The Twins right now are in the throes of a pennant race, but just today, Bill Smith made what might be the most important move since the Twins drafted Joe Mauer. Usually I am very sarcastic about everything, but today I’m being serious.
This smiling youngster is elite Dominican prospect Miguel Angel Sano, and reports everywhere are saying he has just signed with the Twins. Sano as reputedly 16 and the deal is contingent on his obtaining a work visa in the US. Sano thinks he will be in the major leagues in just two years, but at 16, I think 3-4 years might be a more appropriate estimate. He is a short stop that projects to change position, either to the outfield or third base. Scouts say that his power will be somewhere between “good” and “great”. Some scouts have even gone so far as to say his skill level falls somewhere in the Evan Longoria-Alex Rodriguez range. Weighty proclamations for someone so young and unproven.
Aside from the fact that Sano appears as though he may soon be the best prospect in baseball, it signals a change in the Twins organization. Typically, if the Twins have had foreign born players break through, they have been acquisitions from another organization. On this team, Carlos Gomez came from the Mets, Francisco Liriano from the Giants and Alexi Casilla from the Angels. Justin Morneau is the most notable foreign born player on the team, and Canada hardly counts. The elite talent on the team generally comes domestically, and in some cases, from the same state.
In the past year, the Twins have tried to replenish their team internationally, with pursuit of current Braves pitcher Kenshin Kawakami most notable. Despite my gripes about the Twins, my complaints are only with game day strategy. The front under Bill Smith has proven to have a keen eye towards the future, and in a matter of a couple years, Bill Smith might be one of the most heralded general managers in the game. Miguel Angel Sano might go a long way to making that happen.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
