CHICAGO — A couple of quick notes from yet another Twins victory:
Paul Molitor grabbed a glove during batting practice Friday and held an impromptu review of the fundamentals of playing first base for Miguel Sano. They worked on footwork around the bag, when to stretch for a throw, and how quickly to move away when holding runners.
With ByungHo Park and Kennys Vargas in the minors, Sano is now Joe Mauer's backup at first base, at least for the time being. It's a position he's played for only five innings in the majors, four of them in an extra-inning game in 2015, and one on Wednesday. Friday was his first career start at the position.
Molitor didn't play Sano there during spring training because "I didn't want to clutter his mind, as he tried to lock into being our third baseman." He probably also didn't expect both Vargas and Park to be sent down. But Molitor is optimistic that Sano can handle the position.
"He's in a good place. He's had good at-bats, and I think he's feeling good about his game," Molitor said. "The timing seems right to give it a shot."
Sano said he enjoyed the experience, and even the tutorial. At his size, he knows first base is probably in his future, but only, he hopes, after several seasons at his preferred position of third base. "It's fun. I like it," Sano said after the game. "I know how to play it, so it's OK. I'm never nervous."
XXX
Byron Buxton was very matter-of-fact about it: I'm not hitting.