Talk to people around the Twins and they'll say a big reason for Miguel Sano's tremendous All-Star season has been an improved attitude from the 24-year-old third baseman.
He showed up to spring training several pounds lighter than last season and put in a lot of hard work to become a better defensive player, which has really shown this season at third base and at first, where he played Wednesday. Sano hit a three-run homer that broke the game open in the second inning, helping the Twins thump the Yankees 6-1 at Target Field.
After the game, the young slugger from the Dominican Republic said he worked hard during the offseason to have success this year, but added that he strives to do that every year.
"It's about the offseason," Sano said through his translator. "The work I put in in the Dominican Republic has been translated here in the big leagues. I work hard every year. No matter what happens, my job is to work hard and try to do the best I can."
Did he find any added meaning in homering against the Yankees?
"It doesn't matter if it's the Yankees, Boston, any team," he said. "I'm happy because I help the team."
Sano has homered in consecutive games, giving him 23 this season after hitting 25 last year. He ranks 10th in the American League in slugging percentage at. 539, is tied for fourth in RBI with 66 (matching a career high) and is seventh in home runs.
He has upped his batting average from .236 last season to .272 this year, while raising his on-base percentage from .319 to .370.