The Angels are releasing nook infielder Miguel Sano following final week’s DFA, per the workforce’s transaction log at MLB.com. He’ll be a free agent as soon as he formally clears launch waivers.
Sano returned to the large leagues with the Halos this season after not enjoying in 2023. A former All-Star and third-place Rookie of the 12 months finisher with the Twins, Sano seemed ticketed for stardom earlier in his profession however by no means constantly established himself as a middle-of-the-order hitter in Minnesota, regardless of possessing 80-grade energy (on the 20-80 scale). He’s cleared 25 house runs in 4 completely different MLB campaigns, together with a pair of 30-homer seasons, however has gone down on strikes in additional than 36% of his profession plate appearances and repeatedly graded as a poor defender at each infield corners.
From 2015-19, Sano turned in a .245/.338/.498 batting line with 118 house runs in 2051 plate appearances with the Twins (a median of 39 homers per 162 video games performed). His bat has tailed off considerably since that point as he’s struggled to remain on the sector as properly. In 903 plate appearances from 2020-24, Sano is a .207/.295/.428 hitter. That stretch features a 30-homer displaying in 2021, however that’s the lone time up to now 5 years he’s made an influence on the plate.
Sano by no means curbed his strikeout woes and, as his struggles intensified, started to stroll lower than in his earlier days. He hit simply .083/.211/.133 in 71 plate appearances with the 2022 Twins, didn’t play in 2023 and posted an anemic .205/.295/.313 slash in 95 plate appearances as an Angel. He additionally missed almost six weeks of the season with a left knee harm. Sano nonetheless has that vast uncooked energy, which might land him a minor-league take care of one other membership, however it appears doubtless he’ll have to slug his method again into the majors with a good Triple-A displaying.
