Spring training is all about positional competition, which is by far the most interesting part of this extended warm-up period. Every team has dark-horse candidates to make the roster, and AJ Cassavell of MLB.com selected infielder Jose Miranda as the San Diego Padres’ best possibility in the early going.
Miranda is definitely making a strong case for himself as a potential bench bat. He’s got plenty of competition, but Miranda had five hits in his first six at-bats as the Padres opened their Cactus League season, including a pair of doubles and a home run.
The former Minnesota Twins infielder struggled last season, which is why he’s a non-roster invitee. Most players who come to camp via this route are basically lottery tickets, but Miranda is still just 27 and he posted a .763 OPS for the Twins as recently as 2024, according to Cassavell.
That power potential is what makes him especially intriguing for the Padres, who are short on home-run hitters in their lineup beyond third baseman Manny Machado and right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. The Pads are hoping center fielder Jackson Merrill can emerge as a power threat this year, but Merrill is coming off an injury-riddled season that makes him a bit of a question mark to provide high-level production.
Miranda’s competition is formidable, however. San Diego’s recent signings include bigger names like Nick Castellanos and Miguel Andujar, but Miranda could be one of those players who gets hot at the right time in spring training and makes the most of his shot.
He’s also an experienced corner infielder, which isn’t the case for Castellanos, who also brings some serious baggage from his stint with the Philadelphia Phillies, and Andujar is also an outfielder by trade.
Miranda, meanwhile, offers some positional versatility. He’s solid at first with good footwork, and his ability to move across the diamond and spell Machado occasionally gives him an advantage. He’s also spent some time at second, but he’s not nearly as strong as a middle infielder.
Castellanos is the big name right now, which is part of what makes Miranda a dark horse in this positional race. He’ll need to keep hitting throughout spring training, but his age is also an advantage given that Andujar and Castellanos are 30 and 33, respectively.
The competition is welcome for Padres fans, however. San Diego’s winter was far too quiet with baseball moves impeded by the upcoming sale of the team, and getting to see real players in live action is a big positive change.