Aranda quickly becoming an offensive threat in Biscuits' lineup
Jonathan Aranda has entered the Biscuits lineup and made a name for himself very quickly. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
When Jonathan Aranda got the call up to the Biscuits on June 1, it was the realization of a dream for a player that had spent his whole career in the Tampa Bay farm system at Single-A or below.
“When I was in Bowling Green and they said you go to Double-A, I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “When I got here the first day, I felt weird. I know the guys but now I’m on another level. I had to tell myself I’m on another level, but it’s the same ball.”
He promptly stepped into the starting lineup at second base and went 0 for 3 with a pair of strikeouts.
“I was nervous,” he admitted. “I didn’t sleep well the night before, the pressure to do the right thing. But the next day I said do what you do and think of why you’re here and that’s helped me.”
It turned out to be a rare hitless day for Aranda. In 59 games since that day, Aranda had been a starter in the Biscuits’ lineup 47 times and managed a least one hit in 40 of those games, gradually working his way toward the top of the lineup.
“Aranda is going to play in the big leagues,” Montgomery manager Morgan Ensberg said. “He has all the tools and even though he is a young player, he doesn’t play like it. He’s learning to make adjustments at the plate and you can see the steady improvement.”
The 23-year-old isn’t like a lot of players who were selected in the Major League draft or picked up via a trade. Aranda was a pitcher growing up in Tijuana, Mexico, but on the particular day Tampa Bay scout Eddie Diaz saw him, he wasn’t pitching.
“When I was a kid, I played more pitcher and infield,” Aranda said. “But when I signed with the Mexican professional team, I had a hurt elbow and the coach had made me an infielder.”
Signed as an international free agent at the age of 17, he spent 2016 with the Dominican Summer League Rays, 2017 with the Princeton Rays and the GCL Rays, 2018 with Hudson Valley and 2019 with the Charlotte Stone Crabs.
“This is my sixth year with the Rays,” Aranda said. “For me, I’ve played in all leagues. Everything takes time. This is my sixth year and right now I think I am at the best point in my career. I just had to be patient.”
With a career .288 average, he was the leading hitter for the Biscuits at .331 following the team’s last home stand against the Smokies, a steady bat that usually doesn’t generate more than two hits but rarely goes hitless.
“I have the right mindset,” he said. “I trust more in me. Last year, I played winter ball in Mexico and I did well. That year helped me a lot for this year and my mentality.”
When the rest of baseball was sidelined by coronavirus, Aranda was batting .333 in 40 games for Yaquis de Obregon, continuing his steady improvement and building his confidence at the plate. An above-average fielder with good speed, the only thing questionable about his production was his power and so far this year he has slugged 12 home runs, including eight in Montgomery.
“The thing that has helped me is my mentality,” he said. “I don’t feel stronger but I feel stronger in my mind.”
Since his Biscuit debut at second base on June 1, Aranda has played first base, third base, designated hitter and even played one game at shortstop.
“My favorite is second because I played there from year one to year five,” he said. “Third base and first base, I like them and can play it, but my favorite is second base. I just want to be in the lineup, no matter where.”
For now, a patient Aranda is perfectly happy in Montgomery, but every Double-A player dreams of playing Major League Baseball and Aranda’s favorite position is occupied by the Rays’ No. 1 minor league prospect at Triple-A in Vidal Brujan and the No. 3 prospect at Double-A in Xavier Edwards.
“I know where I am,” Aranda said. “I know the Rays have the best farm system. I know we have a lot of prospects here and the guys are very good. Right now, I don’t have any pressure to pass them. I’m just doing my work. I don’t know if I’ll reach the big leagues with the Rays but there are 29 other teams. I just play hard and play my game and let’s see what happens. You never know what the future is.