All Things 2021 Minnesota Twins In-Season Thread

[howeda7]

I would normally agree with you, but he is only 20 years old. He was dealt by the Mets when he was 18 years old after being drafted out of HS. He's been roughed up the last 4 starts, but through his first 7 starts this year, he had a 2.70 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP, .196 opp BA. 48:8 K:BB ratio. Especially coming out of HS, and pitching at 20 years old in AA ball, I think he has promise.

I'm a bit perplexed on Martin, as he doesn't have plus defense at SS (as it seems they're trying to find a better spot for him), and his power is subpar. He was claimed to be the "best bat in the 2020 draft", so maybe I'm overreacting. He does have a high OBP, so maybe more like an Arraez kind of player?

It will be disappointing if Martin can't stick at SS because it seems Royce Lewis is trending that way too.

 

[forever a gopher]

Not trading Pineda is pretty inexcusable unless they're going to announce an extension.

Hell, even if he wants back here, it would seem like a win-win. You trade him away during a lost season to a team in contention. He has a shot at a WS, then you bring him back as a FA in 2022. Even if the other team just sent over a pallet of bagged peanuts, it's better than nothing. You're not paying him the rest of his salary in '21, so take that money, save it and roll it over into your '22 payroll. Win-win. The only reason you don't do it is if he didn't want to move (for a chance at a WS) and you piss him off and limit the ability to resign in '22.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I would have taken 2 free pizzas for Happ at this point so anything more is a bonus.

What about a bag of balls?

I remember one trade, from back in the day, where that was part of it!

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

It will be disappointing if Martin can't stick at SS because it seems Royce Lewis is trending that way too.

Will be interesting to see what happens the rest of the way.

I'd prefer to give ALL the playing time to the kiddos and waive the dead weight - we don't need to give any more ABs to Cave, SImmons, Turtle (my bro) etc....

If we're gonna lose, then do so with purpose and get something out of it

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

FWIF - here is the take from Keith Law on the Toronto trade (Senior Baseball Writer @ The Athletic - he does their prospect rankings there and provides informative deep dives IMO) -

What the Twins are getting in the two prospects acquired from the Blue Jays for Jose Bérrios: Keith Law​

What the Twins are getting in the two prospects acquired from the Blue Jays for Jose Bérrios: Keith Law

Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson were two of Toronto's top prospects heading into 2021.

theathletic.com

The Blue Jays continued an aggressive strategy at the trade deadline, sending their first overall pick from 2020 and one of the main pieces they got for Marcus Stroman to the Twins for starter José Bérrios.

Bérrios has been an incredibly consistent, reliable starter since becoming a full-time big leaguer in 2017; his ERA in each of the last five seasons has been between 3.48 (this year) and 4.00 (last year), and he hasn’t missed a start. He’s a command right-hander with a three-pitch mix, nothing truly plus except for maybe his curveball (I’d call it a strong grade-55 pitch), at his best when he’s locating his fastball away from the heart of the zone. Toronto’s rotation was supposed to have Nate Pearson in it by now, but with word that the Jays are going to move Pearson to the bullpen for the rest of this year, and Alek Manoah still on the IL with a back injury, they had a clear need for a reliable starter. Bérrios gives them innings and above-average run prevention, good enough to be their No. 3.

The Twins get two of the Jays’ top prospects coming into 2021, Austin Martin, No. 12 on my recent ranking of the top 50 prospects in baseball, and right-hander Simeon Woods-Richardson, but both guys who have slipped a little bit in Toronto’s and the industry’s eyes. Martin was the fifth overall pick in 2020, and was atop my draft board thanks to his combination of positional versatility, athleticism, and extremely high contact rates. The Jays assigned him right to Double A this spring to start his pro career; between that and a hand injury, he got off to a slow start, but he’s been improving as the season has progressed, hitting .289/.446/.398 since June 1st, .296/.500/.352 in 18 games so far in July.

