Jose Miranda’s shoulder has healed enough after surgery for him to return to third base next week, according to Rocco Baldelli on Sunday.
But he is not going to.
Miranda, who had surgery to remove scar tissue from the rotator cuff and labrum of his throwing arm last October, will be limited to a designated hitter role for the first month of camp, so the Twins prefer that he focus his energy on first base for the remaining three weeks, according to Baldelli.
“He won’t play third base in a major league spring training game anymore. We’re going to play him at first base and give him as much work as he can over there,” the manager explained. “We want him to work at a position where he want to play and where we believe he will fit in well. [It’s] a position he hasn’t played much at. He needs work at first base, so we’ll give him as much as we can.”
That means the Twins have effectively given Miranda’s former job to second-year infielder Royce Lewis, a move that was entirely predictable considering Lewis’ outstanding second half last year. Willi Castro and Kyle Farmer can back up Lewis, with Miranda likely heading to Class AAA St. Paul to begin the 2024 season.
Miranda’s playing time at third base for the Saints is unknown, as he had shoulder difficulties after playing 62 games there for the Twins over two seasons. But Baldelli said Miranda’s return to the field, which is expected in 5-7 days, is a welcome news for the team’s depth, especially given his strong showing at the plate in 2022, when he batted.268 with 15 home runs.
Miranda batted just.211 in 40 games for the Twins last season.
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