TAMPA, FLA. – No, Miguel Sano does not have a chance to go north with the Twins for Opening Day. And no, he is not a candidate for a September call-up.
The 19-year-old hasn't played above low Class A ball, for goodness sakes.
But the Twins, and fans with access to Fox Sports North Plus on Thursday, got to see Sano in action as he was called over from the minor league camp and started at third during the Twins' 6-1 victory over the Yankees.
Sano lined singles to center in his first two at-bats Thursday and finished 2-for-5 with a run scored.
Much has been made about his defense after committing 42 errors as a third baseman at Class A Beloit last season. Sano was fine in the field, as he was credited with four assists and one putout. He made a very nice play in the seventh when he went to his right to backhand a one-hopper before throwing across his body to first on one bounce to retire Jayson Nix.
The Twins had talked about giving Sano a look this spring and decided Thursday was the right time to do it. They might bring Sano in for another game before camp ends.
"Everyone wants to take a look at him, and this is fun, fun stuff," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He's like a kid in a candy store. We're excited to see him."
Sano said he learned around 7 p.m. Wednesday that he was being brought over to the major league side for a day.
"When I get to play third base [through] the ninth inning, I was so happy," he said.
The Twins broke open the game with five runs in the fourth off Yankees starter David Phelps, including a bases-clearing triple by Drew Butera.
La VELLE E. NEAL III
