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Miguel Sano impresses at third base for Twins

April 29, 2016 at 8:08PM
Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano throws to first base for the out on Washington Nationals' Anthony Rendon during the third inning of an interleague baseball game at Nationals Park, Saturday, April 23, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano throws to first base for the out on Washington Nationals' Anthony Rendon during the third inning of an interleague baseball game at Nationals Park, Saturday, April 23, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (Brian Stensaas — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Miguel Sano hasn't just occupied third base in his two starts there this week, he has thrived at the position. On Tuesday, he charged in and barehanded a soft chopper from Jose Uribe and easily threw him out at first.

Wednesday, he dived for Francisco Lindor's grounder toward left field, jumped up and threw the speedy shortstop out. And in the eighth inning, he repeated his snag-and-throw heroics on another chopper, this time nabbing Marlon Byrd at first.

"His body-control plays are as good as anybody. It's very impressive to watch," manager Paul Molitor said. "When a ball [like Byrd's] is put into play, you just don't think there's going to be much of a chance, but he makes the play. He's got such a strong arm to finish with."

Molitor didn't want to revisit, after Wednesday's loss, the decision to make Sano an outfielder, and it's clear that Trevor Plouffe will reclaim his position when he returns from the disabled list Tuesday.

But the manager, who has given Sano three starts at his old position during Plouffe's absence, said he has enjoyed discovering that Sano can still handle third base.

"Consistency was the biggest [challenge] for him, the day-to-day," Molitor said. "But he can make the play that gets your attention, for sure."

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about the writer

about the writer

Phil Miller

Reporter

Phil Miller has covered the Twins for the Minnesota Star Tribune since 2013. Previously, he covered the University of Minnesota football team, and from 2007-09, he covered the Twins for the Pioneer Press.

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