Kuzul

Mike Pelfrey‘s legendary speech to Wichita State may not give you goosebumps, but it will make you laugh out loud. 

MLB Fan Cave caught just one of the myriad ways that MLB players decide to prank their teammates. This time, Twins closer Glen Perkins and manager Ron Gardenhire collaborate to pull a fast one on one of their starting pitchers. 

Pelfrey walks into the skipper’s office, where it is explained that Wichita State loves to hear from celebrities and may want an inspirational speech to keep the team rolling along in the NCAA tournament. 

We were all underwhelmed on both counts. 

Pelfrey, being an alumnus, is the perfect man to give an impassioned speech that would make Ray Lewis envious. 

Unfortunately, his ability to knock the walls down with a booming voice and colorful language is on par with the manner in which you give out driving directions. 

The 30-year-old sounds like he is ordering pizza, leaving Gardenhire to try and get something more from his pitcher, which is kind of how their relationship normally works. 

Of course, there is no Wichita State. 

Well, there is, but the Shockers were off somewhere safe from things like, “You guys always remember how good you are and what got you there” and “so go [expletive] get ’em.”

Thanks to hidden cameras, we get to see it all play out. Still, we have to think Pelfrey should have seen this coming. 

First, who gives inspirational speeches via phone? This is only slightly worse than giving a rousing text to your alma mater. 

Second, Perkins nearly gives things away from the start. Do we really believe “Darren” from the Wichita State athletic department is going to start any conversation out with, “Hey, Gardey. How are you doing?”

It’s “Mr. Gardenhire, sir,” and don’t you forget it. 

The best part of the entire charade is the end, when Perkins offers, “We appreciate that. The funny thing is, though, we are out in the clubhouse, Mike, you Munson.”

Where do we keep getting Munson from?

Now we have a glorious video that serves two purposes. On one hand, we have a wonderful look into a loose clubhouse that knows how to laugh. If we might be so bold, we might ask the comedy troupe of Perkins and Gardey to deliver another shortly. 

On the other hand, we now know exactly how a March Madness speech from Pelfrey would go, so feel free to use this however you’d like next season, Shockers. 

Perhaps, and this may just be our undying love for baseball talking, if Pelfrey was able to give this thing before the weekend, the Shockers might still be alive and kicking in the Big Dance. 

Something tells me his words could do more than move mountains. They can absolutely decimate a clubhouse. 

Hit me up on Twitter: 

Follow @gabezal

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The Minnesota Twins got the news they were dreading Saturday morning. Their top prospect, Miguel Sano, will have Tommy John surgery and miss the 2014 season, as reported by ESPN.com.

While Tommy John surgery has a shorter recovery period for position players than it does for pitchers, who obviously throw more, a lost season and a possible position change could change the fortune of the player ranked No. 6 in the game by Baseball America.

An MRI and exam confirmed that Sano has torn his UCL (ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow). Sources tell me that there is still some worry that there is more extensive damage inside the elbow and that the surgeon, when chosen, will need to check it thoroughly when he goes in.

One source told me that the biggest fear is damage to the articular cartilage of the elbow, which could affect his long-term ability to throw with power. This could necessitate a position change.

The elbow was checked immediately after Sano injured his elbow in an intrasquad game on a simple throw. The doctors were concerned that the UCL had been compromised. Sano had previously hurt his elbow during winter ball, but he had cleared his physical coming into camp.

Since the team knew about the winter injury and monitored it, it is hard to believe that it would not have checked this in addition to the normal pre-camp physical. These physicals are often superficial, but known problem areas are usually checked thoroughly in order to maintain a paper trail for possible insurance and worker’s compensation issues down the line.

The normal recovery time for a pitcher having Tommy John surgery is between 10 and 12 months. For a position player, it can be less, as little as six months but normally closer to eight or nine. For more information on the surgery itself and its background, please read this award-winning series of articles.

The Twins’ Rob Antony, the assistant general manager who is running the club while Terry Ryan is recovering from cancer surgery, told the media that the team believes Sano will be back to hitting in four months.

Here is Sano himself discussing the upcoming surgery, courtesy of Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press:

But they do not expect Sano to play this season. He may need winter ball again next season, though teams are often reluctant to let rehabbing players play outside close supervision of their own medical staff.

The list of position players who have had Tommy John surgery isn’t as extensive as it is for pitchers—but it’s not short either. Players like Jose Canseco, Luis Gonzalez, Tony Womack, Shin-Soo Choo and Kyle Blanks have had the procedure. All returned normally and without significant change to their game. However, there’s not many in the way of plus-throwers in there. 

