Former Minnesota Twins slugger signing in Japan

One player who will not be available to the Twins, or any other Major League Baseball team this winter, is former top prospect and somewhat controversial slugger Miguel Sano. According to Francys Romero, the 32 years old corner infield slugger is signing in Japan with the Chunichi Dragons.

Sources: Miguel Sanó is finalizing a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Chunichi Dragons for the 2026 NPB season.

The deal is pending a physical.

— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) December 14, 2025

Miguel Sano hasn’t played in the big leagues since 2024, when he appeared in 28 games with the LA Angels. If he has played his last MLB game, then Sano will finish his Major League career with a .233 BA, .801 OPS and 115 OPS+.

But let’s not give up on the Miguel Sano Major League dream just yet. Sano isn’t getting $1.3 million to play on the other side of the world because he’s completely washed up.

Miguel Sano coming off DOMINANT winter league season

In fact, the former MN Twins All-Star earned this opportunity (and likely others he turned down) because of an MVP caliber season down in the Dominican Winter Ball League where Sano ranked near the top of the league among hitters, with a .315 BA, 1.039 OPS, 9 home runs and 25 RBI.

Miguel Sanó lo volvió a hacer 🔥

Conectó su noveno cuadrangular de la temporada.#LIDOM #CopaBanreservas pic.twitter.com/gzHKqstk6h

— LIDOM (@LIDOMRD) December 4, 2025

Remember, talent has never been what’s holding Miguel Sano back from being one of the best hitters on this planet. As people get older, priorities change. Is it likely Sano ever makes his way back to the big leagues? Probably not… but never say never if he continues to pound pitchers over in Japan.

Miguel Sano hasn’t worn a Minnesota Twins uniform in years, and he skipped Major League Baseball entirely last season, but he’s still doing his thing this winter.

Miguel Sano returns with eye-popping numbers

Sano last played for the Minnesota Twins during the 2022 season. He was out of affiliated baseball in 2023 before resurfacing with the Los Angeles Angels in 2024. Once again out of affiliated ball this past season, the 32-year-old is putting up MVP-level numbers in Winter League play, and he’s back in action this week.

Miguel Sano estaría regresando a la alineación de Estrellas Orientales el martes vs Toros del Este ⭐️🦍

Sano no juega desde el 5 de noviembre y dejó una línea de 353 Avg, 1,237 OPS con 7 HR y 19 RBI 🔥si regresa como estaba hay que contarle los votos para MVP 💪🏿 pic.twitter.com/TcijQUvbWS

— Juanfrank Kranwinkel (@juanfrank24) November 30, 2025

Miguel Sano would be returning to the Estrellas Orientales lineup on Tuesday vs Toros del Este. Sano hasn’t played since November 5 and left a line of 353 Avg, 1,237 OPS with 7 HR and 19 RBI if he returns like he was we gotta count the votes for him for MVP.

Juanfrank Kranwinkel

As Kranwinkel notes, it has been nearly a month since Sano last played for Estrellas. They sit at 14-18, third in the Dominican Winter League standings. The regular season runs through December 23, giving Sano plenty of time to continue contributing.

Last winter, Sano collected just 18 hits in 19 games across 68 at-bats. This season, he has already matched that hit total in only 15 games and 51 at-bats. The power jump is clear, and perhaps most notably, he has an impressive 11/7 K/BB ratio.

Sano’s 1.237 OPS leads all hitters across the Dominican Winter League. His .353 batting average ranks sixth, and his seven home runs are two more than the second-place Aderlin Rodriguez.

Former Twins legend Miguel Sano is alive and well still dropping bombs. pic.twitter.com/MhtDCqIIuX

— Ted (@tlschwerz) October 18, 2025

The former Twins top prospect is far from a sure-thing major league contributor at this point, and he’s never been a strong defender at first base. However, it’s still surprising that he hasn’t landed a minor-league deal with a Spring Training invite, should he want one.

Right now, the biggest offensive hole for Derek Shelton’s squad is at first base, and the team could use a right-handed slugger. Sano isn’t going to get that opportunity in Minnesota, but the buy-low appeal certainly fits their historical tendencies.

That includes multiple Minnesota Twins youngsters, like 22-year-old Emmanuel Rodriguez, who spent the majority of 2025 at Triple-A St. Paul. While injuries have held Rodriguez back throughout his time in affiliate ball, the consensus top-100 prospect had no such issues during his time in the Dominican Winter League.

Emmanuel Rodriguez stock continues to soar

The Dominican circuit is largely viewed as the top winter ball options for Major League caliber baseball players. And it’s the perfect offseason testing grounds for Rodriguez, a Santiago native.

