Miguel Hiraldo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #21 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Hiraldo had a reputation as one of the most advanced hitters in the 2017 international class when the Blue Jays signed him for $750,000. He showed why during his first two years in Rookie ball, but the reviews were underwhelming in Hiraldo’s first year in a full-season league.
  
  Scouting Report: Hiraldo has a short, quick swing with good bat speed. He’s a good fastball hitter, though his approach can get too aggressive and he isn’t as effective against breaking stuff. Hiraldo has average raw power, though he doesn’t consistently drive the ball in games, often getting caught in between with his approach. Hiraldo has split time between second and third base. His hands are fine and he has a solid-average arm with adequate range.
  
  The Future: Hiraldo’s bat will drive his value, and he will have to show more—whether it’s improving his on-base skills or finding a way to unlock more game power—to develop into a regular. He will head to High-A Vancouver to start 2022.
  
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #10 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Run: 45. Fielding: 45. Arm: 55.
  Track Record: Several clubs considered Hiraldo one of the best hitters in the 2017 international class when he signed with the Blue Jays for $750,000. He came as advertised in his first two seasons, including a strong showing in the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 2019. The Blue Jays did not bring him to their alternate training site in 2020, so Hiraldo instead trained at home in the Dominican Republic before coming over for instructional league looking leaner than he did in 2019.
  
  Scouting Report: Hiraldo has an innate feel for barreling the baseball with a short, direct swing and a knack for being on time. His hands are so quick he’s able to generate impressive bat speed, even though he doesn’t get much separation with his load to start his swing. He gets his lower half into his swing well and generates solid-average raw power that could increase. Hiraldo is a good fastball hitter, but his approach can get pull-heavy and leaves him vulnerable on the outer third of the plate and against breaking pitches. His hands and solid-average arm fit at shortstop, but his range points to a future position change, with a skill set that would work well at third base.
  
  The Future: The Blue Jays have a wealth of shortstops to find playing time for in 2021. Hiraldo is ready for one of Toronto’s Class A levels and could possibly move around the infield to get him into the lineup regularly. .
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #8 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Hiraldo signed for $750,000 in 2017, when several clubs considered him one of the best hitters in his international class. Hiraldo performed well his first two seasons and stood out as one of the top prospects in 2019 in the Rookie-level Appalachian League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hiraldo has a lot of qualities of a good hitter, with a knack for barreling baseballs. He doesn't load his hands back much to start his swing, but hand speed helps his bat explode through the zone. It's a direct, compact swing, and Hirado uses his legs and hips well to usually be on time and produce average power that should increase. Hiraldo clobbers fastballs and he generally has a good approach for his age. However, he needs to improve his breaking ball recognition and he has a pull-heavy approach, so he will need to make adjustments to better handle pitches on the outer third. His hands and arm are fine at shortstop, but his range is stretched thin there already. His stocky body suggests he's going to slow down as he gets bigger. He has the defensive skill set and offensive profile for third base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hiraldo should be ready in 2020 for low Class A Lansing, where he'll continue refining his hitting approach.
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #10 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: As an amateur in the Dominican Republic, Hiraldo earned praise as one of the top hitters in a strong 2017 international class. The Blue Jays signed him for $750,000, and he justified their belief in his bat with a strong offensive showing in the Dominican Summer League.
  
  Scouting Report: Hiraldo has a knack for driving the ball from a direct, compact swing. He doesn't generate much separation with his hands to load his swing, but he has explosive hand speed that generates plus bat speed. He's an aggressive hitter who mashes fastballs, with strong forearms and legs that he incorporates to generate average power. He's a pull-heavy hitter who's still improving his pitch recognition and selectivity. Blue Jays scouts were more optimistic than others when they signed Hiraldo about his ability to stick at shortstop, citing his hands and arm strength. His range and defensive actions aren't ideal for shortstop, though he has the defensive skill set for third base.
  
