The San Diego Padres are looking for corner infield depth, and they’re doing what most teams are doing by adding "tryout" players to minor league deals that come with spring training invites. The Padres latest addition in this category is infielder Jose Miranda, who will be a candidate to provide depth at first base with third baseman Manny Machado solidly established at the hot corner.
Miranda began his career as a top prospect in the Minnesota Twins organization, according to Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball, who reported the signing.
He was originally drafted in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft, and his first season was successful. Miranda was 24 when he became a rookie for the Twins, but he made up for his late arrival by slashing .268/.325/.426 with 15 HR and 66 RBI in 444 at-bats. His production included 40 extra-base hits out of the 119 hits he produced, so Minnesota had high hopes that he’d been a cornerstone piece of their infield going forward.
Injuries struck before the 2023 season, however. Miranda hurt his right shoulder, and the injury made him a different player. His timing when he returned when he returned, and the result was a .211 average with just seven extra-base hits in 142 at-bats.
He did have a rebound year in 2024, though, hitting .284 in 401 at-bats. Miranda’s career highlight also occurred that year, as he recorded hits in 12 consecutive plate appearances, which set an MLB record. The corner infielder also improved his slugging percentage to .441, and his OBP rose to .322, which was also better than it was the year before.
Miranda’s next journey through the injury cycle was decidedly strange. He "strained" his left hand while reportedly shopping at Target when a case of water he was carrying slipped out of his hand before the 2025 season, and that limited Miranda to just 12 games with the Twins, after which he was sent down to Minnesota’s Triple A affiliate just across the river in St. Paul.
He hit just .167 with St. Paul, with 13 strikeouts in his first 36 at-bats in Triple A, and when pitchers began expanding the zone on him he ended up hitting just .190 in 90 minor league games.
The big question for Miranda this spring will be bat speed through the zone after his hand injury. If he’s recovered enough to hit will in the Padres’ Cactus League games, he has a chance to make the club as a backup, especially at first base. He could also catch on with another club if he shows enough.
The Padres still haven’t signed a first baseman for this year, with Luis Arraez remaining on the market as a free agent and Ryan O’Hearn having left the team to sign a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The opportunity is there, so it's up to Miranda to take it.