The Little Engine That Could
(Versatile Miranda returns to a team that he feels comfortable with)
I don't think anybody gets more excited over crap players then we do. Raul Miranda (5/5/5/3/9 Ratings) came to Brooklyn as a waiver wire claim in May of 2034. His role was to be the short side platoon center fielder until Michael MacCrain (6/5/6/4/7 Ratings) was ready. There was a small problem in that Miranda was not a CF. He is a great defensive LF and 3B and is capable of playing a vast array of positions at some level of competence. So to train Miranda in CF was a bit of a stretch. It never hurts to have too many options though, so Miranda got extensive playing time in CF with the sole intent on building a somewhat competent 2nd or 3rd option in CF moving forward.
Defensively he struggled, as expected, while gaining experience in CF. Offensively though, The Robins didn't realize they had had an elite bat on their hands. Miranda hit an eye popping .323/.337/.479 in 2034. Ok, it happens. Sometimes a blind squirrel can find a nut right? Prolonged hot streak, lucky, short sample... you name the cliche and it probably applies here.
As 2035 rolled around Miranda was given the 27th man on the roster spot. He was pretty much the 3rd option at 3B, LF, and CF. He filled in for injures, was a defensive sub, and played on occasions where the matchup favored him. the results... .339/.350/.469. A near mirror image of the success he had the year before.
Demanding $6 million in arbitration, Brooklyn sold the rights to Miranda to Nashville for a marginal amount of money. Raul hit just .224/.269/.281 in the music city. His role was pretty much the same.
So as the Robins bring back this favorite pet project, what can we expect? The roster is already full of right handed versatile options. He is not likelt to break camp with the team. But as with Holden Blackwell, Miranda is an extreme front office favorite and at some point this season Brooklyn is likely to make a foolish roster move to accommodate the little engine that could.