Today in history: Miguel Sano ejected during home run trot

Tim Hagerty

Today in history: Miguel Sano ejected during home run trot image

Miguel Sano went deep, then went home.

Sano, then an infielder with the Single-A Fort Myers Miracle, homered against the Palm Beach Cardinals in the fifth inning of a tense game on April 21, 2013. His home run came three pitches after a fastball whizzed behind his head.

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Sano pumped his fist, shouted at the Cardinals' dugout and was ejected, all while rounding the bases.

“Plate umpire Fernando Rodriguez ejected the 19-year-old before he reached home, bringing Miracle manager Doug Mientkiewicz out of the dugout. Mientkiewicz also was tossed along with Fort Myers left fielder Stephen Wickens,” MiLB.com reported.

Mientkiewicz, the feisty ex-big leaguer who tackled an opposing manager later that season, had a different take on Sano’s round-tripper removal.

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“They threw at Miguel Sano for being good because they couldn't get him out," Mientkiewicz said in the article. "Hit him in the back, I won't like it, but it's part of the game. Throw at his head and it messes with his future and I have a problem with it. It's an embarrassment to the game of baseball.”

Sano has gone on to hit 20 home runs in the majors, peacefully rounding the bases each time.

Tim Hagerty is the broadcaster for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, and is on Twitter at @MinorsTeamNames. He is also the author of "Root for the Home Team: Minor League Baseball's Most Off-the-Wall Team Names." 

Tim Hagerty