While Albert Pujols did not have Tommy John surgery, he did damage his ulnar collateral ligament. It forced his move from third base, initially moving him to left field. He was limited in throwing so much that Tony La Russa devised a new relay system, sending shortstop Edgar Renteria deep into the outfield to shorten any throw.

Pujols quickly moved to first base after the throwing because of untenability. He later had nerve transposition surgery on the elbow, but refused to have Tommy John surgery.

The downside for Sano is that he no longer has as many options as Pujols did. Joe Mauer’s shift to first base from his previous catcher slot makes it nearly impossible to move Sano there. In fact, Mauer’s position was switched in part because Sano was expected to play third. Mauer is athletic enough to hold the position, so those plans may have to shift somewhat if Sano shows any throwing deficits.

The rehab process is very similar for position players as it is for pitchers. Sano should be able to recover, but for a player who has already overcome so much to be in this position, he can’t make up the time lost. Along with Byron Buxton, Sano is the vanguard of Terry Ryan’s team remake; losing a year won’t help, while positional issues may alter the plan altogether.

While Sano should return, there are more questions than answers at this stage.

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Updates from Saturday, March 1

LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune has the latest on Sano and the news isn’t good:

The highly-touted third base prospects has a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament and will need Tommy John surgery. Sano will fly to Minnesota next week to have the surgery.

[…]

Tommy John rehab for position players isn’t as extensive as pitchers, but indications are that Sano’s season could be over.

The team later confirmed Neal’s report on their official Twitter feed, and added that Sano’s season was over before it started.

Neal provided more info on Sano’s timeline:

Original Text

Minnesota Twins third base prospect Miguel Sano is experiencing lingering soreness in his right elbow that raises concerns about his major league future, according to TwinCities.com’s Mike Berardino.

Sano’s agent Rob Plummer doesn’t appear to be very optimistic after Sano recently asked whether he should undergo surgery on the problem area, per Berardino:

“I have a feeling this is more than nothing. We have to wait for the MRI to be read, but it feels like this is more than nothing.”

Until the examinations are complete and doctors can determine what it is exactly that’s ailing Sano, a timetable on his return to full strength remains unknown. For now, both player and club will be waiting anxiously and hoping for the best possible news. 

As Berardino points out, the Twins are likely to take a patient approach to Sano’s recovery if it turns out that his ulnar collateral ligament is still intact. Otherwise, surgery will be the only option.  

The 20-year-old third baseman is a native of the Dominican Republic and signed a deal with the Twins back in 2009 as a teenager. He’s spent recent seasons developing in the minors and was showing promise ahead of his recent setback.

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When it comes to spring training, every fan is interested in getting an early look at baseball’s top prospects.

This year, all eyes will be on Byron Buxton, Prospect Pipeline’s No. 1-overall prospect for the 2014 season, who was invited to major league camp by the Minnesota Twins.

Without a game of experience above the High-A level, it’s extremely doubtful that the 20-year-old outfielder will make the Twins’ Opening Day roster. However, with five legitimate plus tools to his name and baseball skills that transcend his age, Buxton is poised to open eyes this spring and assert his proximity to the major leagues.

2013 in Review

Selected by the Twins with the second-overall pick in the 2012 draft, Buxton had a good (but not great) professional debut later that summer during which he showcased loud tools but also a lack of consistency—especially at the plate.

Splitting the season between the complex level Gulf Coast League and Rookie-level Elizabethton, Buxton batted .248/.344/.448 with 19 extra-base hits, 11 stolen bases and a 41-19 strikeout-to-walk rate in 189 plate appearances.

And then the 2013 season happened.

Buxton emerged as baseball’s top prospect last year in his full-season debut, posting a .944 OPS with 49 extra-base hits (12 home runs), 55 stolen bases in 74 attempts and an impressive 105-76 strikeout-to-walk rate in 574 plate appearances between both Class-A levels—as a 19-year-old nonetheless.

He opened the season on fire at Low-A Cedar Rapids, posting a .944 OPS, 33 extra-base hits (eight home runs), 32 stolen bases and a stellar 56-44 strikeout-to-walk rate in 321 plate appearances.

As a result of his overwhelming success, the Twins decided to promote Buxton to High-A Fort Myers for the second half of the regular season, where he continued to put up monster numbers in spite of the inherent challenges associated with playing in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League.

Overall, the then-teenager batted .326/.415/.472 with 16 extra-base hits, 23 stolen bases and a 49-32 strikeout-to-walk rate. Furthermore, Buxton’s final month of the regular season was arguably his best of the year, as he posted a .402/.523/.494 batting line with 16 steals and more walks (20) than strikeouts (16).

