Juan Miranda

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked New York Yankees #20 prospect in 2009
  Miranda seemed poised for a breakout season in 2008, his second year after signing for a four-year, $4 million contract. After helping Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to the International League championship--he led the IL with 11 RBIs during the playoffs--he finished the year in the majors and got his first big league hit off A.J. Burnett. But even with Jason Giambi's contract mercifully over, the Yankees aren't handing first base over to Miranda quite yet. He spent two years in limbo after leaving Cuba before becoming a free agent and showed up two years younger than he'd been listed when he played for the Cuban national team. Cuban sources list a 1981 birthdate for Miranda, who will be 28 in 2009 if they're correct. Miranda showed good power potential in the Arizona Fall League in 2007 but didn't carry that over into 2008. While club officials still project him to hit for big home run power in the majors--he puts on raw power displays in batting practice--he has put up modest numbers in the minors and other teams aren't as impressed. He injured his left shoulder in late May trying to field a groundball and wound up missing almost a month. He regained his loose swing swiftly, showing a quick, contact-oriented stroke. Despite that swing, Miranda was helpless against lefthanders, posting a .537 OPS against them in Triple- A (compared to a .973 OPS against righties). He's an average defender at first base, with fair range and decent actions, and a below-average runner. After another fine AFL performance, he's ready for a platoon role in the majors but doesn't project as a championship-caliber regular.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #21 prospect in 2008
  The Yankees signed Miranda to a four-year, $4 million contract in 2006, when the Cuban national was made a free agent after two years in limbo. While the Yankees list him with an April 1983 birthdate, several Cuban sources show a 1981 birthdate (some say March, some say April). Whether he's 24 or 26, Miranda is part of New York's first-base picture, which has been cloudy since Jason Giambi's became a defensive liability. Miranda isn't likely to win any Gold Gloves either--his stocky body and fringy defense evoke Tino Martinez, the last Yankee to start 100 games in a season at first base. He's a fringy runner as well, but Miranda can hit. While his swing can get long, which leads to strikeouts, he's shown a feel for the barrel of the bat and raw above-average power to all fields. He was particularly impressive in the Arizona Fall League, where he was patient and showed prodigious power. He doesn't hit lefthanders too well (.223 with two homers in 112 at-bats in 2007), so Miranda and 28-year-old rookie Shelley Duncan could form New York's first-base platoon of the near future, particularly after Giambi's contract expires following 2008.