Right fielder David Miranda returns for his senior season hoping to show that MLB scouts missed out on him last year.
BOCA RATON – Disappointment ran through David Miranda’s body as his junior year finished. Miranda expected to be drafted into professional baseball, but despite a statistically impression season that didn’t happen.
A little more than six months later Miranda, 22, is more excited than ever to be back with his teammates at Florida Atlantic.
“I’m kind of glad that it didn’t work out, just because I wouldn’t trade these guys for anything,” Miranda said.
The Owls start their season this Friday against George Washington, after finishing off the 2017 season losing to Rice in the Conference USA Championship and missing the NCAA tournament for the first time in three seasons.
“I don’t want to lose a single game,” Miranda said.
Miranda wasn’t the only one surprised he went undrafted. Coach John McCormack didn’t expect to have his slugger back for another year.
“We thought we were going to lose him in the draft, but we got fortunate and he came back,” McCormack said.
Miranda led the Owls in 2017 with 12 home runs, 51 RBIs, and a .590 slugging percentage.
“He’s definitely one of the key parts of the outfield,” relief pitcher Weston Clemente said.
Throughout this offseason, Miranda has been striving to improve the aspects he felt major league teams from taking a chance on him.
McCormack said that every Tuesday and Thursday morning, Miranda ran sprints and worked on agility drills before practice.
As much as Miranda’s bat will help the Owls on the field, his personality provides a boost in the clubhouse.
Miranda gets the locker room excited. He’s constantly talking in the dugout. While in baseball the pitchers and fielders a lot of times become separated because of the different workouts, McCormacks watches interacted with every player from every group.
“Dave kind of walks seamlessly through every little room,” McCormack said.
Miranda holds high expectations for the Owls, whose 35-21-1 record produced a third place finish in Conference USA last season.
“We’re going all the way,” Miranda said.
There’s a lot at stake for Miranda in his senior season. With the possibility of it being his last baseball season of his career, there’s pressure to power the Owls along with the pressure he puts on himself to perform.
Although there is a lot that can happen this season, Miranda is excited to spend the last season of his FAU career with this group of guys.
“Let’s ride,” Miranda said.
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