Former Twins slugger Miguel Sanó’s first season in Japan: How did he fare?

Former Minnesota Twins slugger Miguel Sanó spent the 2026 baseball season playing in Japan for Nippon Professional Baseball's Chunichi Dragons. In 95 games with Chunichi, the 33-year-old hit .220/.293/.462 with 23 home runs, eight doubles, 52 RBI, and 97 strikeouts while earning $1.3 million. Despite missing playing time due to an injury, Sanó displayed significant power, though the Dragons ultimately failed to qualify for the NPB playoffs.

Writer Jackson Kruse argues that Sanó should pursue another contract in Japan to maximize his earnings. Kruse suggests that while an MLB team might offer a minor-league deal, Sanó's low on-base percentage and high strikeout numbers make a successful major league return unlikely.