In the wake of his historically good full-season debut, the Twins sent Buxton to the prestigious Arizona Fall League to get him additional experience against advanced pitching. However, the toolsy outfielder was unable to maintain his torrid pace at the plate and showed signs of wearing down after playing in 125 games during the regular season. As a result, Buxton batted only .212/.288/.404 with two stolen bases and 15 strikeouts while playing in 12 games for the Glendale Desert Dogs.

To make matters worse, Buxton was shut down toward the end of the AFL with a minor left shoulder injury (bone bruise and tendinitis) that he suffered earlier in the fall, which explains a lot of the swings I saw in person during my week-plus stay in Arizona.

In each look, the explosiveness that I came to love this summer was dialed back, and he appeared slightly tentative at times during games—a telltale sign that he was fearful of swinging through a pitch and worsening an injury.

Thankfully, Buxton’s injury has fully healed over the last few months, according to Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and isn’t expected to be an issue moving forward.

The Tools

Buxton is a rarity in that he’s a teenager with a realistic ceiling of a plus-plus hitter at maturity. While his off-the-charts bat speed and direct path to the ball will give him a chance to hit at the highest level, it’s the mature approach and pitch recognition that could make him one of the game’s top hitters in his prime.

The 20-year-old’s in-game power potential was widely questioned when the Twins drafted him in 2012. However, Buxton’s advanced approach and impressive bat speed allowed it to develop ahead of schedule last season, as he showcased plus raw power to all fields that should ultimately translate to 20-plus home runs annually at maturity. Beyond that, his wheels—which you’ll read more about momentarily—will make him an extra-base machine for the duration of his career and place him among the league leaders in total bases.

Buxton’s 80-grade speed, a product of his insanely good athleticism, is arguably his most impressive tool—which says a lot. In spite of his lack of experience, he’s already an excellent baserunner capable of taking an extra base with relative ease. His speed also caters to his present ability and future potential as a base stealer, and amazingly it plays up even more thanks to his high baseball IQ.

With all that’s already been said about Buxton’s speed and overall baseball aptitude, his projection as an elite defender in center field shouldn’t come as a surprise. Though he has the natural athleticism and speed to run down virtually everything, Buxton’s jumps and aggressive (but direct) routes are especially impressive for a player his age.

Spring Training: What to Expect

Buxton technically participated in his first major league spring training last year prior to his full-season debut, appearing in one game for the Twins before an inevitable re-assignment to minor league camp.

Yet, one game was all Buxton needed to make a strong impression, as the outfielder went 1-for-4 with three runs scored and a pair of stolen bases.

The 20-year-old should receive significant playing time this spring considering he’s already viewed as a potential late-season call-up. The Twins are eager to see how Buxton fares against major league-caliber pitching, and a strong showing against advanced competition could potentially improve his estimated time of arrival in The Show.

Even if Buxton struggles at the plate, his capacity to impact the game on all sides of the ball is impossible to overlook. Basically, the outfielder really can do no wrong this spring.

With five potentially plus tools and a feel for making in-game adjustments, Buxton has the ceiling of an MVP-caliber player in his prime. Assuming he begins the 2014 season at Double-A New Britain and stays healthy, Buxton has a legitimate chance to finish the year in the major leagues.

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The Minnesota Twins took a step toward improving their miserable starting rotation on Wednesday when they agreed to a deal with free agent Ricky Nolasco.

Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish broke the news first, with Jon Heyman of CBS Sports confirming the report:

Source: #Twins agree to terms with Ricky Nolasco.

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) November 27, 2013

Nolasco has deal with twins @ChrisCotillo had 1st

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) November 27, 2013

Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports broke the terms of the deal:

Signing Nolasco is a great move by the Twins, as he is coming off an impressive 2013 campaign during which he went 13-11 with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.

Nolasco also finished the season strong, going 8-3 with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP after being traded from the Miami Marlins to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After such an impressive showing in 2013, Nolasco was among the top free agents this offseason, ranking eighth among available starting pitchers prior to his signing, according to CBS Sports.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Twins are interested in bolstering their starting rotation after the way they’ve struggled over the past few years.

The Twins have been among the worst three teams in terms of ERA in each of the past three seasons, due in large part to the inefficiency of their starting pitchers.

As you can see from the table above, the Twins have been at or near the bottom of the AL Central for the past three years largely because of their woeful pitching staff.

The 5.26 ERA among starters was the worst in MLB last season—even worse than the Houston Astros. The next-worst ERA by starters was 4.81 by the Toronto Blue Jays, an incredible 0.45 better than that of Minnesota.

