Minnesota Twins fans received discouraging news last week when it was announced third base prospect Miguel Sano would be forced to undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.
Though not as devastating on a position player as it is a pitcher, Sano will still require at least six months of rehab and recovery after doctors found the ligament to be completely torn. That’s a big blow for Minnesota, not so much because they were counting on Baseball America’s No. 6 ranked prospect to contribute this season — he was probably a good year away from competing seriously for a roster spot — but a season lost is a lost season. It sets back his development, and it also creates a little bit of doubt about whether he'll return with the same arm strength and immense power he's displayed in the minor leagues.
It's just a crummy situation for a 20-year-old ballplayer to deal with, let alone his organization and their fans, but Sano himself seems to be keeping a positive outlook on his predicament. On Wednesday, Sano reached out to his fans and supporters to share his positive energy and express his gratitude for their support. To do so, he recorded this special message from his hospital bed mere moments before going under the knife.

Sano's an easy kid to root for. He undoubtedly picked up some fans outside of Minnesota based on his appearance in the documentary Ballplayer: Pelotero, which focuses on his journey to the big leagues from the Dominican Republic. As we learned then, he's a uniquely gifted young player that has emerged from difficult circumstances to live his dream. Those circumstances fuel his determination, and his determination is why he remains so positive. He knows what he's capable of, and he truly feels this setback is no match for his passion to succeed in the big leagues.
Of course, many fans won't share in his positivity or feel completely reassured until Sano returns to the field a few months down the road and reports no setbacks, but just seeing him in good spirits before a major surgery should give all of us some piece of mind.

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
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