Jose Miranda

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #5 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Miranda showed a solid approach and feel for hitting out of high school in 2016, when he was part of a deep Puerto Rican infield class. The Twins signed him for $775,000 in the second round and he flashed offensive potential at times in the minors before having a breakout 2021 campaign. He led the minors in hits and was one of just two players with 30 or more home runs and doubles, along with Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
  
  Scouting Report: Miranda’s success in 2021 stems in large part from a more mature, selective approach at the plate. He did a better job narrowing the strike zone and being more selective for pitches he could drive early in counts, while still showing impressive bat-to-ball ability to stay alive on pitcher’s pitches when behind, and showed solid production against breaking balls. Miranda has plus raw power and averaged 90.2 mph exit velocity this year, while topping out around 113 mph. Scouts seem split on whether he’ll be a hit-over-power bat or vice versa, but he has the strength and contact ability for either depending on his approach. Miranda is a bat-first prospect who is limited defensively. He’s a below-average athlete who might be a 30-grade runner, which means third base or first base might be a better fit than second. He does have plus arm strength and solid hands, so he’ll convert what comes to him, but overall it’s a below-average defensive profile.
  
  The Future: The Twins have a number of multi-position, corner-type bats and now Miranda is solidly in that group and should make his major league debut in 2022.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #13 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The second Puerto Rican player taken in his draft class and signed for $775,000, Miranda improved his conditioning and his defense in 2018. His range, actions and footwork flashed above-average at second base and his above-average arm remains plenty strong enough to handle third base, where he again split time.
  
  Scouting Report: At the plate he continued to show excellent barrel awareness with the chance for plus power as he continues to hone his strike-zone discipline. Overshadowed in the first half by Royce Lewis and Alex Kirilloff, Miranda blossomed after their promotions and later joined them at high Class A Fort Myers for the title push. For much of July some felt he was the best hitter in the Midwest League. Miranda has good balance at the plate with quiet hands and the ability to drive the ball to all fields. An average runner with a projectable frame who could yet outgrow second base, Miranda swung and missed just 11 percent of the time but could stand to walk more.
  
  The Future: Miranda figures to open 2019 at Fort Myers, where he will play both second and third.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #25 prospect in 2018
  One of four Twins prospects to make the Appalachian League Top 20, Bechtold quickly justified the Twins' decision to give him $600,000 (58 percent above slot) in the fifth round. A product of the Philadelphia suburbs, like fellow Twins infield prospect Travis Blankenhorn, Bechtold spent two seasons at Maryland before transferring to tradition-rich Chipola JC, where he led a talented Indians club to the NJCAA Division 1 World Series title. Area scout Jack Powell did extensive work on Bechtold, who was drafted behind two of his Chipola teammates (second-rounders Rey Rivera and Evan Steele). Bechtold's father Scott played football at Syracuse and baseball at Delaware, so it's no surprise the younger Bechtold is extremely athletic with a mature mindset and approach. He has the potential to be a high-end defender at third, where his plus arm strength already rates at the top of the Twins' system, and could be tried in right field down the road. He has a compact swing with above-average bat speed, a high-contact, all-fields approach and the potential for future power. Bechtold is a fringe-average runner with good instincts who should start at low Class A Cedar Rapids.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #24 prospect in 2017
  The second Puerto Rican player taken in the 2016 draft after Cardinals first-rounder Delvin Perez, Miranda went to the Twins 73rd overall and signed for $775,000. The 18-year-old struggled offensively in his debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, but the Twins view his hit tool as one of the best in their draft class, envisioning him in a similar vein as Travis Blankenhorn. Like Blankenhorn, Miranda has a smooth swing and advanced bat-to-ball skills and the chance for average or better power as he physically develops. And also like Blankenhorn, Miranda faces a likely move off shortstop. Though Miranda showed smooth actions and hands at short in the GCL, most evaluators project him to outgrow the position and slide over to third base, where his average arm should be sufficient. His carrying tool is his bat, and he will try to rebound in 2017.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #113 prospect in 2016 draft
  The strength of the Puerto Rican draft class this year is its infielders, and Miranda has emerged as one of the best following Delvin Perez. Miranda has a good approach at the plate and has an advanced feel for hitting, enabling him to make a lot of contact. He also shows some pop and projects to hit for average power as he physically matures. While Miranda plays shortstop now, his footwork and lower half will lead him to move off the position as a professional. He has an average arm and a good enough glove to stay in the infield, either at second or third base. There is still some rawness to the 17-year-old's game, but Miranda provides significant upside thanks to his offensive profile.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #90 prospect in 2022

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Miranda showed a solid approach and feel for hitting out of high school in 2016, when he was part of a deep Puerto Rican infield class. The Twins signed him for $775,000 in the second round and he flashed offensive potential at times in the minors before having a breakout 2021 campaign. He led the minors in hits and was one of just two players with 30 or more home runs and doubles, along with Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
  
  Scouting Report: Miranda’s success in 2021 stems in large part from a more mature, selective approach at the plate. He did a better job narrowing the strike zone and being more selective for pitches he could drive early in counts, while still showing impressive bat-to-ball ability to stay alive on pitcher’s pitches when behind, and showed solid production against breaking balls. Miranda has plus raw power and averaged 90.2 mph exit velocity this year, while topping out around 113 mph. Scouts seem split on whether he’ll be a hit-over-power bat or vice versa, but he has the strength and contact ability for either depending on his approach. Miranda is a bat-first prospect who is limited defensively. He’s a below-average athlete who might be a 30-grade runner, which means third base or first base might be a better fit than second. He does have plus arm strength and solid hands, so he’ll convert what comes to him, but overall it’s a below-average defensive profile.
  
  The Future: The Twins have a number of multi-position, corner-type bats and now Miranda is solidly in that group and should make his major league debut in 2022.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Drafted as a shortstop out of Puerto Rico in 2016, Miranda had previously shown good bat-to-ball skills and gap power, but this season he emerged as one of the top breakout prospects in the minors. Miranda put in work during the 2020 shutdown to become more athletic and to improve his pitch selectivity. The end result was the nimbleness to play every infield position and the ability to hunt his pitch and establish a new career high for home runs.