In fact, the last time the Twins had a decent pitching staff was in 2010, when Carl Pavano and Francisco Liriano led the starting rotation and Jesse Crain and closer Jon Rauch highlighted the bullpen.

Unfortunately, signing Nolasco isn’t nearly enough to save the Twins starting rotation. If the team hopes to have a decent starting five next season, it will need at least two more starters.

To its credit, Minnesota has certainly been sniffing around and checking out the market.

The team has been linked with Bronson Arroyo, but it has yet to make him an offer:

Hearing Twins remain very high on Bronson Arroyo. Might still be possible to get him on a two-year deal.

— timdierkes (@timdierkes) November 25, 2013

Re: Arroyo — if #MNTwins like so much, they should make an offer. Checked, no offer. But they do like. Need to offer 3-years, @PhilMackey.

— Darren Wolfson (@DarrenWolfson) November 26, 2013

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports also connected the team with Matt Garza, Phil Hughes, Scott Feldman, Ubaldo Jimenez, Ervin Santana and its own Mike Pelfrey.

In addition, Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN.com said the team is interested in Japanese starter Masahiro Tanaka but called Tanaka an “extreme long-shot.”

The Twins know they need pitchers and have a long wish list, but is it possible for the worst starting rotation in baseball to turn things around enough to become serviceable in 2014?

As of now, the Twins have Kevin Correia and Samuel Deduno as their best starting pitchers alongside Nolasco. Correia and Deduno are both back-end starters who shouldn’t be higher than fourth and fifth in the team’s rotation if it wants to be solid next season.

The team can also hope and pray that Vance Worley returns to his 2011 form, when he went 11-3 with a 3.01 ERA and finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting for the Philadelphia Phillies. However, it can’t rely too much on a guy who went 1-5 with a 7.21 ERA in 2013.

If the Twins are going to be good, they’re going to have to sign at least two of the pitchers they’re targeting right now.

Minnesota simply doesn’t have the money to sign Santana or Jimenez and pick up another decent free agent this offseason, which limits its choices.

One creative way for the team to bolster its rotation might be to sign former New York Yankee Phil Hughes.

Hughes is coming off a few bad years in a row with the Yankees, but a big reason he has been unsuccessful in New York is his tendency to surrender home runs.

Over the past two years, Hughes has given up 59 home runs, but 39 of those home runs have come in the launching pad known as Yankee Stadium.

It’s no surprise Hughes has struggled against power hitters, considering he has pitched in the stadium that had the most home runs of any ballpark in 2012.

Minnesota could be a much more welcoming place for Hughes.

According to ESPN Home Run Tracker, Target Field had the second-fewest home runs of any AL stadium this past season. It is a much more pitcher-friendly park than Yankee Stadium, and Hughes could be able to recapture some of his old magic there.

Signing Hughes to a short-term contract would also leave the door open for the Twins to make a major signing for the other pitcher they need.

With some financial wiggle room after giving Hughes a cheap contract, the Twins would be able to make a play for a guy such as Garza, who has had success pitching in Minnesota in the past.

Adding Garza and Hughes to a rotation with Nolasco, Correia and Deduno could potentially give the Twins a middle-of-the-pack rotation, which would be a huge improvement.

However, we have to keep in mind that there’s a chance Hughes doesn’t bounce back in Minnesota and Garza continues to struggle in the AL, as he did with the Texas Rangers in the latter half of 2013 (4-5, 4.38 ERA, -0.1 WAR).

Realistically, the Twins are going to need a few years to fix their starting rotation—and part of their rebuilding process will need to come from within the organization.

According to Baseball Prospectus, five of the Twins’ top nine prospects are pitchers. The team is going to have to hope that Alex Meyer (Double-A), Kohl Stewart (rookie ball), Jose Berrios (Single-A), Lewis Thorpe (Rk) and Felix Jorge (Rk) all continue to develop and that two or three of them turn out to be solid pitchers in the majors.

However, the Twins will have to wait a few years for these guys to start making a difference. Three of them are still in rookie ball, and Meyer is the only one in Double-A or higher.

With so much rebuilding to do and their prospects still a few years away, it would be unfair to expect the Twins to fix their rotation issues by the time the 2014 season rolls around.

In all likelihood, the Twins won’t have a top-tier starting rotation for at least another three years. But that won’t stop them from trying to add a few more guys like Nolasco for the time being.

It’s going to be a long rebuilding process for the Twins, but this signing is a step in the right direction. Minnesota fans can only hope the team continues to build on its latest move.

