Category: Twins

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.”

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Jake Mauer told Sports Headliners that grandson Joe Mauer is “ashamed” of his 2011 season but determined to improve next season and help the Twins become a winner again.

Various injuries and ailments limited the all-star catcher to 82 games.  The stats were totally unlike past seasons for the former American League batting champion and MVP.  Mauer hit .287 with three home runs and 30 RBI.  The club finished the season on Wednesday night with a 63-99 record, the second most losses in Twins franchise history.

The older Mauer has been a mentor to Joe since he was a toddler.  He said his grandson’s spirits have been low. “He thinks he let everybody down because of his injuries,” Jake said by telephone this week.

On October 12 Joe will travel to Florida and begin working with a trainer, determined to build up his body including his legs for next season, according to Jake.   “He has to prove a lot next year, boy, and he knows that,” Jake said.  “He’s going to stay with the schedule with his trainer and himself, and going to build himself back up.

“He said, ‘Grandpa, I’ll go out there next year and I hope…God is with me to produce, that I can not be ashamed of what I did the year before.’  He wants to do good.”

Sports journalists have frequently written this season about Mauer being in the first year of a $184 million contract and producing so little for his ballclub.  “Joe don’t like that,” Jake said.  “It bothers the … out of him.  He knows that big salary he gets, he isn’t producing.  He just can’t help it.  But he wants to do it but he just can’t because of his health.”

Jake said the Twins have been supportive of his grandson this season, listening to Joe’s needs and referring him to the best doctors.  “He’s really pleased with the Twins,” Jake said.  “There’s no question about it.  But he thinks he let them down because of his health but he hopes to build them up next year and change everything and put the Twins back on top.”

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