Juan Miranda

2013

There was no outlook written for Juan Miranda.

2011

Miranda had a couple of stints with the Yankees last season but saw few opportunities, hitting .219 in just 71 plate appearances. An offseason trade to Arizona should pave the way for much more playing time, as the Diamondbacks have him penciled in as their starting first baseman. He probably won't be a great contact hitter in the desert, but he can get on base (.374 OBP at Triple-A) and has some power (.481 SLG). Further, D-Backs general manager Kevin Towers may have seen something he liked while working as a special assistant to the Yankees last season, so there's reason to believe he'll be given plenty of chances to succeed with his new club.

2010

Without a spot for him on the major league roster, Miranda spent a second consecutive year at Triple-A in 2009 before a cup of coffee with the Yankees in September. His second year in the International League went quite well, as Miranda hit for a better average (.290) and more power (19 homers, .498 slugging). He even seemed to rectify his biggest weakness from 2008 – hitting against lefties – by posting a .291/.367/.507 line against southpaws. He’s probably best suited to be used as a power bat off the bench rather than as an everyday part of the lineup. If he's unable to secure a bench spot in spring training, 2010 is still an option year for him, so New York could always ship him back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre without the risk of losing him on waivers.

2009

Miranda continued to improve during his second campaign in the Yankees' farm system, posting a .287/.384/.449 line with 12 homers and 52 RBI and 356 at-bats for Triple-A Scranton. His biggest shortcoming thus far has been handling lefties, which held him to .195/.258/.280 along with two homers and 11 RBI (9:37 BB:K) in 118 at-bats at Triple-A. After aquiring Nick Swisher from the White Sox, it appears that Miranda will be limited to a role as a left-handed bat off the bench -- with the occasional spot start at first or as the DH -- while he may end up spending most of 2009 playing regularly at Triple-A as the Yankees try to further his development.

2008

Miranda is one of the more intriguing prospects out there, given that he's a defector from Cuba and his true age - believed to be between 24 and 26 - isn't entirely certain. The Yankees have him under contract for another three years, and in his American professional debut, Miranda showed plenty of promise after beginning the year at High-A Tampa and eventually finishing at Double-A Trenton. His 16 homers in a combined 446 at-bats is a good start, and given the Yankees' inability to lock down a regular option at first base, he could be fast riser again in 2008 if he picks up where he left off in the Arizona Fall League (.295/.423/.551 five homers, 17 RBI and 16:18 BB:K mark in 78 at-bats). Look for him to begin the year at Triple-A, where the Yanks wouldn't mind seeing a cutback on his strikeouts.

2007

Miranda played for the Cuban national team from 2001 until defecting to the Dominican in early 2004 and then signed a four-year contract with the Yankees in December. His age is in dispute - some sources list him as 23 years old, others 25. Not much is known about him, so he'll be a player to watch this spring. He'll likely start at high-A, but could advance quickly.