Follow @JoshSchoch

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The Minnesota Twins have a lot on their plate this winter. As they ponder a dive into MLB Free Agency, general manager Terry Ryan needs to decide whether Joe Mauer is their 2014 catcher, if they really can trust Brian Dozier at second base and if some of the bright prospects in the organization are ready for the leap to Minneapolis.

However, there is one glaring need that must be addressed.

This would be the team’s starting pitching, who’s performance has been enjoyable as a trip to the dentist in recent seasons. In 2013, the Twins ranked last in starting rotation ERA a year after finishing a “respectable” 29th.

While they did see a numerical improvement in that area, it’s time to realize the Twins have a pitching problem and must find a way to fix it.

Conventional wisdom says that the Twins will try to make a trade instead of throwing money at the problem, but the Twins do not have many major league assets. They could dive into their rich minor league system as well, but the pieces teams are likely asking for represent key parts of the team’s future.

Ryan has to make a run in the free-agent market, and it can’t be the team’s traditional approach of high-risk, medium-reward signings. The Twins need legitimate starting pitching and they need it now without crossing their fingers that somebody can repeat a fluky career year.

Here’s a look at some guys that the Twins should be looking at once free agency commences.

Begin Slideshow

The Minnesota Twins are well on their way to their third straight October off, and the fans in Twins Territory are not happy.

With the trade of Justin Morneau to the Pirates and with Joe Mauer’s slow recovery from a concussion, there doesn’t seem to be much hope for the team as they trot out a lineup in which Brian Dozier is supposed to be their main source of power.

Yet, as the Twins go into another cold and dark offseason, there may be brighter days on the horizon.

Many know about the growing strength of the lower levels of the organization, but even at the major league level there are reasons for growing optimism for a team that’s fallen on hard times.

Begin Slideshow

Giancarlo Stanton possesses the most raw power of any player in the game. However, he may have some competition at this time next season.

Already on the fast track to the major leagues, Miguel Sano is racing through the Minnesota Twins’ system and putting up big numbers along the way.

Sano opened the season by batting .330/.424/.655 with 16 home runs for High-A Fort Myers in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League and was rewarded with a promotion to Double-A New Britain in early June. Although the 20-year-old’s batting average dropped off at the more advanced level, his power has translated as hoped, with a .915 OPS and 19 home runs through 67 games.

Ranked as our No. 6 overall prospect in July, Sano’s overall game lacks polish and will need refinement before he’s declared ready for the major leagues. However, after my firsthand look at him last week, I fully believe that he has the potential to become baseball’s next great third baseman.

The Calling Card: 80-Grade Power

Scouts are hesitant to throw an 80-grade (on the 20-80 scouting scale) on anything other than a triple-digit fastball or sub-four second home-to-first time. So the fact that Sano has received a consensus 80 for his power speaks to how truly special of a tool it is.

In 2011, Sano put himself on the map as one of the game’s best young sluggers when he hit 20 home runs in 66 games as an 18-year-old in the rookie-level Appalachian League. He’s since improved in every subsequent season.

Last year, his full-season debut, Sano led the Low-A Midwest League with 28 home runs in 129 games. He’s shown even more thump against better pitching this season, with 35 home runs in 123 games between High-A Fort Myers and Double-A New Britain.

When the 20-year-old has struggled with his approach and making consistent contact—which we’ll get to in a minute—the power has always been there. And now, as he’s started to noticeably evolve as a hitter, its frequency is improving in the face of better competition.

The Question Mark 

There was legitimate concern about Sano’s hit tool heading into the 2013 season, as he’s always been a player more likely to jump the yard or strike out than make consistent contact. In his full-season debut last year, the then-19-year-old batted only .258 with 144 strikeouts in 129 games (26 percent strikeout rate). However, Sano also demonstrated the foundation of a solid overall approach through his ability to coax walks at a 14.5 percent rate.

With a swing capable of producing prodigious blasts, it’s a reality that Sano will likely always strike out more than desired. Trying to alter his swing to make him a more contact-oriented hitter is pointless and could potentially hurt his overall development, so the hope was that Sano would continue to sharpen his plate discipline and simply become a more selective hitter.

That’s certainly been the case so far this season. Through 123 games across two levels, Sano owns a career-best .382 on-base percentage thanks to a 12.6 percent walk rate against advanced pitching. While he still struggles with both his swing mechanics and approach at times, Sano‘s improved pitch recognition this season has made him a more consistent and selective hitter overall.

Recent Scouting Notes and Video

I travelled to New Jersey on back-to-back nights last week to get my final look at Sano for the season—I last saw him at the Futures Game, which had a very controlled format—with Double-A New Britain in town for a series against Trenton (Yankees).

