. Word has spread quickly about the Dominican Republic native since the Twins signed him to a contract as a 16-year-old in 2009.
The October 10 issue of Sporting News Magazine lists Washington’s Bryce Harper and Sano as the publication’s top candidates for Minor League Player of the Year in 2012. Rantz, senior director for Twins minor league operations, hadn’t heard about the prediction but sounded more pleased than surprised when told by Sports Headliners.
Sano hit 20 home runs for the Elizabethton minor league team last season and Rantz said Baseball America ranked the power hitting third baseman the best prospect in the Appalachian League. He hit .292 with 59 RBI in 267 at bats in that rookie league.
So how good can Sano become? “I don’t want to go out on a limb and put a monkey on his back and jinx him,” Rantz said. “Let’s put it this way. If he does not get hurt and progresses like he has been, he is a can’t miss guy.”
Rantz said the 6-3 Sano has put on about 35 pounds in the last “couple years,” increasing his weight from 195 to 230. “There is no fat on this kid,” Rantz said.
Sano started out as a shortstop with the Twins organization and might play the position again, according to Rantz. He made 26 errors in half a season with Elizabethton playing, both shortstop and third base. Rantz rates the teenager’s speed only average but Sano does have a strong arm. “He’s got some work to do on defense,” Rantz said.
The Twins are pleased with Sano’s progress in learning English. Rantz believes one day Sano could be a leader on the field.
For now Sano is back in the Dominican Republic but won’t play winter baseball because many of the players are major leaguers. The Twins want to protect his development and won’t bring him to the major league camp in 2012. Rantz expects Sano, who won’t be 19 until next May, will be assigned to the organization’s Class A Beloit team.
“He is something else, especially with the bat,” Rantz said.
That’s what Sporting News believes, too, forecasting that Sano will be in the majors with the power hungry Twins “by the end of 2012.”