In a Press Release this morning the Minnesota Twins announced that infielder Jose Miranda has been named the 2021 Sherry Robertson Award winner as the Twins Minor League Player of the Year and right-handed pitcher Louie Varland has been named the 2021 Jim Rantz Award winner as the Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
Miranda, 23, has split the season between Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul, combining to hit .342 (176-for-514) with 29 doubles, 29 home runs, 92 RBI and an .968 OPS in 122 games through September 27. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound infielder was named Twins minor league Player of the Week four times during the season (May 16, June 6, June 27 and July 4). He is currently ranked as the club’s eighth-best prospect per MLB.com.
The Vega Alta, Puerto Rico native was selected by the Twins in the Lottery Round B (73rd overall) of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Leadership Christian Academy in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. In 481 career games in the Twins minor league system through today, he has hit .281 (526-for-1870) with 97 doubles, five triples, 65 home runs, 292 RBI, 260 runs scored, 131 walks and a .782 OPS.
Varland, 23, split the 2021 season between Single-A Fort Myers and Single-A Cedar Rapids. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound pitcher went 10-4 with a 2.10 ERA (103.0 IP, 24 ER), 30 walks, 142 strikeouts, a 1.09 WHIP and a .214 opponent batting average (82-for-383), leading Twins minor league pitchers in strikeouts, wins and ERA (min. 45.0 innings pitched). He was named Low-A Southeast Pitcher of the Week while with Fort Myers on June 13 and later named Twins minor league Pitcher of the Week twice (July 25 and September 12) while pitching for the Kernels.
The St. Paul, Minnesota native was selected by the Twins in the 15th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Concordia University (St. Paul) and has gone 10-5 with a 2.10 ERA (111.2 IP, 26 ER), 34 walks and 152 strikeouts in 23 games (19 starts) through parts of two seasons in the Twins minor league system. He is currently ranked as the club’s 29th-best prospect by MLB.com.
Sounds like some Twins fans are demanding their
“Miranda rights”…?
John Swol, you have the right to remain silent on this subject. Anything
you say May be used against you in a court of future postings.
It would be nice to get a taste of Miranda this year at the MLB level. Wondering what his best position would be. If he can hit for average and power, DH with an occasional 3B or 1B appearance would be helpful.
John,
Can’t wait to see Miranda. Hopefully, it may be next year as the Twins come to Fenway
early next year on their second homestand (assuming there will be baseball on time with the CBA being the impediment).
May have to wait longer for Varland. Thanks for your informative updates each week.