FORT MYERS, FLA. – When Miguel Sano reported to spring training Feb. 17, the Twins third baseman revealed he had a cut on the skin covering his lower right Achilles area, and it needed a few days to heal.
Two days later, he was wearing a walking boot to protect the cut. Sano was supposed to wear the boot for seven to 10 days. When the Twins checked the wound a week later, they announced it was only 80 percent healed, and Sano's recovery would last into the beginning of March.
But the timeline hit worse-case scenario Tuesday. Sano likely will miss more than the first month of the season after he underwent a debridement at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, a procedure that head trainer Tony Leo described as an "aggressive intervention."
Sano will need a few weeks to recover before he can begin baseball-related activities. Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey said there's a chance that Sano's 2019 season debut will not take place until May.
"He's out of the picture right now for Opening Day," Falvey said.
After he hit just .199 with 13 home runs and 49 RBI in 2018, Sano is hoping for a comeback season. He spent much of last season in the minors working on his conditioning after his 2017 All-Star season ended with him having a rod inserted into his lower left leg to help mend a stress reaction.
Sano spent the offseason working out in his native Dominican Republic, losing 25 pounds, but his plans to hit the ground running in spring training were derailed Jan. 26. During a "Cavalcade of Champions" celebration in his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, Sano was injured when one of his winter ball teammates slipped and fell into him, causing him to cut himself on a metal stair.
The 25-year-old has been unable to hit or field ever since.