Minnesota Twins’ Jose Miranda watches his two-run double against the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 13, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
NEW YORK — Lin-Manuel Miranda did not throw away his shot to watch his cousin play on Sunday in the Bronx.
The “Hamilton” creator and Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award winner tried to come see Jose Miranda, his second cousin, play last September during his rookie season, but the game was washed out and the pair went out to a large family dinner instead. Sunday, he finally had a chance to take in one of Jose’s games.
“I’ve been watching the games ever since he got moved up, but it’s really thrilling to get to see him in person,” Lin-Manuel Miranda said. “And Hamilton’s playing in (Minneapolis) right now, so it’s a weird coincidence.”
Before the game, Jose showed Lin-Manuel around the Twins clubhouse and introduced him to manager Rocco Baldelli, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey and some of his teammates. He then took him into the dugout, where the songwriter, playwright and composer posed for some pictures.
Jose Miranda and a big fan. pic.twitter.com/t52VYy1lRx
— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) April 16, 2023
Jose Miranda finished the day 0 for 3 in front of a collection of family members including Lin-Manuel but said it was fun to have his famous cousin in attendance and see how excited everyone was to meet him.
“It’s been really lovely to watch his rise,” Lin-Manuel said. “He’s just so gifted and a lovely, humble guy. Our whole family is so proud. The entire cousin network is always on high alert when he’s at-bat.”
And that, Lin-Manuel said, is a large cousin network.
Wearing a backwards Yankees hat, the New Yorker said he’s been coming to games at Yankee Stadium all his life. His young son Francisco, who was taking in his first baseball game, was “rooting for home runs for his cousin and a Yankee win.”
While Lin-Manuel has made his mark in the arts, the family has roots in Alta Vega, Puerto Rico, which has a rich baseball heritage.
“I don’t know if you know what an insane tradition we have of not only Puerto Rican baseball players, but from our hometown. My grandfather was the manager of Bernie Williams’ Little League team in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico. We have the Molina brothers all in Vega Alta,” he said. “So to actually have someone in our family make it up to the majors is, like, an enormous source of pride.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda on his cousin, Jose: “To actually have someone from the family make it up to the majors is like an enormous source of pride.” pic.twitter.com/Gk6NwSU9WC
— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) April 16, 2023
Now that Lin-Manuel has taken in one of Jose’s games, next up is getting Jose out to a showing of “Hamilton,” which is playing at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis through May 6.
Jose said he was going to try to get tickets to see the hit musical before it leaves town.
“We need to because he keeps getting the question and he still hasn’t seen it,” Lin-Manuel said. “We’ll remedy it as soon as possible.”
Headrick called up
Brent Headrick was not expecting the news he received this weekend from Triple-A manager Toby Gardenhire. First, Gardenhire told him his next start would be pushed back. Then, he told him why.
“The second he said that, I kind of had an idea,” Headrick said. “I just let him play it out and eventually he said, ‘We can’t really pitch you here when you’re pitching in the big leagues.’ It was a surreal moment.”
Headrick was added to the roster on Sunday — the Twins optioned Louie Varland to Triple-A — to serve as a long reliever in the Twins’ bullpen.
The 25-year-old, who was selected in the ninth round of the 2019 draft, posted a 3.32 earned-run average last season between Class-A Advanced and Double-A. After the season, he was added to the 40-man roster.
“Once I finally got healthy two offseasons ago, going into the 2021 season I was able to start fresh and be healthy going in and that was the biggest thing. I could just work it from there,” he said. “These past two years have been incredible, climbing the ranks, I’ve learned two new pitches and was able to use them a lot more effectively.”
Briefly
Second baseman Jorge Polanco (knee) and first baseman/outfielder Alex Kirilloff (wrist) each went 1 for 4 on Sunday in a rehab game with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
