How is Canó’s minor league adventure going?

On June 10, the San Diego Padres gave Robinson Canó a minor league contract, ending for the time being his stay in the Major Leagues.

Many predicted that Canó would have preferred to become a free agent and others pointed out that it was time for the Dominican to announce his retirement, at least from Major League Baseball.

However, after appearing in 12 games, the same amount he had with each of the teams he was with in the majors this year (Padres and Mets), the Dominican middle infielder has shown that the bat is there and he is working to return to the highest level in case San Diego needs him.

In the dozen games played with the Pacific Coast League’s El Paso Chihuahuas, Canó has made 58 plate appearances with a .296 batting average and .345 OBP with 16 hits.

Within those he has connected 4 doubles, towed 10 runs and struck out 16 times.

His records in the minors considerably surpass what he has done in the Major Leagues this season despite having played twice as many games.

In his first stretch, also in 12 games of the regular campaign with the New York Mets, the Dominican second baseman batted just .195 with one home run, three runs batted in, totaling 8 hits in 41 at-bats.

In his second stint with the Padres, things did not improve for Canó with a .091 batting average, one run batted in, only three hits and 10 strikeouts in 34 plate appearances in 12 games.

Perhaps the most notable difference between the 3 teams is that in El Paso, Canó has played 9 of his 12 games as a designated hitter (the other three at second base), while with the Mets the ratio was 7 as a middle infielder and 5 as a designated hitter, and with the Padres in the Major Leagues he played 5 at second base, 3 as a designated hitter and the rest as a pinch hitter.

Will it be possible to see Robinson Canó in the Major Leagues again? If he continues with what he is doing wearing the uniform of the animated cartoon of the famous sponge, it would not be surprising if the Padres call him in case of an emergency.

The 39 year-old player with 17 seasons in the Major Leagues has taken on the challenge with humility and for the moment has shown that the offensive conditions are still there, at least at the current level at which he is performing.