Jose Miranda Could be a Sleeping Giant for the Twins

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Minnesota Twins have a few key areas that need to be addressed this offseason, and first base is among them. While they may opt to look at external options, former breakout rookie Jose Miranda could be an intriguing sleeping giant.

Image courtesy of © Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Correa first played with fellow Puerto Rican Jose Miranda during the 2022 season for the Minnesota Twins. Miranda logged 125 major league games during his rookie season, and even a late slump left him with a .751 OPS and 114 OPS+. By all measures, it was a solid debut season for a prospect who had been something of a late bloomer.

When the pair arrived at Twins Fest last January, Correa noted how in shape Miranda was. Looking to build on the success of his first season in the big leagues, an important offseason of work was a great thing to see him put in.

Unfortunately, 2023 was essentially a failure to launch for Miranda, and he played in just 40 games before ultimately being shut down for the season. Rocco Baldelli saw the 2022 standout post a paltry .211/.263/.303 slash line, which came out to just a 56 OPS+. The strong approach at the plate had vanished, and the production took a nosedive.

A shoulder issue during spring training was likely the culprit, and after spending substantial time on the injured list, Miranda underwent surgery in September to alleviate a shoulder impingement issue. With an entire offseason to return healthy, one would hope he can pick back up where the good version of himself left off.

On the dirt, Minnesota has plenty of things figured out. Royce Lewis should start at third base, with Carlos Correa standing beside him at shortstop. Edouard Julien appears locked in a second base, and although he should get some acclimation at first, it’s that position where there is the most uncertainty. Alex Kirilloff has yet to show he can stay healthy throughout an entire season, and those bouts of injury have hampered his production. Miranda may find his opportunity on the opposite corner of the diamond, but it shouldn't matter much as long as there is one.

In the majors, Miranda has played just under 600 innings at first base, and he logged 337 at the position on the farm. Defense has never been his calling card, but finding a way to man first base with a bit better range and instincts would go a long way toward helping out the Twins roster configuration. When right, it’s a position his bat also suits, and being a power producer in a corner spot is ideally the outcome of who he may become.

Without a significant amount of adjustment to draw on from last season, it’s hard to guess how Miranda will look as he attempts to grow as a big leaguer. The success was there in his first season, but he must build on that if he wants to stick. Having Kirilloff leave the door open to playing time and batting as a right-handed talent benefits the Puerto Rican talent as he returns to the field this spring.

While the Twins would probably prefer a consistent option at first base, it would be a good outcome if the combination of Kirilloff and Miranda could provide a high-level platoon with the lineup, not missing a beat regardless of which one is playing. More than a few guys are coming to spring training after undergoing offseason surgery. While Byron Buxton is unquestionably the most important of them, Miranda may wind up being the one who can provide the most unexpected value.

There was a time not long ago when Miranda looked the part of a lineup mainstay, and if his fall was only health-related, getting back to form for 2024 would be something everyone within the organization would welcome. We saw a glimpse of the talent two years ago, and a new level beyond that certainly would be fun.

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[Karbo]

Hopefully the shoulder issue is behind him. If so, I expect him to be a big part of the team this next season.

[chinmusic]

Here's hoping.

[hitterscount]

This team is really close to contending, but the front office. so far, has done nothing to address the OF/CF, 1st, and replacing Gray. IMO need to cover 2 of 3 of those areas to be in contention come September.

With Kirloff's injury history and Miranda's lack of production the past 1 1/2 seasons it's hard to be overly optimistic about the two of them holding down 1st base.... but I think finding another quality SP and a back-up for when Buxton goes down should be the priority.    

[Cory Engelhardt]

16 minutes ago, hitterscount said:

This team is really close to contending, but the front office. so far, has done nothing to address the OF/CF, 1st, and replacing Gray. IMO need to cover 2 of 3 of those areas to be in contention come September.

With Kirloff's injury history and Miranda's lack of production the past 1 1/2 seasons it's hard to be overly optimistic about the two of them holding down 1st base.... but I think finding another quality SP and a back-up for when Buxton goes down should be the priority.    

If Buxton is healthy and Martin is ready, you have cf covered.

If Miranda’s shoulder is back, you have a good platoon with Kirilloff at 1b no?

They do need to trade for a playoff level starter. I believe they will. 

[Blyleven2011]

It's too bad miranda had the injury  and sidelined his 2023 season  ...

I would expect Miranda is going to have to re-establish himself  , most likely he will Start in AAA to prove he's on his game again  ...

I hope hexhas a fast start and shakes off the rust ...

