Dirden has club’s attention
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Among a small army of outfielders, Justin Dirden caught Dusty Baker’s eye in last year’s minor league minicamp. When owners lifted their lockout and the major leaguers returned, Baker followed Dirden’s progress, witnessing his ascension to Triple-a Sugar Land from afar.
Baker got only a glimpse from the box scores and organizational reports he studied during the major league season, but spring training has given him a chance to reconnect.
During the Astros’ first full-squad workout, he found Dirden working alongside the major league outfielders. Kyle Tucker took batting practice nearby. Chas Mccormick readied for his first day beneath the sweltering Florida sun.
“I got a little bit of shaky legs out here watching these guys go about their business,” Dirden said he told Baker. “Once I get into a groove, have a few days under my belt, it will calm down a little bit.”
Dirden is settled in and showing out. He has home runs in two of his first three Grapefruit League at-bats, furthering a furious rise up the organizational hierarchy. Dirden arrived three years ago, has played two professional seasons, and now finds himself on the precipice of the major leagues.
Dirden is 25 years old and eligible for the Rule 5 draft this winter. At worst, he can use this spring to secure a spot on the 40-man roster for protection. After Dirden’s second home run of the spring Monday, Baker gave the best-case scenario for this late-blooming lefthanded hitter.
“He was probably one of the most impressive guys we have in the system,” Baker said. “We’re going to keep putting him out there. (If) he keeps producing, he
could put some pressure on some of the guys.”
In the same farm system that paints Pedro León as a $4 million prized jewel and first-rounder Drew Gilbert as another fast riser, perhaps no outfielder is more big league ready than Dirden — a $20,000 free agent who went unselected in the five-round draft of 2020. One rival scout called him a “potential regular” in the major leagues, with a floor as a fourth outfielder.
“He’s just a low-key guy personality-wise,” Astros field coordinator Jason Bell said. “He’s always calm, under control, not flashy. It’s very simple. He’s a simple guy, and he plays that way, and he just executes whenever you need him to. Before you know it, you look up, and he’s 3 for 4 with two doubles. It’s kind of under the radar the way that he plays.”
Dirden has dominated every minor league level but one. He slashed .324/.411/ .616 in 407 plate appearances at Double-a Corpus Christi last season, showcasing a simple swing that keeps his barrel in the strike zone for longer than most.
“His offensive profile is intriguing, because when
you see him, you probably don’t realize how much thump in the bat he actually has,” farm director Sara Goodrum said. “The numbers he put up in Corpus were very impressive. I think he’s got some sneaky pop that some people might not realize. Probably the most intriguing thing is the thump he’s got in his bat.”
Dirden said he stands 6foot-2, but various sites list him anywhere from 6-0 to 6-3.
He weighed around 210 pounds throughout last season, during which he earned a promotion to Sugar Land in early August. His Space Cowboys career began much like his Hooks career concluded. Dirden went 10 for his first 27 in Sugar Land before a spiral sullied his breakout season.
Dirden concluded his Triple-a campaign 21 for his final 101. He struck out 31 times and worked just seven walks. Goodrum acknowledged some difficulties recognizing off-speed pitches and being unable to handle those landing for strikes.
Dirden offered a more direct explanation. He played just 79 games in a collegiate career interrupted by both
COVID-19 and a hand injury. His first professional season lasted 83 games. Last year, his downturn at Sugar Land came after his 99th game.
“At the point I started to go down, I think there was a lot of fatigue that set in,” Dirden said. “That was the most amount of games I’ve ever played in my whole life. Learning from that and understanding how to prepare my body for that many games, getting into August and September, learning how to take care of my body, I think that’s going to be a difference maker.”
Houston’s major league team doesn’t have an obvious lefthanded option for its bench. J.J. Matijevic and Bligh Madris are on the 40man roster with some big league experience, but neither has established himself as worthy of a spot.
Their inclusion on the 40-man roster still makes them easier options. Dirden is likely destined for Triple-a, but he could force the Astros’ hand if his offseason adjustments pay off. Three spring training games in, it seems they might.