Rodriguez played in the well-respected winter league for the first time this fall for Aguilas Cibaenas. To say that he made a good impression would be putting it lightly.

The Minnesota Twins’ top prospect slashed .292/.417/.646 (1.063 OPS) for the Cibaenas, during his 18 games played. A-Rod also earned All-Star MVP honors, as noted by the Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale on Wednesday.

Emmanuel Rodriguez is done playing in the Dominican Winter League.

His stats in 18 games: .292/.417/.646 (1.063 OPS) with 4 HR, 11 RBI, 10 R and 3 SB. He was also the MVP in an all-star game at Citi Field. pic.twitter.com/GR0gYNG6T7

— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) November 19, 2025

In 65 games last year in the Twins minor league system, Rodriguez batted .269/.431/.409. He has immense power and an extremely patient approach. There is a bit of a concerning whiff rate but when the kid uncorks on a ball, it flies.

Rodriguez saw plenty of current and former big league talent during Dominican Winter League action. It’s great experience for a guy who has an outside chance of making Derek Shelton’s Opening Day roster in 2026, as a corner outfielder.

Emmanuel Rodriguez with a 112.1 MPH rocket at Citi Field in LIDOM action 🚀💣#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/jrwV5rBFSS

— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) November 15, 2025

Former Twins slugger Miguel Sano shines too

It wasn’t just Rodriguez that tore up the Dominican Winter League this offseason. Former Minnesota Twins infielder Miguel Sano didn’t play in the big leagues last season, but he certainly tore up the winter circuit again.

In 15 games for Estrellas, Sano batted .353/.433/.804. He had seven home runs and 19 RBI with a respectable 11/7 K/BB. Sano is still just 32 years old and is is laughable to think he couldn’t still contribute at the big league level.

¡Cañonazo número 7 de Miguel Sanó! 💥#LIDOM #CopaBanreservas pic.twitter.com/bNBfypr57X

— LIDOM (@LIDOMRD) November 5, 2025

It remains to be seen if a major league team will give Sano a deal this offseason. He too would need to decide that playing stateside is worth his time. If that’s the case though, it could be a cool bounceback story.

Miguel Sano is back on the market, but Minnesota Twins won’t be a fit

After being out of affiliated baseball for the 2023 season, Miguel Sano resurfaced with the Los Angeles Angels in 2024. With Anthony Rendon consistently being unavailable for Ron Washington’s club, a level of depth made sense at third base. Sano factored in at the hot corner, first base, and the designated hitter positions.

Miguel Sanó gets the Angels on the board first with his second home run of the season. 💥

(🎥: @Angels)pic.twitter.com/SMV8wXGYPf

— theScore Bet (@theScoreBet) June 28, 2024

After missing a month due to a knee injury, and then burning himself with a heating pad, Sano played in just seven games after being activated from the IL, before the Angels sent him packing.

Across 28 games for Los Angeles, Sano slashed just .205/.295/.313 with a pair of home runs. His 71 OPS+ wasn’t the worst for the Angels, but with Rendon returning from the injured list the franchise decided there was no room and Sano is unlikely to accept a minor league assignment, meaning he will be a free agent later this week.

#Angels transactions:
•Reinstated INF Anthony Rendon from injured list
•Designated INF Miguel Sanó for assignment

— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) July 8, 2024

There is a very real possibility this could be the end of the MLB line for Sano. He is just 31 years old, and making only $875k this year. He’ll be available as a free agent for the major league minimum, should he pass through waivers (which he likely will), and there are players across the league that have provided less production.

However, Sano doesn’t have the greatest track record of praise as a teammate, and he’s certainly not going to be a consideration for the Twins (sorry to burst any bubbles). Former teammate Eddie Rosario, for example, was recalled by the Atlanta Braves Monday. Designated for assignment by Washington, he was once Atlanta’s NLCS MVP.

Related: Miguel Sano Pitched for the Angels Today and it Went Unrealistically Well

Sano has done well to show better physical preparedness this season, but his whiff rates remain a problem. The year away definitely didn’t help, and the game may have simply passed him by.

"The Angels will never be able to replace Ohtani"

Miguel Sano: *does exactly what Ohtani would do with the game on the line* pic.twitter.com/iwZw5LtmtB

— 𝕏 legend VinRBI (@VinRBI) April 11, 2024

His start to the season has been rather impressive, too, from the lens of what we’ve seen out of Miguel since the last time he wore a Twins uniform. He’s played in five games as an Angel, batting .267 (entering Sunday) with a .821 OPS and 144 OPS+ and just 6 strikeouts.