After a two-homer game on August 25 against Bowie, Sano went 0-for-6 with three strikeouts and two walks in the first two games of the series against Trenton. So when I saw him play the next night, I wasn’t surprised to see more of the same from him at the plate.

In what turned out to be a 13-inning affair—I admittedly left after the 11th with a two-hour drive back to New York ahead of me—Sano went 0-for-4 with three walks and two strikeouts. While nothing he did that night will catch eyes on paper, I left the park thoroughly impressed with the 20-year-old. 

As you can see in the above video, Sano has a consistent approach seemingly based on an understanding that opposing pitchers are going to attack him with soft stuff off the plate. As a result, he worked deep counts all night, demonstrating an advanced feel for the strike zone without caving into each pitcher’s game plan. There were a few times when Sano was too anxious and took an out-of-control hack at a breaking ball in the dirt. However, that’s bound to happen if he’s being fed a steady diet of junk.

In general, Sano’s timing was noticeably off at the dish that night—which also can be partially attributed to the pitch sequencing. He was a bit tardy on the few fastballs he saw over the course of the long, rain-soaked game, fouling them straight back or to the first-base side of the plate. And when he did put the ball in play, it was hit weakly on the ground to the left side.

Upon reviewing my video the next morning, it looked as though Sano was cutting himself off at the plate. By that, I mean that he wasn’t allowing his hands to get through the zone and create a favorable point of contact. One thing you’ll notice about Sano is that he doesn’t hold the bat in his fingertips as hitters are taught to do. Instead, he has the bat deep in his hands and grips it tightly, almost like a club, with his top (right) hand.

While such a positioning allows him to drive through the baseball and generate exceptional backspin carry, it also prevents him from snapping his wrists through the zone. As you can see in Sano’s spray chart (above), it’s an issue that has been present all season, as most of his batted outs stem from ground balls to the left side of the infield.

Therefore, I made an effort to get to the park early the next day to catch Sano’s batting practice and see what he was working on specifically. During his first two rounds, he worked on driving the ball the other way and keeping it out of the air, and he even fouled the first several pitches off the right side of the cage. As he loosened up and settled in, Sano began working the ball up the middle with a controlled swing. But what impressed me was that he never tried to lift the ball or swing for the fences; there was a purpose to every swing. Though Sano never turned it loose, the right-handed hitter still showcased ridiculous bat speed during batting practice. In fact, the hardest balls he hit came from a simple flick of the wrists.

Unfortunately, Sano was held out of the lineup that night, so I didn’t get a chance to see whether his work during batting practice carried over into the game. Luckily it didn’t matter, as the 20-year-old had already showed me everything I needed to see within the previous 24 hours.

For what it’s worth, Sano went 3-for-4 with a double and two more home runs in his return to the lineup the following night.  

The Defense: Better Than You Think 

At 6’3” and roughly 230 pounds, Sano is a big dude with broad shoulders and a thick lower half. But due to the lack of physical projection associated with his frame, there’s always been a belief that he’d eventually be forced off third base, his natural position.

However, after working with Hall of Famer Paul Molitor during spring training, Sano’s defense has noticeably improved over the course of the season. While he’ll always lack quick feet, the 20-year-old has learned to take a more instinctual first step and showcases at least average range.

In my look at Sano last week, I was particularly impressed with his body control at third base. Despite his size, he’s more athletic than people seem to realize. During the extra-inning game, there was one specific play that left an indelible impression: Sano came charging on a top-spun grounder, fielded the ball on an in-between hop, made a smooth transition to his throwing hand and fired a strike to first base while on the run.

Even though it was a pretty common play for a professional third baseman—and one he was certainly expected to make—it was enough to convince me that Sano will be able to remain at the position for the foreseeable future.

The Ceiling

With a name that’s become synonymous with elite raw power, it’s easy to peg Sano as a one-dimensional, all-or-nothing prospect. However, if you’ve learned anything from this article, it’s that the 20-year-old is much more than that.

Even if his strikeout rate results in subpar batting averages, Sano’s combination of on-base skills and power gives him the ceiling of a frequent All-Star. In his prime, 35-plus home runs in a season could easily be the norm. Even in his worst years, it’s possible that he’ll rank among the league leaders in both home runs and slugging percentage.

At his current pace, Sano could be making a case for a September call-up at this time next season. However, there’s also a realistic chance that he’ll already be in the major leagues. Either way, Sano is the type of impact prospect that will be allowed to complete the final phases of his development at the highest level. And why not? He’s responded favorably to every challenge the Twins have thrown his way and continues to improve against advanced competition.