[Karbo]

19 minutes ago, hitterscount said:

This team is really close to contending, but the front office. so far, has done nothing to address the OF/CF, 1st, and replacing Gray. IMO need to cover 2 of 3 of those areas to be in contention come September.

With Kirloff's injury history and Miranda's lack of production the past 1 1/2 seasons it's hard to be overly optimistic about the two of them holding down 1st base.... but I think finding another quality SP and a back-up for when Buxton goes down should be the priority.    

He was pretty good season before last. 

[JD-TWINS]

Mirroring hitterscount topics:

In reality the Twins are covering the 1B needs with Kirilloff’s expected health & Miranda’s ability to bounce back. Fingers crossed!!

This is their version of addressing the situation. Just like last year they anticipated replacing Urshella with Lewis. No trade or acquisition for a 1B necessary. Apparently, they believe the other RH bats at 1B at AAA can be a reasonable alternative to Miranda if he’s a disaster.

Same situation in CF. Buxton didn’t start a game there last year. In his absence in ‘24, they will be replacing the contributions of Michael Taylor from ‘23. A challenge but again, filled from within.

Need to solve the pitching depth hole!…….it’s possible, with an internal option or two, they may wait until July to see if they need to trade for a rental?? Don’t like it but it’s possible.

[1985Fan]

FO is in a tough spot. Stand pat with the roster or give up valuable players and/or prospects to bring in outside talent. Good news is the issue is a situation created by a good farm system and the depth on the roster.. I think there are enough options to fill in at 1B. One of Miranda, Farmer, Goodrum, or Severino could play 1B and probably do very well. The CF position has Castro, Gordon, Martin, and Kiersey to backup Buxton. Ideally it would be great to see full season from both Kiriloff and Buxton, but the backups can fill in and contribute to a winning team. 
Pitching is where they may want to add. Replacing Gray and Maeda is a large hole to fill with Paddack and Varland. Falvine may see it differently. All depends on what they expect from those two and SWR, Festa, even Dobnak as depth. The market for controllable, #2 type pitching just doesn’t seem to be available via trade and FA are out of the budget. I vote for FA signing if they can sign for short term high AAV. Wonder if Snell would do a short term deal with opt outs? 

[tony&rodney]

Jose Miranda was a line drive gap hitting power machine in 2021. He had a pretty good year in 2022. When Miranda hurt his shoulder in Spring Training his swing changed and so did the results. Every effort to get him back to normal failed until it was decided that surgery was needed to correct the problem.

The question is can a healthy Miranda rediscover his swing and return to a productive role for the Twins? If Jose is fully healthy he should be able to replicate his bat to ball skills and work on a return to the team. A healthy Miranda was rarely overmatched at the plate. A little more patience, hard work on making his glove neutral, and a return of confidence in his swing should be quite a bonus for the Twins offense this season.

[Heiny]

With the roster contruction as it is,  it seems to me that some folks have to go.  As I see it here is our current 26 man roster on opening day.

Kirilloff, Julian, Correa, Lewis, Jeffers in the infield with Vasquez, Polanco, and Farmer on the bench.  That's 8.

Kepler, Buxton, Wallner in the outfield with Castro, Gordon and either Martin or Larnach on the bench.  That's 6 for a total of 14.  With 12 pitchers, that leaves no room for Miranda until injuries occur or we make a trade.  My chrystal ball says there will be a trade of either Polanco, Farmer, or Gordon and Larnach plus a mid to high level prospect for a mid-level SP. Just hope they don't have to trade Lee, Lewis Jenkins or Rodriguez to get a trade done.  Kinda hoping to stand pat while looking forward to 2025 and after.  Confused with not really knowing what I want.

 

[4twinsJA]

If Miranda can bounce back would be big for Twins, another RH bat. I agree with other posts that maybe Twins don't need to sign much else this offseason. FAs that could be major contributors are out of Twins budget tolerance. Twins don't need to sign a veteran, Luplow type, give Castro, Gordon, Martin, Kiersay at CF and Miranda, Sererino, Farmer, Julien chance at 1B. They could stand pat with position players and be fine.

[Fatbat]

1 hour ago, hitterscount said:

This team is really close to contending, but the front office. so far, has done nothing to address the OF/CF, 1st, and replacing Gray. IMO need to cover 2 of 3 of those areas to be in contention come September.

With Kirloff's injury history and Miranda's lack of production the past 1 1/2 seasons it's hard to be overly optimistic about the two of them holding down 1st base.... but I think finding another quality SP and a back-up for when Buxton goes down should be the priority.    

