Miguel Sano likely won't be back in the Twins lineup any time soon as he recovers from a hamstring strain that was classified as "moderate" by team officials, though any hamstring injury seems significant.
"It's not going to be a 15-day ordeal," General Manager Terry Ryan acknowledged late last week.
When he does return from the disabled list, Sano should have a new position.
The Sano-to-right-field experiment has been an abject failure, and it's not fair to anyone — Sano or his pitchers — to keep trotting him out to a position that he's not equipped to play.
Why risk Sano's hamstrings and health and potentially sacrifice his production as a hitter by sticking with a plan that simply has not worked and hasn't shown meaningful signs of improving?
Sano is the Twins' most important player. His absence in the lineup creates a void. But he remains a liability in right field, an eyesore on the outfield defense.
Sano can play third base, first base or designated hitter. He's not an outfielder.
Every Sano misplay in right field is greeted by social media guffaws and punchlines. He's an easy target because he looks so clueless and helpless as line drives approach his vicinity.