Miguel Sano the Angels’ relief pitcher

But today, we aren’t bringing you a Miguel Sano article because of his exploits at the plate. No, no, no… on Sunday, our favorite former top-5 MLB prospect bust is hitting your news feeds because of the way he pitched. That’s right, Miguel Sano was summoned by the Angels manager from the bullpen the dugout (was DH) with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the 9th inning.

It took three pitches, two fastballs changeups and one hanging breaking ball, for Sano to get Boston Red Sox leadoff hitter Jarren Duran (who was batting .349 on the season entering today) to bounce into an easy unassisted third out at 2nd base.

Miguel Sano. Quality reliever. pic.twitter.com/MdgF1vRIAo

— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) April 7, 2024

Related: Good News on Recovering Twins Caleb Thielbar and Jhoan Duran; Royce Lewis… Not So Much

I’m not sure Miguel has a future on the mound, but many thought he didn’t have a future in the MLB at all, following the 2022 season. Yet… here we are.

But late in his career with the Twins, Miguel Sano struggled to be anything near that consistent middle of the order bat that we all expected him to be while he was crushing minor league pitchers as a young 20-something- stud with unlimited potential.

He struggled with injuries and his poor eating habits only made his comeback from those injuries more difficult. Throughout his time in the big leagues, fans, media members and Twins executives have questioned Sano’s desire to be a great baseball player.

Sano says that has all changed, though. He batted in the middle of the order for a really good Estrellas Dominican winter league team, which was stacked with MLB-level talent, and he claims to have a new appreciation for the game of baseball.

Related: Miguel Sano Hits 3-Run Missile in LIDOM Championship; Celebrates Accordingly

Miguel Sano lost how much weight?

He was signed by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (or whatever they are called now) as a Spring Training non-roster invite and he’s ready to earn his way back into the MLB. To prove his dedication, Miguel revealed to Angels reporters this weekend that he lost 58 pounds in order to get back into baseball shape.

Miguel Sanó said he’s lost 58 pounds. Said it was important to lose weight in an effort to stay healthy and on the field.

— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) February 25, 2024

TEMPE, Ariz. — Every Spring Training there’s always the running joke about which player came to camp in the best shape of his life. But for Angels infielder Miguel Sanó, it doesn’t seem like much of an exaggeration. Sanó arrived at Angels camp on Sunday after dealing with some visa issues in his native Dominican Republic and said he’s lost 58 pounds.

“It was very important,” Sanó said through an interpreter. “I wanted to feel better and lighter. And that will lead to a better performance on the field.”

Rhett Bollinger – MLB.com

Wait… so that means he was up to what?

That’s a lot of weight to lose, no matter who you are. But when you look at Sano’s weight on the Angels website, where he is listed at 272 pounds, it’s even more eye-opening. I will do the math for you. If Miguel is telling the truth, his weight had ballooned all the way up to 330 pounds. Wowzers…

Related: Cleveland Radio Broadcast Claims Miguel Sano is Fat, Not Injured

Miguel’s final opportunity with the Twins expired after the 2022 season. He hit .083 in 71 at-bats that year, before completely falling off the radar for years. He was technically a free agent last season, but never got an opportunity.

His last season worth noting was in 2021, when he played in 135 games (532 AB). That summer, Miguel hit an impressive 30 homers and drove in 75 runs. But his low batting average (.223) and never ending strikeouts (183) were still a big problem.

Related: Miguel Sano Comeback Season is Upon Us

How has he done? Pretty damn good, actually. Sano has served as the team’s regular designated hitter. In 107 plate appearances (5th most on Estrellas), Sano is batting .225 with a .750 OPS, 13 RBI, 14 BB and 30 Ks. The former Minnesota Twin bats in the middle of the lineup and he’s a huge part of Estrella’s 2023-24 championship run.

Miguel Sano Hits Game-Winning Missile in LIDOM Championship

Their trust in Miguel Sano was on full display Saturday, too, when they batted him cleanup in game one of the league’s seven-game championship series. In return, the 30-year-old Sano went 1-for-2 with one walk, zero strikeouts and this 3-run missile homerun in the 1st inning. Even better than the homer might be Sano’s celebration right before he reached 1st base.

SANÓ GOES BOOM AND SAN PEDRO GOES WILD https://t.co/cGArHnKEqx pic.twitter.com/DmEcRz3A2G

— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) January 21, 2024

Before you get offended, know that baseball is done differently in the Dominican Winter League. Go ahead and be made if you want. Personally, I like to appreciate the different spin that we see on baseball in other countries. And Latin American baseball just hits different.