Every guy you talked about has dealt with serious injuries and has healed up. Nothing has been career ending. Guys get hurt and come back all the time and improve as they enter the prime years.  Question marks get filled in with answers and that will happen in the next couple months.  The FO has addressed roster changes. Its called next man up and the guys that are done with rehab.  When healthy, we have an abundance of talented depth. Its gonna be fun watching these kids rip it up in spring training. There wont be a single position that has AAAA starting or depth. 

[stringer bell]

25 minutes ago, Heiny said:

With the roster contruction as it is,  it seems to me that some folks have to go.  As I see it here is our current 26 man roster on opening day.

Kirilloff, Julian, Correa, Lewis, Jeffers in the infield with Vasquez, Polanco, and Farmer on the bench.  That's 8.

Kepler, Buxton, Wallner in the outfield with Castro, Gordon and either Martin or Larnach on the bench.  That's 6 for a total of 14.  With 12 pitchers, that leaves no room for Miranda until injuries occur or we make a trade.  My chrystal ball says there will be a trade of either Polanco, Farmer, or Gordon and Larnach plus a mid to high level prospect for a mid-level SP. Just hope they don't have to trade Lee, Lewis Jenkins or Rodriguez to get a trade done.  Kinda hoping to stand pat while looking forward to 2025 and after.  Confused with not really knowing what I want.

 

Because he's RH hitter who can play first base, I have Miranda on the team on Opening Day instead of either or both Gordon and Larnach. IMHO, the Twins will carry 13 pitchers and two of Gordon, Larnach and Miranda end up in St. Paul or DFAed. Of course, a lower level trade might be made in order to clear space and someone might be placed on the IL.

Kirilloff's injuries have opened the door for other options, but I think the FO correctly believes in him. I don't think an outside option is necessary and if Miranda can duplicate his summer of '22 hitting, the Twins might have the nice problem of finding at-bats for a lot of good young hitters.

 

[Fatbat]

I’m not worried about Miranda, AK, C4, Buxton and Gordon. They all dealt with major injuries and are at least solid MLB’rs or super stars. Health will breed success. None of them are past their prime so these guys should be crushing it. Stay healthy boys!! 

[hitterscount]

1 hour ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

If Buxton is healthy and Martin is ready, you have cf covered.

If Miranda’s shoulder is back, you have a good platoon with Kirilloff at 1b no?

They do need to trade for a playoff level starter. I believe they will. 

I wonder what the odds are that Buxton and Kirloff remain healthy the entire season? Buxton once in his career... Kirloff never, not to mention that Miranda has a long climb back to resemble anything close to the first 4 months of 22. I hope everything works out and all they need is a quality SP, but history says otherwise.    

[stringer bell]

4 minutes ago, hitterscount said:

I wonder what the odds are that Buxton and Kirloff remain healthy the entire season? Buxton once in his career... Kirloff never, not to mention that Miranda has a long climb back to resemble anything close to the first 4 months of 22. I hope everything works out and all they need is a quality SP, but history says otherwise.    

I agree. That is not a bet to take. The ray of hope I see is that the specific injury to Buxton which limited him for years (knee) seems so far to be healed by the removal of the plica. He has had a bunch of injuries besides the knee, but the knee has limited him for years and there is hope that that specific injury has been resolved.

Similarly, Kirilloff's career was at a crossroads because of his wrist, which limited him, ended two seasons early with surgery. That problem also seems resolved. The surgeons found the best possible result when they looked at the injured shoulder, so I have (maybe too much) hope. 

I'll add that both Buxton's knee and Kirilloff's wrist will probably need ongoing attention to allow them to compete at the highest level, but as I said, the reports so far give me hope.

[Parfigliano]

Gordon will not be going north with the team opening day.  

[mnfireman]

50 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Because he's RH hitter who can play first base, I have Miranda on the team on Opening Day instead of either or both Gordon and Larnach. IMHO, the Twins will carry 13 pitchers and two of Gordon, Larnach and Miranda end up in St. Paul or DFAed. Of course, a lower level trade might be made in order to clear space and someone might be placed on the IL.

Kirilloff's injuries have opened the door for other options, but I think the FO correctly believes in him. I don't think an outside option is necessary and if Miranda can duplicate his summer of '22 hitting, the Twins might have the nice problem of finding at-bats for a lot of good young hitters.

 

Miranda, Larnach and Kirilloff all have 1 option left, Gordon does not. DFA'ing Gordon is an option that I, as a fan, can live with.