For me, he’s shown all the signs of a becoming a star.

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Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau are two players who will be prominently featured in the history of the Minnesota Twins. Each has won an MVP award, but together they’ve been vital cogs in what has been a banner period for the franchise, with six division championships in nine years during the 2000s.

Despite their record of success together, nobody knows if the two will someday shake hands in Cooperstown or if they’ll both be members of the Twins Hall of Fame (which I assume will someday be added onto a wing of Target Field.)

However, the two players’ careers have certainly headed in different directions.

Mauer has taken the role of the face of the franchise after signing his massive contract extension prior to the 2010 season. Despite the bickering of some fans, he has mostly performed at a high level, with the exception of the 2011 season, which was largely lost due to injury.

As a catcher, Mauer has won three American League batting championships. There are few players who can take claim to three batting titles, but nobody can say they did it behind the plate in the AL, as Mauer was the first to even win one, let alone three.

Mauer’s defense has propelled him to win three Gold Gloves. That’s a big reason why despite the bilateral leg weakness and a recent concussion, the Twins refuse to move him from behind the plate.

When it comes to catchers, it simply doesn’t get any better than the St. Paul product in his 10 seasons with the Twins.

We know we’ll see Mauer enshrined in the Hall of Fame someday, but what about his partner in crime, Morneau?

Morneau got off to a slow start in his first full season in 2005, but he took off after the midway point of the 2006 season, which saw him win his only MVP award to date. Winning one is an incredible accomplishment for any player, but it’s staggering when you consider that he could have been a three-time winner.

The Twins overachieved in the 2008 season, and Morneau was a big reason for that, hitting .300 with 23 home runs and 129 RBI. An MVP award was possible, but the team fell to the Chicago White Sox in a one-game playoff for the division championship, and the nation fell in love with Dustin “The Little Guy” Pedroia so much that voters leaned toward the Boston Red Sox’s second baseman.

Morneau also was on his way to an incredible season in 2010 with a career-high .345 average and 18 home runs in his first 81 games of the season, but that’s where his turn for the worse began after taking a knee to the head from Aaron Hill on July 7.

Before the injury, Morneau enjoyed a stretch between 2006 and 2010 where he dominated the American League and had a line of .298/.372/.528 with 136 home runs and 526 RBI. Since his return in 2011, those numbers have declined to .257/.318/.411 with 38 home runs and 79 RBI in roughly three seasons.

Does a five-year stretch get a player into the Hall of Fame? I don’t believe so.

If it were up to me, I would put Morneau in the Hall of Pretty Good. He was a leader for the Twins and will probably have his No. 33 jersey retired by the club someday, but he’s an example of what could have been if it weren’t for his laundry list of injuries.

Chris Schad is a Minnesota Twins Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. His work has also been featured on the Yahoo! Contributor Network and Pro Football Spot. You can follow Chris on Twitter @crishad.

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Anthony Swarzak is, without a doubt, the goofiest player on the Minnesota Twins.

He always has a sinister grin that gives you the impression he’s got something funny spooling in his brain, ready to unleash it into the world. You almost want to laugh before he says anything because his cheeky smile is just so wacky.

Swarzak kind of an oddball. He hails from Fort Lauderdale, but has none of the brashness Danny Valencia brought with him from South Florida. He’ll sing along with DMX after a win while making wild gestures with his hands in front of wide-eyed, clueless teammates.

When rookie Kyle Gibson was sent down recently, Swarzak immediately slapped a big, hearty hug on him and then placed his hand on Gibson’s shoulder, telling him something that made the dejected starter smile for a brief second.

Nobody can stay upset with Swarzak around.

My favorite Swarzak quote of this year was in regards to hitting.

On August 3, during a game against the Houston Astros, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire gave up the designated hitter spot and was forced to use one of his pitchers to hit in a crucial position.

He opted for Correia, who laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt.

A day later, Swarzak was asked if he was willing to pinch hit.

“I will never shy away from a baseball game in any aspect,” he said before pausing to grin. “But I don’t think the team wants me up to hit.

“I’ll jump at the opportunity, though, but for the game’s sake,” he said, stopping to chuckle for a second. “We should probably let somebody else get a chance.”

That’s right: Swarzak is worried that the baseball gods will strike him down if they ever see him with a bat in his hands.

Fortunately, the Twins play in the Junior Circuit and he should never have to hit a baseball.

When he is on the mound, however, he is all business.

Swarzak began his career as a starter, going 3-7 with a 6.25 ERA as a 23-year-old in 2009. After spending an entire year in the minors, he emerged better than ever in 2011, going 4-7 with a 4.32 ERA and seeing his ERA+, which adjusts for the difference in size between the Metrodome and Target Field, increase from 70 to 94.

