Twins' Buxton, Sano likely done for year

Top Minnesota prospects Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano are both injured and not likely to play baseball again this offseason, the club confirmed Thursday.

Buxton, who is also ranked as the top prospect in the game, last played for the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League on Tuesday, but a strained left shoulder will probably keep the right-handed outfield prospect off the field until after the AFL ends next week.

"Most likely he'll be done, but it's not a certainty," Twins director of Minor League operations Brad Steil told MLB.com.

The 19-year-old is expected to be fully recovered in plenty of time for Spring Training. He batted .212 with three homers and eight RBIs in 12 AFL games.

The injury to second-ranked Twins prospect and MLB.com's No. 3 prospect overall Miguel Sano is more serious.

The 20-year-old third baseman felt a tweak in his elbow while making a throw on Oct. 19, his second game with the Estrellas de Oriente in Dominican Winter Baseball. He has been diagnosed with a strained ulnar collateral ligament.

Although the UCL is often treated with Tommy John surgery, the Twins medical staff and Dr. James Andrews -- who examined Sano in Alabama -- are in agreement that Sano will not require an operation, MLB.com reported.

Sano is expected to undergo a rehab program through the winter and may still receive an invitation to big league camp in Spring Training.

He had 35 home runs and a .382 on-base percentage across two levels in the regular season. He was a Florida State League All-Star and played in the Futures Game.