At the Winter Meetings, the Minnesota Twins provide injury updates on their promising young infielders.
José Miranda and Alex Kirill off, two former top prospects, are expected to be prepared for Spring Training following their respective shoulder surgeries this fall.
With several injuries at the end of the 2023 season, the Minnesota Twins had a mixed record going into December. A few of their most promising young players were still recovering.
But as the Nashville Winter Meetings got underway, good news kept coming in about designated hitter and center fielder Byron Buxton, according to President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey’s update over the weekend.
Alex Kirilloff, a first baseman and corner outfielder, battled chronic wrist problems last spring. A shoulder injury in the fall finally cost him a spot on Minnesota’s postseason roster. More than a month after undergoing postseason shoulder surgery, Falvey provided some updated information on Kirilloff’s condition. Although the 26-year-old lefty hasn’t started hitting again, the Twins executive seemed hopeful that Kirill off would be ready for Spring Training.
“Given what was fixed here, we don’t have any reason to believe this is a long-term issue,” Falvey stated. Last year, his wrist was in a great place. Going in, the shoulder should be in a good position.”
In fact, Kirill off’s 88 games in 2023 marked a career high for the frequently injured slugger. In addition, Kirill off set new career highs with his 11 home runs, 41 RBI,.270 batting average, and.793 OPS during his MLB tenure.
José Miranda, who plays first base and third base, has also been dealing with a shoulder injury that needed surgery, but he has already resumed hitting. After hitting.268 with a.751 OPS in 125 games in 2022, Miranda pounded.211 with a.556 OPS in just 40 games in 2023.
Falvey stated unequivocally that if Miranda, 25, is to make the Opening Day roster, he must significantly improve at the plate after being given the all-clear to return.
Miranda spent the majority of 2023 at third base, but manager Rocco Baldelli stated that she will see some action at first base during spring training. With healthy versions of Miranda, Kirilloff, and Buxton, the Twins should have plenty of defensive and lineup flexibility in 2024 if the transition goes well.
Before they made their major league debuts in 2021 and 2022, respectively, Kirilloff and Miranda were ranked among the Twins’ top-five prospects in their farm systems. Before making his Major League debut in 2015, Buxton was considered the best baseball prospect of all time.