His approach at the plate is superb and he has great hand-eye coordination to make contact, so there’s a high floor here, with several teams showing an increased interest in high-contact hitters in the last year or so. His swing has become more inside-out this year than it was at Vanderbilt, and he’s not using his legs enough to drive the ball, which explains the low ISO and overall lack of power. He’s played shortstop and centerfield this year for New Hampshire, and played third base in college, but his throwing has been inconsistent and I think center or second base are his two most likely long-term positions. His hands were always plus at third, and second may make the best use of his skills. I see a clear regular and leadoff hitter, with more upside if the Twins can get him in his legs more, but a muted ceiling until that happens.

Woods-Richardson’s velocity picked up after the Mets drafted him in 2018 and made him a full-time pitcher, but it has backed up since then and he’s been more fringe-average with his fastball along with a 50/55 changeup. He’s normally a strike-thrower, although this year he’s walked 13 percent of batters he’s faced after an aggressive placement in Double A, since he had just six starts in High A to close out 2019. His breaking ball remains below average, and his arm is extremely late relative to his landing leg, which, along with some stiffness through release, limits his velocity and north-south command. I think it all points to a more probable relief future than a starting one. That’s an everyday player with strong OBP skills and a small chance for some power, and a potentially above-average reliever with a small chance to start. For a year and a half of Bérrios, that sounds about right, even if these two prospects are more famous than their skills merit right now.

 

[howeda7]

Hell, even if he wants back here, it would seem like a win-win. You trade him away during a lost season to a team in contention. He has a shot at a WS, then you bring him back as a FA in 2022. Even if the other team just sent over a pallet of bagged peanuts, it's better than nothing. You're not paying him the rest of his salary in '21, so take that money, save it and roll it over into your '22 payroll. Win-win. The only reason you don't do it is if he didn't want to move (for a chance at a WS) and you piss him off and limit the ability to resign in '22.

I generally agree. But the "we'll trade him and then resign him in the offseason" thing almost never works out. That was the idea with Eddie Escobar a couple years ago too. The only time I can recall the Twins ever doing it was with Rick Aguilera in 1995-96.

That being said, there's a glut of FA starters this off-season, so even if they didn't bring Pineda back, there are a ton of similar options. Not trading him is hard to figure unless he is agreeing to a very team-friendly extension.

 

[howeda7]

Will be interesting to see what happens the rest of the way.

I'd prefer to give ALL the playing time to the kiddos and waive the dead weight - we don't need to give any more ABs to Cave, SImmons, Turtle (my bro) etc....

If we're gonna lose, then do so with purpose and get something out of it

Agreed.

C-Garver/Jeffers
1B-Rooker
2B-Polanco
SS-Gordon
3B-Miranda/Arreaz
LF-Larnach/Arreaz
CF-Kepler/Buxton
RF-Kepler/Larnach
DH-Donaldson

 

[From the Parkinglot]

I just don’t understand trading Berrios and then not going all in. What the hells the point of keeping Colome, Robles, Simmons, or Pineda. Heck I would have traded Kepler too given all the out field depth they have now. To me the twins basically punted on 2022 and then didn’t give up on 2021 where they are the 5th worst team in Major League Baseball.

 

[howeda7]

I just don’t understand trading Berrios and then not going all in. What the hells the point of keeping Colome, Robles, Simmons, or Pineda. Heck I would have traded Kepler too given all the out field depth they have now. To me the twins basically punted on 2022 and then didn’t give up on 2021 where they are the 5th worst team in Major League Baseball.

They did trade Robles.

Presumably Colome and Simmons have no value.

I can't defend not trading Pineda. It's borderline incompetence not to.

I don't agree they're punting on 2022 nor should they. If they retain everyone who's not a FA, their base payroll is about $90 million. They can spend $130-140 based on 2020. That leaves $40-50 million for 2 starters, bullpen help and a DH. That's if they can't move Donaldson/Sano and free up more $.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

They did trade Robles.

Presumably Colome and Simmons have no value.

I can't defend not trading Pineda. It's borderline incompetence not to.

I don't agree they're punting on 2022 nor should they. If they retain everyone who's not a FA, their base payroll is about $90 million. They can spend $130-140 based on 2020. That leaves $40-50 million for 2 starters, bullpen help and a DH. That's if they can't move Donaldson/Sano and free up more $.

Good post.

I'm baffled by the Pineda not moving - as he would be a decent 3-4 for many times. The Mets/SD should have grabbed him.

I admire the Cubs, they said thanks for 2016 WS and sayonara to that core.

 

[From the Parkinglot]

They did trade Robles.

Presumably Colome and Simmons have no value.

I can't defend not trading Pineda. It's borderline incompetence not to.

I don't agree they're punting on 2022 nor should they. If they retain everyone who's not a FA, their base payroll is about $90 million. They can spend $130-140 based on 2020. That leaves $40-50 million for 2 starters, bullpen help and a DH. That's if they can't move Donaldson/Sano and free up more $.

My bad I forgot the Robles trade came in after the deadline.
I would argue Simmons has negative value as he will be taking swings away from Gordon. I would much rather see him play the last 60 games at SS and center field to figure out what you have in him.

its probably closer to $105 million once everyone gets through arbitration. So yes in theory they do have $25 million or maybe a little more. My concern is what types of pitchers you can get once you pay someone $10 million to be your DH. Maybe the DH is already on the roster between Sano, Rooker, larneck, and Kiriloff. Time will tell but the history with this front office and free agency additions have not been good going back to Addison Reed and Lancy Lynn.

 

[howeda7]

My bad I forgot the Robles trade came in after the deadline.
I would argue Simmons has negative value as he will be taking swings away from Gordon. I would much rather see him play the last 60 games at SS and center field to figure out what you have in him.

its probably closer to $105 million once everyone gets through arbitration. So yes in theory they do have $25 million or maybe a little more. My concern is what types of pitchers you can get once you pay someone $10 million to be your DH. Maybe the DH is already on the roster between Sano, Rooker, larneck, and Kiriloff. Time will tell but the history with this front office and free agency additions have not been good going back to Addison Reed and Lancy Lynn.

I agree, I would prefer they just cut Simmons, but there's no chance they will.

It was going to be $100-105 with Berrios, so should be $90-95 now.

I would not spend big $ on a DH unless they somehow move Sano/Donaldson. and maybe not even then if Rooker keeps hitting. Maybe buy low and bring Eddie Rosario back cheap as a 4th OFer and platoon DH between Rooker/Sano and Larnach/Kepler Rosario.

 

[GophersInIowa]

I agree, I would prefer they just cut Simmons, but there's no chance they will.

It was going to be $100-105 with Berrios, so should be $90-95 now.

I would not spend big $ on a DH unless they somehow move Sano/Donaldson. and maybe not even then if Rooker keeps hitting. Maybe buy low and bring Eddie Rosario back cheap as a 4th OFer and platoon DH between Rooker/Sano and Larnach/Kepler Rosario.

At this point I don’t think there’s any need to pick up any position guys other than maybe a SS/utility guy to replace Simmons. IMO, I would just go with the current position roster, except replace Cave with Buxton, Astudillo with Kirilloff and then whoever to replace Simmons. Let Gordon play some SS. DH can be rotated between Kirilloff, Rooker, Larnach, Sano and Donaldson. Then they’ll know what they’ve got before the next wave starts coming up.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Any sane reason why Ober was yanked after 4 innings and denied his second W of the year? IIRC we were up 7-1 at that point and he had a pitch count of ~90.

Yoh Rocco, guys love Ws - quit being a clown and be a true players' manager.

 

[JimmyJamesMD]

Any sane reason why Ober was yanked after 4 innings and denied his second W of the year? IIRC we were up 7-1 at that point and he had a pitch count of ~90.

Yoh Rocco, guys love Ws - quit being a clown and be a true players' manager.

if they are serious about winning, he gets canned.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

if they are serious about winning, he gets canned.

Firing him might fly in a non-Minnesotan market, like on the coasts, but he's coming back, oh yeah!!

 

[forever a gopher]

Firing him might fly in a non-Minnesotan market, like on the coasts, but he's coming back, oh yeah!!

Why don’t they just replace him with a computer? If you’re going to be a slave to analytics in all instances, what insight is he providing? A computer is much cheaper, and can probably be programmed to provide as insightful post game commentary as robot Rocco does.

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

Any sane reason why Ober was yanked after 4 innings and denied his second W of the year? IIRC we were up 7-1 at that point and he had a pitch count of ~90.

Yoh Rocco, guys love Ws - quit being a clown and be a true players' manager.

64. He had thrown 64 pitches. I get that there was no minor league season last year, but he's pitched enough games this year where you can let the leash out a bit.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Any sane reason why Ober was yanked after 4 innings and denied his second W of the year? IIRC we were up 7-1 at that point and he had a pitch count of ~90.

Yoh Rocco, guys love Ws - quit being a clown and be a true players' manager.

I don’t think it’s Rocco’s decision.

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

Cheap ownership and "the Twins way" of handling pitchers make it real, real hard to have any faith in this team next season.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I don’t think it’s Rocco’s decision.

Thanks for clarifying.

I still let him start the 5th inning and see if he can get a quick out or two and who knows, maybe he has a ten pitch 5th inning.

I do think Ober is the real deal and a definite rotation piece moving forward for many years to come.

Man, are we a long ways from these days (those guys chucked until their arms fell off) -



That uni combo somehow worked and is one of my all-time favorites (ah, the glory days of sanitary socks).

 

[Go4]

 

[Ope3]

Maybe pitching in a different county, Berrios did not realize did not realize the calendar changed to August.

 

[howeda7]

I don’t think it’s Rocco’s decision.

I get having an innings limit, but then just shut him down whenever he hits it and stop taking him out after 4 innings. They need chances to get a look at Ryan/Strotman/Belezovich etc. anyway. I'd rather see if he can get through 6 innings that worry if he can make 2 extra starts in late September.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I get having an innings limit, but then just shut him down whenever he hits it and stop taking him out after 4 innings. They need chances to get a look at Ryan/Strotman/Belezovich etc. anyway. I'd rather see if he can get through 6 innings that worry if he can make 2 extra starts in late September.

FREE BAILY!!

Can we nickname him Beatle now?

 

[BleedGopher]

per Shama:

Multiple trades last month, including departing headliners Jose Berrios and Nelson Cruz, left Minnesota Twins fans wondering if the club front office is signaling a rebuild for a team that is currently a disappointing 44-62 this season and in last place in the AL Central Division.

General manager Thad Levine told Sports Headliners rebuilding is not the direction of the franchise that this spring was a favorite to win a third consecutive division title. “Our intent is to maintain our competitiveness. We think we’ve been a force in the American League Central the last handful of seasons. We expect to do that moving forward as well.”

Trades last month by Levine and executive VP Derek Falvey focused on prospects, not proven MLB talent. Pitchers dominated the new talent crop, along with highly hyped infielder-outfielder Austin Martin.

“We are not in a rebuild mode,” Levine said. “I think if we had been you would have seen a very different complexion to the trading deadline as we had a number of assets…players that could have drawn a ton of interest in the game. I think if anything, I would clarify it for a little bit more of a retool where we were making adjustments on the fly.

“No one expected the season we just had. But rather than just being muddled and confounded with what transpired and inactive at the deadline, I think we took an opportunity to add to what we feel is already a strong farm system to better position ourselves for 2022 and beyond.

“Painful decisions without question, in terms of departing with a guy like Jose Berrios, in terms of parting with a leader like Nelson Cruz. But I do think there’s an obligation we have to fans, (and) the players to try to build for the future when we’re not winning at the present. So we took advantage of that, but we think the core of this team has a chance to be very competitive in 2022 and beyond.”

David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Win Twins!!

 

[JimmyJamesMD]

The clock on Lavine and Falvey starts now

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Is it for real? Jose Miranda is having the best season by a Twins hitting prospect in 20 years​

Is it for real? Jose Miranda is having the best season by a Twins hitting prospect in 20 years

Unprotected and unpicked in the Rule 5 draft, Miranda is now forcing his way into the Twins' plans with a breakout season.

theathletic.com

Eight months ago, the Twins left Jose Miranda unprotected from the Rule 5 draft and the 23-year-old infielder was not selected by any of the 29 other MLB teams, remaining in the organization without requiring a spot on the 40-man roster.

Miranda was a decent prospect, ranking No. 30 on my Twins top-40 list this spring and No. 39 in 2020, but the 2016 second-round pick had yet to convert his oft-praised raw hitting tools into notable production in the minor leagues. He hit a combined .258/.315/.395 in his first four pro seasons, including just .248/.299/.364 with eight homers in 118 games at High A in 2019.

Like most other prospects, Miranda missed out on seeing any game action in 2020 because COVID-19 wiped away the minor league season. But he put in work behind the scenes with Twins coaches, who encouraged the free-swinger to take a more disciplined approach at the plate in an effort to avoid putting so many out-of-zone pitches in play and get Miranda into more hitter’s counts.

“He has such good feel for the barrel, it almost didn’t matter what the pitcher threw,” Twins player development director Alex Hassan said. “He was going to be aggressive because he knew he could hit the ball. We challenged him to be more selective early in the count. Let’s try to narrow your strike zone early in the count and look to do more damage.”

In other words, they wanted Miranda to stop letting pitchers off easy just because he had the contact skills to put nearly any pitch in play. While that aggressive approach led to few strikeouts because he rarely went deep in counts, it also generated few walks and underwhelming overall production from a hitter with far too much natural talent to be slugging below .400.

The change in approach has worked in ways the Twins could never have imagined as Miranda has put together one of the biggest breakout seasons in all of minor league baseball. It started at Double A, where Miranda batted .345/.408/.588 with 13 homers in 47 games. That earned him a promotion to Triple A, where he’s been even better, hitting .354/.415/.654 with nine homers in 30 games.



Combined between the two levels, Miranda is hitting .349/.411/.614 with 22 homers and 19 doubles in 77 games while striking out just 49 times versus 30 walks in 360 plate appearances. He led the Double-A Central league in OPS at the time of his promotion and now has the second-best OPS in the Triple-A East league.

Miranda, a right-handed batter, is hitting .330 versus righties and .392 versus lefties. He’s posted an OPS above .950 in every month. And he’s done it while facing pitchers older than him in 92.8 percent of his plate appearances, hitting .360 off them. Miranda has multiple hits in 33 of 77 games, including a pair of five-hit games, one of which was his three-homer Triple-A debut on June 29.

Not only is Miranda having the best 2021 season of any Twins minor leaguer and one of the best 2021 seasons by any prospect, period, he’s on track for the highest OPS by a Twins prospect in the past 20 years. Better yet, the company Miranda is keeping suggests that having this type of monster season in the high minors is an extremely good sign for a prospect’s future.

Here are the highest OPS numbers posted by 23-and-under Twins prospects playing at Double A or Triple A in the past 20 years (minimum 300 plate appearances):

PROSPECT	YEAR	AGE	PA	OPS
Jason Kubel	2004	22	549	1.004
Justin Morneau	2004	23	326	.992
Miguel Sanó	2013	20	519	.992
Michael Cuddyer	2002	23	372	.973
Max Kepler	2015	22	508	.930
Jose Miranda	2021	23	360	1.025

Only five 23-and-under Twins prospects playing in the high minors have come within 100 points of Miranda’s current OPS in the past 20 years, and all five of them went on to become good, and occasionally great, regulars for the Twins.

Also of note is that, unlike those five prospects, all of whom ended up as corner outfielders or first basemen, Miranda has a chance to stick as a second baseman or third baseman (or perhaps a super-utility man who also dabbles at shortstop and first base). He’s played all four infield spots this season, with his most action at second and third, where Twins officials consider him average or better.

Jason Kubel, Justin Morneau, Miguel Sanó, Michael Cuddyer and Max Kepler were established as top prospects with impressive track records when they put up those big numbers in the high minors, whereas Miranda’s high-minors breakout is occurring after four mostly underwhelming seasons. However, he’s long been touted as a potential breakout candidate by Twins officials and what he’s doing this season is truly special.



Miranda has added 100 points to his batting average and tapped into massive power while upping his walk rate and barely sacrificing the contact skills that were his primary calling card prior to 2021. Compared to his last season, 2019, his isolated power is up 130 percent and his walk rate is up 70 percent, yet his strikeout rate has only risen from 11.2 percent to a still-low 13.6 percent.

“He’s always been really hard to strike out, with incredible bat-to-ball skills,” Hassan said. “Now we’re starting to see that profile come together, where he’s driving the ball and he’s still maintaining that incredible bat-to-ball skill.”

To do that while jumping from High A to Double A, and then quickly Triple A, following a cancelled season is incredibly promising, and within the context of the past two decades of Twins prospects it’s all but unheard of for anyone not destined to become a first baseman or corner outfielder. So yes, there’s reason to be skeptical of Miranda’s star potential, but there’s also reason to buy in.

If the Twins were to trade Josh Donaldson this offseason, Miranda could take over at third base. In the unlikely event the Twins move Jorge Polanco back to shortstop following Andrelton Simmons’ impending departure as a free agent, Miranda could take over at second base. And if the Twins keep Donaldson and Polanco in place, Miranda could still factor into the 2022 plans as a utility man.

And the way he’s playing, we might even see him at Target Field in 2021.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Is it for real? Jose Miranda is having the best season by a Twins hitting prospect in 20 years​

Is it for real? Jose Miranda is having the best season by a Twins hitting prospect in 20 years

Unprotected and unpicked in the Rule 5 draft, Miranda is now forcing his way into the Twins' plans with a breakout season.

theathletic.com

Eight months ago, the Twins left Jose Miranda unprotected from the Rule 5 draft and the 23-year-old infielder was not selected by any of the 29 other MLB teams, remaining in the organization without requiring a spot on the 40-man roster.

Miranda was a decent prospect, ranking No. 30 on my Twins top-40 list this spring and No. 39 in 2020, but the 2016 second-round pick had yet to convert his oft-praised raw hitting tools into notable production in the minor leagues. He hit a combined .258/.315/.395 in his first four pro seasons, including just .248/.299/.364 with eight homers in 118 games at High A in 2019.

Like most other prospects, Miranda missed out on seeing any game action in 2020 because COVID-19 wiped away the minor league season. But he put in work behind the scenes with Twins coaches, who encouraged the free-swinger to take a more disciplined approach at the plate in an effort to avoid putting so many out-of-zone pitches in play and get Miranda into more hitter’s counts.

“He has such good feel for the barrel, it almost didn’t matter what the pitcher threw,” Twins player development director Alex Hassan said. “He was going to be aggressive because he knew he could hit the ball. We challenged him to be more selective early in the count. Let’s try to narrow your strike zone early in the count and look to do more damage.”

In other words, they wanted Miranda to stop letting pitchers off easy just because he had the contact skills to put nearly any pitch in play. While that aggressive approach led to few strikeouts because he rarely went deep in counts, it also generated few walks and underwhelming overall production from a hitter with far too much natural talent to be slugging below .400.

The change in approach has worked in ways the Twins could never have imagined as Miranda has put together one of the biggest breakout seasons in all of minor league baseball. It started at Double A, where Miranda batted .345/.408/.588 with 13 homers in 47 games. That earned him a promotion to Triple A, where he’s been even better, hitting .354/.415/.654 with nine homers in 30 games.



Combined between the two levels, Miranda is hitting .349/.411/.614 with 22 homers and 19 doubles in 77 games while striking out just 49 times versus 30 walks in 360 plate appearances. He led the Double-A Central league in OPS at the time of his promotion and now has the second-best OPS in the Triple-A East league.

Miranda, a right-handed batter, is hitting .330 versus righties and .392 versus lefties. He’s posted an OPS above .950 in every month. And he’s done it while facing pitchers older than him in 92.8 percent of his plate appearances, hitting .360 off them. Miranda has multiple hits in 33 of 77 games, including a pair of five-hit games, one of which was his three-homer Triple-A debut on June 29.

Not only is Miranda having the best 2021 season of any Twins minor leaguer and one of the best 2021 seasons by any prospect, period, he’s on track for the highest OPS by a Twins prospect in the past 20 years. Better yet, the company Miranda is keeping suggests that having this type of monster season in the high minors is an extremely good sign for a prospect’s future.

Here are the highest OPS numbers posted by 23-and-under Twins prospects playing at Double A or Triple A in the past 20 years (minimum 300 plate appearances):

PROSPECT	YEAR	AGE	PA	OPS
Jason Kubel	2004	22	549	1.004
Justin Morneau	2004	23	326	.992
Miguel Sanó	2013	20	519	.992
Michael Cuddyer	2002	23	372	.973
Max Kepler	2015	22	508	.930
Jose Miranda	2021	23	360	1.025

Only five 23-and-under Twins prospects playing in the high minors have come within 100 points of Miranda’s current OPS in the past 20 years, and all five of them went on to become good, and occasionally great, regulars for the Twins.

Also of note is that, unlike those five prospects, all of whom ended up as corner outfielders or first basemen, Miranda has a chance to stick as a second baseman or third baseman (or perhaps a super-utility man who also dabbles at shortstop and first base). He’s played all four infield spots this season, with his most action at second and third, where Twins officials consider him average or better.

Jason Kubel, Justin Morneau, Miguel Sanó, Michael Cuddyer and Max Kepler were established as top prospects with impressive track records when they put up those big numbers in the high minors, whereas Miranda’s high-minors breakout is occurring after four mostly underwhelming seasons. However, he’s long been touted as a potential breakout candidate by Twins officials and what he’s doing this season is truly special.



Miranda has added 100 points to his batting average and tapped into massive power while upping his walk rate and barely sacrificing the contact skills that were his primary calling card prior to 2021. Compared to his last season, 2019, his isolated power is up 130 percent and his walk rate is up 70 percent, yet his strikeout rate has only risen from 11.2 percent to a still-low 13.6 percent.

“He’s always been really hard to strike out, with incredible bat-to-ball skills,” Hassan said. “Now we’re starting to see that profile come together, where he’s driving the ball and he’s still maintaining that incredible bat-to-ball skill.”

To do that while jumping from High A to Double A, and then quickly Triple A, following a cancelled season is incredibly promising, and within the context of the past two decades of Twins prospects it’s all but unheard of for anyone not destined to become a first baseman or corner outfielder. So yes, there’s reason to be skeptical of Miranda’s star potential, but there’s also reason to buy in.

If the Twins were to trade Josh Donaldson this offseason, Miranda could take over at third base. In the unlikely event the Twins move Jorge Polanco back to shortstop following Andrelton Simmons’ impending departure as a free agent, Miranda could take over at second base. And if the Twins keep Donaldson and Polanco in place, Miranda could still factor into the 2022 plans as a utility man.

And the way he’s playing, we might even see him at Target Field in 2021.

He’s climbed up the Twins prospect rankings pretty fast.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Has anyone seen any statistics on ERA, runs scored, etc overall in the league before umps were checking pitchers for foreign substances and after? I’m curious if there’s been a noticeable difference across the league.