  The Future: Hiraldo is still several years away, but he has the offensive upside to profile at third base.
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #17 prospect in 2018
  Several clubs had Hiraldo graded out as one of the top hitters available on the international amateur market in 2017, when Hiraldo signed with the Blue Jays for $750,000. Hiraldo is built like a catcher with a strong, stocky frame with powerful legs and forearms. He has quick hands and a short, repeatable stroke. He swings hard and hammers fastballs for hard line drives with average raw power. Some scouts had questions about Hiraldo's ability to handle offspeed pitches and use the opposite field, with a swing that starts with his hands at his ears before coming straight down, but he frequently makes hard, quality contact in games. Hiraldo probably won't spend much time at shortstop. The Blue Jays plan to keep him there for now, though he probably fits better at third base. Most of Hiraldo's focus as an amateur was on his hitting rather than his defense, so he will have to improve his defensive actions and smooth out a funky throwing stroke to stick in the dirt.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked American League #3 prospect in 2019
  One of the top-rated hitters in the 2017 international signing class, Hiraldo continued to show his offensive chops this year in the Appalachian League, hitting .300/.348/.481 with seven home runs and a league-leading 20 doubles. Hiraldo has quick hands in the batter’s box and in the infield—where he split time between shortstop and second base—with an aggressive, slashing approach that yielded a lot of line drives to his pull side. Hiraldo will need to improve his plate coverage and learn to use the opposite field as he climbs the minor league ladder and is challenged by pitchers who can consistently attack him on the outer half. But his pure bat-to-ball skills are impressive. Hiraldo has solid hands, but scouts believe third base is his best spot defensively, thanks to fringy athleticism and a stockier frame. "He has potential to become a good hitter,” one Appy League manager said. "He has the ability to play second, short and third, so that’s a plus for him.”

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Hiraldo had a reputation as one of the most advanced hitters in the 2017 international class when the Blue Jays signed him for $750,000. He showed why during his first two years in Rookie ball, but the reviews were underwhelming in Hiraldo’s first year in a full-season league.
  
  Scouting Report: Hiraldo has a short, quick swing with good bat speed. He’s a good fastball hitter, though his approach can get too aggressive and he isn’t as effective against breaking stuff. Hiraldo has average raw power, though he doesn’t consistently drive the ball in games, often getting caught in between with his approach. Hiraldo has split time between second and third base. His hands are fine and he has a solid-average arm with adequate range.
  
  The Future: Hiraldo’s bat will drive his value, and he will have to show more—whether it’s improving his on-base skills or finding a way to unlock more game power—to develop into a regular. He will head to High-A Vancouver to start 2022.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Run: 45. Fielding: 45. Arm: 55.
  Track Record: Several clubs considered Hiraldo one of the best hitters in the 2017 international class when he signed with the Blue Jays for $750,000. He came as advertised in his first two seasons, including a strong showing in the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 2019. The Blue Jays did not bring him to their alternate training site in 2020, so Hiraldo instead trained at home in the Dominican Republic before coming over for instructional league looking leaner than he did in 2019.
  
  Scouting Report: Hiraldo has an innate feel for barreling the baseball with a short, direct swing and a knack for being on time. His hands are so quick he's able to generate impressive bat speed, even though he doesn't get much separation with his load to start his swing. He gets his lower half into his swing well and generates solid-average raw power that could increase. Hiraldo is a good fastball hitter, but his approach can get pull-heavy and leaves him vulnerable on the outer third of the plate and against breaking pitches. His hands and solid-average arm fit at shortstop, but his range points to a future position change, with a skill set that would work well at third base.
  
  The Future: The Blue Jays have a wealth of shortstops to find playing time for in 2021. Hiraldo is ready for one of Toronto's Class A levels and could possibly move around the infield to get him into the lineup regularly. .
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Run: 45. Fielding: 45. Arm: 55.
  Track Record: Several clubs considered Hiraldo one of the best hitters in the 2017 international class when he signed with the Blue Jays for $750,000. He came as advertised in his first two seasons, including a strong showing in the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 2019. The Blue Jays did not bring him to their alternate training site in 2020, so Hiraldo instead trained at home in the Dominican Republic before coming over for instructional league looking leaner than he did in 2019.
  
  Scouting Report: Hiraldo has an innate feel for barreling the baseball with a short, direct swing and a knack for being on time. His hands are so quick he’s able to generate impressive bat speed, even though he doesn’t get much separation with his load to start his swing. He gets his lower half into his swing well and generates solid-average raw power that could increase. Hiraldo is a good fastball hitter, but his approach can get pull-heavy and leaves him vulnerable on the outer third of the plate and against breaking pitches. His hands and solid-average arm fit at shortstop, but his range points to a future position change, with a skill set that would work well at third base.
  