[South Dakota Tom]

I think the status quo lineup, with Polanco as DH, leaves 4 bench spots, 3 of which are taken by Vazquez, Farmer, and Castro. That leaves 1 spot for Larnach, Gordon, Martin, or Miranda.

Yes, I think there will be a trade of at least one of those 16, and absent picking up another ML fielder, that still leaves those 4 to battle in spring, now potentially for more than one spot.  This team has demonstrated over time that the player(s) without options are the incumbents, with all the advantages that entails.

[gman]

If Miranda is short of time this winter to work on his batting post surgery, maybe he can bring his father with him next month to help get his swing down..

[roger]

The Twins have Lewis at third with Farmer and Castro as excellent back ups.  That leaves first and DH as the only options for Miranda.  Defensively, he should be serviceable at first and should improve if allowed to focus only on first base.  The fact he hits right handed makes him an excellent mate to platoon with AK.  Also leaves the option of having AK play a corner outfield spot on days Miranda is at first.

Will Miranda be the hitter he was is 2022?  That's the question that only time will tell.  Considering he should be 100% healthy come spring training there is an good chance he will be.  And if he is, the Twins just became much more potent offensively.

As for the title of your post, Ted.  Yes, Jose could be the Twins sleeping giant of 2024.  Question is, will he?

[saviking]

He needs more plate discipline or a healthy shoulder won't matter. Miranda was just flailing away last year .. 

[tony&rodney]

2 hours ago, Heiny said:

My chrystal ball

Don't use those. When they break they scatter widely across the room and can get imbedded in the floor and furniture. No good comes from a chrystal ball.

[wabene]

Miranda's season last year is a little strange to figure out. He came to spring training with an announced sore shoulder so they played him at DH and some first base to get his bat ready and baby the shoulder. He proceeded to just mash the ball. He was looking good hitting with that bad shoulder. Then the season starts and he can't hit. Sure you gotta take spring results with a grain of salt, but it is curious. Was the shoulder the problem last year? His at bats were not good, he looked lost. We will see, I have high hopes for him and Kirilloff at first. 

[Fatbat]

I believe Miranda has an option left so he may start in AAA but if the FO does pull off a trade or 2 with a couple vets along with Gordon, Larnach, (young pitcher) &/or a prospect, We will suddenly have less depth but many questions answered. I doubt anything will happen until very late in the offseason.  There are a few teams that could use a gordon or larnach as bench depth.  Its just maximizing the return for them. 

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, saviking said:

He needs more plate discipline or a healthy shoulder won't matter. Miranda was just flailing away last year .. 

When he broke out in the minors, I remember an article that pointed toward a better approach as being a big part of his improvement.  Then, I noticed when he was s struggling that his discipline had diminished.  The good news is that can be fixed.

[Dman]

53 minutes ago, wabene said:

Miranda's season last year is a little strange to figure out. He came to spring training with an announced sore shoulder so they played him at DH and some first base to get his bat ready and baby the shoulder. He proceeded to just mash the ball. He was looking good hitting with that bad shoulder. Then the season starts and he can't hit. Sure you gotta take spring results with a grain of salt, but it is curious. Was the shoulder the problem last year? His at bats were not good, he looked lost. We will see, I have high hopes for him and Kirilloff at first. 

That is what I remember as well.  I too understand that spring training stats don't mean much but he had a .325 BA an ,825 slugging percentage and a 1,225 OPS.  He looked primed to be at least above average as a hitter at the MLB level for 2023 and then the bottom fell out.

Maybe it was the shoulder but MLB pitchers had him chasing stuff outside the zone and when he did hit stuff it was weak contact IIRC.  He looked more like the hitter before his breakout than the patient hitter he was in 2022.  Again maybe he was just pressing after a tough start to the season.  Maybe the shoulder kept him from moving his bat the way he would have liked.  Hard to say, but I am concerned about the lack of contact and chasing bad pitches instead of hunting good ones.

With a move to first or DH there should be less pressure on his throwing arm and he will have had time to get in shape for the start of the season.  If he can be the hitter that came up and played just fine with the big boys he would be the right handed bat the Twins are looking for.  I wouldn't count on him to make the team out of spring training, but hopefully he can prove he belongs again.

[DJL44]

7 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

If Buxton is healthy and Martin is ready, you have cf covered.

If Miranda’s shoulder is back, you have a good platoon with Kirilloff at 1b no?

Hope is not a plan.

[Cory Engelhardt]

37 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Hope is not a plan.

I didn’t say it was. But they certainly know the current health of their players more than any of us do, right?