Minor league disabled list not a major problem for Twins

The Twins have help on the way -- they all just happen to be wearing street clothes.

Twins fans hoping to catch a glimpse of Target Field's glorious future will have to proverbially -- and literally -- wait 'til next year, as September call-ups have come and gone without the inauguration of any of Minnesota's top three prospects. There's a reason Alex Meyer, Miguel Sano, and baseball's top prospect Byron Buxton couldn't make it, though: they've all landed on the disabled list.

Buxton, the number two pick in the 2012 draft and everyone's consensus future star, was not expected to join the big league club for the big September roster expansion, even before last month's scary collision at Double-A New Britain. Buxton sustained a concussion, and won't play again in the minors this season.

Thought to be in the running for the starting third base job in spring training, Sano hardly had time to get the dew off his cleats before hitting the disabled list. The power hitting Sano required Tommy John surgery, and he hasn't played on a ball field all season.

The latest hit for the Twins came last week, when top pitching prospect Alex Meyer hit the DL with shoulder inflammation. Meyer had been solid for Triple-A Rochester all season, and was expected to make some September starts for the big club.

So why are things looking up for next year in the Twin Cities? For starters, each of Minnesota's budding prospects are expected to make full recoveries, and Sano is well on his way.

Twins fans, rejoice: Video of Miguel Sano, less than five months off Tommy John surgery, taking batting practice. http://t.co/z1hNyA0BFI

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 26, 2014

Also, some of the Twins' less-heralded young guys are emerging in 2014. Danny Santana (a nice .314/.351/.472 -- and 7 homers!) has been up much of the year, and looks like he can play shortstop. Kennys Vargas, a switch hitting first baseman, has hit five home runs and driven in 28 in the 31 games since he was called up (small sample size, but still!). Oswaldo Arcia has been solid in his first two years with the club (14 HR and 43 RBI, exactly, both seasons).

The Twins got Tommy Milone (who's struggled with Minnesota so far) from the A's in the Sam Fuld deal, and have even managed to turn Braves castoff Jordan Schafer into a frisky ballplayer. These perhaps unexpected gains will hopefully, for Twins fans, offset the disappointment elicited by the formerly-hyped Aaron Hicks and struggling minor league pitcher Trevor May.

For the Minnesota Twins, it's all about next year.