He had a setback in 2012, however, and was moved to the bullpen after five starts. His 3-6 record and 5.03 ERA were far from sterling and his ERA+ dropped to 82.

Additionally, for the second time in three years (not including 2010), baseball-reference.com indicates that he had a negative WAR.

Despite his track record, Swarzak has earned a chance to start with his play this year. In 37 appearances, mostly as a long reliever, Swarzak has posted a 1-2 record and 2.87 ERA. His ERA+ has ballooned to 144 and his 1.3 WAR is a career high.

“I would love the opportunity to start,” he said after relieving Gibson, who only pitched three innings against the Astros on August 3.

“I’ll never let that go. Maybe I should for my own good, but as of right now I would love the opportunity to grab the ball every five days and give my team a chance to win.”

Gardenhire appeared to agree at the time, at least to some degree.

“I just got through saying that back there,” he told the media while gesturing to the rooms behind his office. “[But] he’s so valuable at what he’s doing right now that we’re probably going to try and leave him there.”

Fast-forward 16 days and Gibson once again exits in the fourth inning against an inferior opponent—this time, it’s the New York Mets—and once again Swarzak comes in and chews up the opposing lineup.

“He’s been overlooked a lot,” said catcher Joe Mauer. “The last couple of years, he goes in and does a great job.”

Gibson was sent down and Gardenhire was once again faced with the potential of putting Swarzak in the starting lineup.

“We’ve had Swarzy in the starting rotation before, you can go back and look at the numbers. He’s been there before,” said Gardenhire. “He’s done really well where he’s at, but that’s not to say we won’t put him there.

“He is a candidate.”

At this point, just about everyone is a candidate for the rotation next year.

Scott Diamond appeared to be the only sure thing coming into this year, but he has struggled after having bone chips removed from his elbow in the offseason and was ultimately sent down.

Kevin Correia dominated in the first half of the season, going deep into games with low pitch counts, but has been shelled in a few recent starts.

Mike Pelfrey had three years of success in Queens, but hasn’t been himself after Tommy John surgery.

Gibson got the T.J. bug as well.

Samuel Deduno and his wacky fastball are an absolute wild card. One day, he’s throwing smoke. The next day, he loses control.

And that’s just five names off the top of my head. Independent ball lifer Andrew Albers had two solid starts before faltering against the White Sox. Liam Hendriks and P.J. Walters each had a stint this season. Prospects Alex Meyer and Trevor May will both get a look.

With the rotation wide open and plenty of issues to boot, why not give Swarzak a shot?

He had his fair share of struggles, but remember that his record is also more indicative of how poorly the team played in 2011 and 2012 than anything else.

The bullpen already has two long relievers. Brian Duensing appears tailor-made for the role and Ryan Pressly can more than get the job done, so it is not as though Swarzak’s absence leaves a huge vacancy.

Also, consider that Swarzak really has nothing to lose—unlike many of his other teammates.

Diamond went undrafted out of college and was selected in the Rule 5 draft from the Atlanta Braves. He seems in the midst of writing a rags-to-riches-to-rags story in the vein of The Jerk.

Pelfrey is a veteran who doesn’t have a contract next season. Correia’s is up after 2014. Deduno could easily be gone next year.

Swarzak, on the other hand, is under team control until 2017 and can always go back to being a long reliever.

He has nothing to lose.

Swarzak was upset to see Gibson go. On August 3, after the rough start against the Astros, he told the rookie that he needed to let go of all the outside pressure and just do his thing.

“He’s got unbelievable stuff, I told him,” Swarzak says. “And he was born to be here in this league and we all see that.

“When I got called up in ’09, I kind of l did the same thing. I was just trying too hard, forcing the issue a little bit. You want to do good so bad it kind of works against you sometimes.”

Gibson admitted that he was pressing on the day he was sent down, saying that he felt the pressure of playing against better players at the game’s highest level.

“I think a lot of it is coming up here and trying to do too much,” he said before heading out to Rochester. “I understand the hitters are better, and I haven’t been able to make good pitches.”

Unlike Gibson, Swarzak is no stranger to big league hitters at this point in his career. He also does not have to worry about his next contract. He can just go out there and do his thing.

Like when he is singing DMX in the clubhouse after a win, he can just let go while standing on the mound, which brings a smile to all of our faces.

All quotes were obtained firsthand.

Tom Schreier covers Minnesota sports for Bleacher Report and is a contributor to Yahoo! Sports.

Follow @tschreier3

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