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MLB: 10 prospects ready to play in the big leagues

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Mar 8, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (76) at bat against the Detroit Tigers at a spring training baseball game at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (76) at bat against the Detroit Tigers at a spring training baseball game at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 14, 2013; Flushing , NY, USA; World infielder Miguel Sano at bat during the 2013 All Star Futures Game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 14, 2013; Flushing , NY, USA; World infielder Miguel Sano at bat during the 2013 All Star Futures Game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

. Third Base. Minnesota Twins. Miguel Sano. 4. player. 2

Tommy John surgery is an all too common requirement for many of the game’s top prospects, and it can stunt the development of a rising star because it forces them to the sidelines for a complete season. Of course, it’s something you hear about much more for flame-throwing pitchers, not slugging third basemen.

Yet, Twins mega-prospect Miguel Sano sat out the 2014 season as he recovered from the operation, when he might have played well enough to make it to the big leagues as a 21-year old. Instead, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound right-handed hitter is in Double-A again. He shouldn’t stay there much longer, though.

Sano has one of the rarest tools in baseball today: pure plus-plus power from the right side of the plate. As a professional, Sano collected 90 home runs from 2010 to 2013. Through the first 45 games this season, he has ten long balls and has driven in 33 runs and scored 33 more along with a .250/.354/.506 slash.

As of June 1, the surprising Minnesota Twins were 30-19 and a half-game ahead of the Kansas City Royals in the American League Central. While Trevor Plouffe has been serviceable at the hot corner for the Twins, Sano is a future superstar capable of contributing today.

Sano isn’t the only member of the Twins’ star-studded Double-A roster that could (should?) find themselves in the Twin Cities this season. Outfielder Byron Buxton is the game’s top overall prospect according to MLB.com. The speedy 21-year old has a respectable .262/.329/.497 slash with six home runs, 35 RBI and an impressive 11 triples in 48 games this year for the Lookouts.

Also, right-handed pitcher Jose Berrios is a consensus top-40 prospect and is off to a dazzling start this season in Double-A. Through his first ten starts this year, the 21-year old is 6-2 with a 2.84 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 63.1 innings. Barrios made a brief appearance in Triple-A last season, so making the jump to Minnesota won’t be a big deal.

All three players should help the Twins stay in contention for years to come, but Sano is the one that should be in the lineup tomorrow and for the foreseeable future.

Next: Carl Edwards, Jr.

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