Twins All-Star Miguel Sano has surgery on left leg

Miguel Sano had surgery Monday to assist his recovery from a stress reaction in his left shin.

The operation on the Twins' All-Star third baseman was in New York at the Hospital for Special Surgery. A rod was inserted to help strengthen Sano's lower left leg.

Recovery time is expected to be six to eight weeks. When the surgery was scheduled two weeks ago, the Twins anticipated Sano would participate in spring training and be ready for the season.

"We are optimistic that he will certainly be full go for Opening Day," Twins General Manager Thad Levine said on Nov. 3. "Whether or not he is on a slow track at the beginning of spring training is secondary to us. We'll handle that responsibly when he comes in."

Sano, listed at 6-4 and 260 pounds, hit a career-high 28 home runs before fouling a ball off his left leg Aug. 18. He attempted to play the next day but left the game when he was unable to run. He began to feel better during the final week of September and played on the final weekend of the regular season, taking eight at-bats, and traveled to New York for the wild card game against the Yankees. But the bone had not fully healed, and Sano continued to be uncomfortable and was unable to hit with authority, so the Twins left him off the roster for the 8-4 loss Oct. 3.

Sano, 24, will remain in New York to begin his rehabilitation. Sano is from San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic but also has a residence in New York.

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