The Chunichi Dragons are betting on big-league power in a major way. Veteran slugger Miguel Sanó is on the verge of signing a one-year deal with the Nagoya-based club in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), pending a physical.
After several years battling injuries and inconsistency in MLB, the former Minnesota Twins All-Star wants to reboot his career in Japan. He’s coming off a resurgent winter-ball campaign in the Dominican Republic and seems hungry for a fresh start.
Miguel Sanó Heads to Japan in Search of a Fresh Start
Sanó’s agreement with the Chunichi Dragons marks his first professional opportunity in Asia. For a player who once anchored the heart of a major-league lineup, that’s a big step.
For Chunichi, this is a classic NPB move. They’re hoping a proven power bat whose MLB stock has dipped can rediscover his form in a new setting.
A One-Year Deal Built on Winter-Ball Momentum
The reported one-year contract comes after Sanó’s best stretch of play in years. He hasn’t played in a regular MLB game since the Los Angeles Angels released him in July 2024, but he’s hardly been sitting around.
He used winter ball in the Dominican Republic as his personal proving ground. During the 2024–25 winter season, Sanó put up an eye-catching .856 OPS, reminding everyone that elite power doesn’t just disappear.
In just 24 games, he slashed .315/.376/.663 with nine home runs. Those numbers will always draw attention in a market hungry for middle-of-the-order threats.
From Twins Star to Journeyman: The Road to Nagoya
Sanó’s path from top prospect to Japanese import has been anything but straightforward. Once seen as a franchise cornerstone in Minnesota, he now heads to NPB trying to show he can still be an everyday force.
A Career Defined by Power – and Swing-and-Miss
Across his MLB career, Sanó has been the epitome of the modern power hitter. He’s piled up huge home run totals, plenty of walks, and a high strikeout rate.
His overall major-league line—.233/.325/.477 with 164 home runs in nearly 3,000 plate appearances—tells you his value has always come from his bat. He recorded two 30-home-run seasons with the Twins, flashing the kind of raw thump few right-handed hitters can match.
His last above-average MLB season came in 2021, when his blend of power and on-base ability still outweighed the swing-and-miss. Since then, though, the downside of his profile has caught up with him.
Injuries, strikeouts, and defensive limitations chipped away at his role. Between 2022 and 2024, he appeared in just 48 MLB games, bouncing from opportunity to opportunity without recapturing his peak form.
Why the Chunichi Dragons Are Taking the Gamble
For the Dragons, the Sanó signing is about upside. At his best, he’s a middle-of-the-order wrecking ball who can change a game with one swing.
For a club looking to upgrade its offensive punch, the risk-reward equation is obvious. Sometimes you just have to roll the dice, right?
What Sanó Brings to NPB
Sanó’s profile dovetails with what NPB teams often look for in foreign hitters. He offers:
Defensively, his limitations are no secret. Expect the Dragons to use him mostly as a first baseman and/or designated hitter, keeping him healthy and focused on what he does best: driving the ball out of the park.
Can Sanó Rebuild His Value in Japan?
Sanó isn’t the first power hitter looking for a renaissance in Japan. NPB can offer more consistent playing time, clear roles, and a slightly different style of pitching—sometimes, that’s exactly what a power bat needs for a reset.
A High-Stakes Audition for the Next Phase of His Career
This one-year deal with Chunichi doubles as a showcase.
A strong season could:
If the winter-ball version of Miguel Sanó shows up in Nagoya, the Chunichi Dragons might have landed one of the most impactful bats in NPB for 2025.
If not, well, both player and club will at least have taken a calculated swing at upside—fitting for a career that’s always been defined by the long ball.
Here is the source article for this story: Miguel Sanó Finalizing Deal With NPB’s Chunichi Dragons
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