Estrellas Orientales took game one 7-5 vs Tigres del Licey, in part thanks to Sano’s great day at the plate. Game 2 is Sunday at 3 PM CST and can be viewed on MLB.TV if you’re bored of the NFL playoffs and you have a subscription.

Related: Minnesota Twins Will Not Trade Polanco, Farmer or Kepler for Prospects

Other names you might know on Estrellas Orientales

Other names you’ll know on the Estrellas roster include former Twins fan favorite, Willians Astudillo, who was on base when Sano hit his homer yesterday. Robinson Cano, an all-time MLB great who retired after the 2022 season, batted behind Sano in yesterday’s game.

Others who have graced the Estrellas roster this Winter include Fernando Tatis Jr, whose dad happens to the team’s manager, Yasiel Puig, Jurickson Profar and Eguy Rosario, among others. Former Twins minor leaguers on the roster include Lewin Diaz and Wilin Rosario.

The way Sano ripped through the minor leagues, crushing every single pitcher who took the mound against him, Twins fans thought they were getting, at worst, a David Ortiz type designated hitter for the next 15 years.

Related: Bally Sports North May Stream Timberwolves, Twins and Wild on Amazon Prime

At best, we hoped he’d play a decent 3rd base while crushing 40 homers and batting in 100 runs per season. As recently as 2021, many fans still held out hope Sano would live up to any semblance of the player he once projected to be.

Miguel Sano crushed elite pitching in 2021. The #MNTwins first baseman slashed .263/.349/.711 (1.060) against pitchers who got at least one Cy Young vote that season.

He homered off Lance Lynn (twice), Lucas Giolito, Gerrit Cole, and Lance McCullers Jr.

10-for-38
5 HR
4 BB pic.twitter.com/6EUJJiz2Ry

— Twins Dingers (@TwinsDingers) July 31, 2023

The last time we saw Miguel Sano in the MLB

But that’s not how history played out. Miguel Sano struggled to be a consistent middle of the order bat, throughout his time with the Twins. He struggled with injuries, eating habits and many questioned his desire to be a great baseball player.

Sano’s final opportunity in Minnesota expired after the 2022 season, where he hit .083 in 71 at-bats, before completely falling off the radar for about one year. He was technically a free agent last season, but never got an opportunity, leading many to believe Miguel’s Major League Baseball career is over.

And it still might be. But not if it’s up to Miguel Sano, who is back on the baseball field playing in the Dominican Winter League for Estrellas Orientales, the same team that San Diego Padres players Fernando Tatis Jr, Eguy Rosario and Jurickson Profar are playing for.

This week, video surfaced on Twitter of Sano hitting an absolute bomb over the left field fence. Man, I miss that swing.

¡La brilló! 💥 HOMERUN de Miguel Sanó y viene otra más para los verdes @EOBASEBALLCLUB 🐘🔥#LIDOM #CopaBanreservas pic.twitter.com/py9j6dwkKD

— LIDOM (@LIDOMRD) December 19, 2023

Miguel Sano outshining MLB regulars in Dominican Winter League

For Estrellas, Sano’s numbers are pretty impressive. They aren’t — ‘jump off the page’ or ‘sign this man immediately’ — good. But ‘respectable’ might not be strong enough.

Related: Minnesota Twins Starters Project Top-10 in MLB; Near Best in AL

Sano is an Estrellas lineup regular, unlike Fernando Tatis Jr, who has 1.062 OPS in 33 plate appearances. And of any Estrellas player with over 100 at-bats this winter, Miguel (107) has the highest OPS (.750) and most doubles (30) on the team. He’s racked up the fifth most RBI (13), 3rd most walks (14), and ONLY the 2nd-most strikeouts.

That’s not sarcasm you’re reading. Yes, he’s near the top of the team in strikeouts, but his number (30) doesn’t jump off the page compared to the rest of his teammates, which surprised me a bit. He’s one of five players on roster with 24 or more strikeouts. Eguy Rosario has more (38) and has only 8 more at-bats than Miguel.

Estrellas Orientales Individual Statistics – 2023-24

Miguel Sano comeback season is upon us

There’s no doubt about it, looking at the team’s individual stats on the winter season, that Sano has been a better hitter than multiple MLB players on his team, including the aforementioned Rosario and Profar.

I’m not saying Miguel Sano is on the fast track back to Major League Baseball, but he is clearly taking one last realistic shot at a comeback and his odds of stepping into an MLB batters box again seem to be climbing. He’s gotten himself back into shape and seems more motivated than ever before.

