Don’t Sleep On José Miranda: Why the Former Top Prospect is the Ultimate Padres Depth Piece

[Taylor Leonard]

José Miranda might not have been the biggest name the San Diego Padres moved for this winter, but he could be the most important. As a former top prospect with a knack for making contact, he offers the kind of infield depth and offensive stability a lineup like the Friars' desperately needs.

The Minnesota Twins signed Miranda in the second round back in 2016, but it took a few years for everything to click. When it did, it was loud. His 2021 breakout saw him tear through the minors with a .344 average and a massive .973 OPS. That performance forced Minnesota’s hand, leading to a 2022 debut where he proved he belonged, putting up a solid .751 OPS over 125 games as a rookie.

This winter, Miranda landed in San Diego on a minor-league deal, putting an end to a four-year run with the Twins that had its fair share of highs and lows. For the 27-year-old, it’s about more than just a change of scenery, it’s a chance to prove he’s still the same hitter who looked like a cornerstone just a few years ago. After a shoulder injury derailed his 2023 season and left him with a career-low .211 average, he showed real life in 2024, bouncing back with a solid .763 OPS and proving that his bat is still capable of starter-caliber production. Last season, he spent the majority of the year back in the minors after losing himself at the plate.

If there was any doubt about his health, Miranda silenced it early this spring. He tore through the Cactus League with a .304 average, even putting together an impressive 5-for-6 stretch with six RBIs in his first two games. It was the kind of 'torrid' start that nearly forced him onto the Opening Day roster and proved that the talent Minnesota gave up on is very much alive.

At his peak, Miranda is a contact-first machine. While half the league is swinging for the fences and living with high strikeout rates, he lives on making contact and forcing the defense to make plays. It’s a profile that fits like a glove in this Padres order, especially when you consider how often the offense has gone cold the moment you get past the 'Big Three' at the top of the card. If San Diego can help him find the rhythm that injuries stole from him over the last two years, they might have found the steal of the 2026 offseason.

Right now, Miranda is doing exactly what he needs to do in El Paso, making a significant impact on the team. He’s already knocked four balls out of the park this season in Triple-A, hence his robust .196 ISO. With a solid .774 OPS and several months of the season left to play, he’s making it harder and harder for the Padres to keep him in the minors if the big-league offense hits a snag.

At 27, Miranda is entering his prime, and his ability to plug holes at first, third, or DH gives Craig Stammen the kind of tactical flexibility the Padres crave. In a 162-game grind where rest days and 'tweaked' hamstrings are inevitable, having a guy who can provide a professional at-bat while moving around the diamond is a massive luxury.

Slotting Miranda into a lineup that already features Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts takes the pressure off. He wouldn't be expected to carry the team on his back; he just needs to be a 'link in the chain' doing his job and keeping the line moving when the stars need a lift.

The Padres have built a reputation for finding overlooked talent and giving careers a second act. José Miranda may not be the flashiest name in the system right now, but as the summer heat hits and the NL West race tightens, he could quietly become the depth piece that keeps San Diego’s October dreams on track.

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