  The Future: The Blue Jays have a wealth of shortstops to find playing time for in 2021. Hiraldo is ready for one of Toronto’s Class A levels and could possibly move around the infield to get him into the lineup regularly. .
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Run: 45. Fielding: 45. Arm: 55.
  Track Record: Several clubs considered Hiraldo one of the best hitters in the 2017 international class when he signed with the Blue Jays for $750,000. He came as advertised in his first two seasons, including a strong showing in the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 2019. The Blue Jays did not bring him to their alternate training site in 2020, so Hiraldo instead trained at home in the Dominican Republic before coming over for instructional league looking leaner than he did in 2019.
  
  Scouting Report: Hiraldo has an innate feel for barreling the baseball with a short, direct swing and a knack for being on time. His hands are so quick he’s able to generate impressive bat speed, even though he doesn’t get much separation with his load to start his swing. He gets his lower half into his swing well and generates solid-average raw power that could increase. Hiraldo is a good fastball hitter, but his approach can get pull-heavy and leaves him vulnerable on the outer third of the plate and against breaking pitches. His hands and solid-average arm fit at shortstop, but his range points to a future position change, with a skill set that would work well at third base.
  
  The Future: The Blue Jays have a wealth of shortstops to find playing time for in 2021. Hiraldo is ready for one of Toronto’s Class A levels and could possibly move around the infield to get him into the lineup regularly. .
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Hiraldo signed for $750,000 in 2017, when several clubs considered him one of the best hitters in his international class. Hiraldo performed well his first two seasons and stood out as one of the top prospects in 2019 in the Rookie-level Appalachian League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hiraldo has a lot of qualities of a good hitter, with a knack for barreling baseballs. He doesn’t load his hands back much to start his swing, but hand speed helps his bat explode through the zone. It’s a direct, compact swing, and Hirado uses his legs and hips well to usually be on time and produce average power that should increase. Hiraldo clobbers fastballs and he generally has a good approach for his age. However, he needs to improve his breaking ball recognition and he has a pull-heavy approach, so he will need to make adjustments to better handle pitches on the outer third. His hands and arm are fine at shortstop, but his range is stretched thin there already. His stocky body suggests he’s going to slow down as he gets bigger. He has the defensive skill set and offensive profile for third base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hiraldo should be ready in 2020 for low Class A Lansing, where he’ll continue refining his hitting approach.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Hiraldo signed for $750,000 in 2017, when several clubs considered him one of the best hitters in his international class. Hiraldo performed well his first two seasons and stood out as one of the top prospects in 2019 in the Rookie-level Appalachian League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hiraldo has a lot of qualities of a good hitter, with a knack for barreling baseballs. He doesn't load his hands back much to start his swing, but hand speed helps his bat explode through the zone. It's a direct, compact swing, and Hirado uses his legs and hips well to usually be on time and produce average power that should increase. Hiraldo clobbers fastballs and he generally has a good approach for his age. However, he needs to improve his breaking ball recognition and he has a pull-heavy approach, so he will need to make adjustments to better handle pitches on the outer third. His hands and arm are fine at shortstop, but his range is stretched thin there already. His stocky body suggests he's going to slow down as he gets bigger. He has the defensive skill set and offensive profile for third base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hiraldo should be ready in 2020 for low Class A Lansing, where he'll continue refining his hitting approach.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  One of the top-rated hitters in the 2017 international signing class, Hiraldo continued to show his offensive chops this year in the Appalachian League, hitting .300/.348/.481 with seven home runs and a league-leading 20 doubles. Hiraldo has quick hands in the batter’s box and in the infield—where he split time between shortstop and second base—with an aggressive, slashing approach that yielded a lot of line drives to his pull side. Hiraldo will need to improve his plate coverage and learn to use the opposite field as he climbs the minor league ladder and is challenged by pitchers who can consistently attack him on the outer half. But his pure bat-to-ball skills are impressive. Hiraldo has solid hands, but scouts believe third base is his best spot defensively, thanks to fringy athleticism and a stockier frame. "He has potential to become a good hitter,” one Appy League manager said. "He has the ability to play second, short and third, so that’s a plus for him.”