He’s definitely slimmed down – this was from last week pic.twitter.com/khlOy6YoT1

— Your Name Here (@connik1) December 20, 2023

Sometimes, it takes reaching rock bottom before you realize how big of an opportunity you’re about to miss out on. At 30-years-old, there should be plenty of swings left in that bat. While it won’t be for the Minnesota Twins, I’d still love to see a Miguel Sano comeback story anyway.

Read all of our offseason Minnesota Twins blogs!

But according to Cleveland radio broadcaster, Tom Hamilton, it’s not Sano’s knee that is keeping him from returning to the Twins’ active roster. It’s his weight.

The Guardians radio Broadcast on Miguel Sanó pic.twitter.com/DGqZqOh9sj

— @MLBNerds #1 Fan (@DabollToHeaven) June 23, 2022

“Miguel Sano, he’s not hurt. He’s just fat. That’s as brutally honest as we can be. He’s down in Fort Myers trying to get in shape.” – Tom Hamilton (Cleveland Guardians Radio)

Hyperbole or breaking news?

Hamilton’s comments are going to be shouted down my Minnesota Twins fans and by many in the media, especially because he bluntly used the description, “fat”. But as someone who doesn’t get offended as easily, I’m intrigued. Darren Wolfson (KSTP, SKOR North) recently reported that Miguel Sano is in Fort Myers and ramping up for a return.

Is it possible that, at this point in his rehab, the wait on Sano has become more about getting him back into shape than it is about getting his knee right? If that would shock you, then I have to wonder where you have been for the last 5-10 years? Probably not following Twins baseball.

On the other hand, it’s unlikely that Tom Hamilton would pull a comment like this out of his ass. Doing so would have no benefit to him. More likely; Hamilton was told, by someone he trusts, that Sano’s path back is being delayed because of his weight, not his knee. We’ll what local insiders find out from here…

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Minnesota Twins lost both ends of a doubleheader Wednesday vs the Boston Red Sox, putting them behind 0-3 in the four-game series and winless in their last six games. Now 5-7, the Twins have fallen to last place in the American League Central and fans are starting to get dry mouth, if they’re not already in full fledged panic mode.

Byron Buxton missed both games today with “right hamstring tightness” and Miguel Sano couldn’t hit a beach ball with a 2 x 4 if you underhanded it to him. On top of that, Jose Berrios and Kenta Maeda were the losing pitchers, meaning the hurlers will only get worse before they get better.

So, panic is probably the right emotion….

#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/x3Siu1P7Uw

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) April 14, 2021

But wait…

But let’s take a deeper look before we start selling all of our assets for future hope. There’s plenty of that “H” word to hold onto for the current club. Like, Byron Buxton. Sure, he didn’t play today and that sucks. But, if sitting Buxton for two losses today means that he plays more games throughout the year, I’m happy to make the sacrifice.

Especially when Buxton is finally blossoming into the great player he was once touted to be. Entering Wednesday, Buxton was leading the league in WAR, slugging %, OPS, and offensive win %. He was also 2nd in batting average and 5th in on-base %. If Byron plays 120 games this season he might win MVP.

Donaldson is Back too

We also got to see Josh Donaldson again today. He went 1 for 2 and immediately stretched out his hamstring, running from 1st to 3rd on a base hit and then tagging home for a run scored. It was good to see him open things up a little bit and still stand up looking healthy. That’s a victory in my book.

DONALDSON WENT FROM FIRST TO THIRD AND HE’S OK pic.twitter.com/BOJRZvxZ4F

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) April 14, 2021

Hopefully we get all three of Buxton (.469 AVG), Donaldson (.667 AVG) and Cruz (.438 AVG) in the middle of the Twins lineup tomorrow. The more often we can put those three together, the more likely we are to pile up wins. At the end of the season, 2021’s success will be dictated by the health of Donaldson and Buxton. So far, neither guy has had any severe injuries BUT they’ve obviously left us plenty to be concerned about.

Sano Will Be Fine

Stop worrying about Miguel Sano. He’s always been a slow starter and maybe he always will be. Keep giving him at-bats and let him hit himself out of his slump. Sano is a big league hitter and pitchers are still afraid of him. He’ll turn it around and he’ll be a huge contributor at points throughout this season. When he does, he’ll be our best and most dangerous hitter. And that’s saying something.

As long as the Minnesota Twins stay mostly healthy, we’ll only be concerned with playoff victories at the end of the season. So far, we still have a full team in-tact and a lot of season left to play. So until something changes on the injury front, I’ll be over here unconcerned.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan