RADIO
Jose Miranda 2022 Outlook: Big Upside If 2021 Breakout Was Real
3 years agoBefore the 2021 season, Miranda was an average-ish minor league hitter with above-average contact skills who lacked a standout tool. He produced a 98 wRC+ at the age of 21 in High-A ball in 2019 prior to the pandemic. But then he made incredibly good use of his time during the lost minor league season in 2020 and came back as a new man last year with significantly more strength. After previously topping out at 13 home runs, he slugged 30 homers between Double-A and Triple-A while also hitting .344. Between the two leagues, he had a 158 wRC+ and didn't sacrifice any contact to achieve his newfound power; his strikeout rate in Triple-A was just 13%. If Miranda comes into 2022 looking like the 2021 version of himself then he has an excellent shot at securing a full-time role at either DH or first base. He also has the ability to play third base but he's not going to push Josh Donaldson to the side — although the injury-prone veteran could help the rookie achieve multi-position eligibility. Miranda is an intriguing late-round draft sleeper despite his limited track record for success and could be a .280 hitter with 20-homer potential as a rookie.
