It seems the Minnesota Twins can't go a few days without some sort of injury throwing a wrench into the mix.
Before the season even started the Twins lost three key relievers with Anthony DeSclafani's tenure with the team likely ending before he could even throw a pitch. Jhoan Duran, Caleb Thielbar, and Justin Topa are all working their way back but the bullpen suffered another blow on Monday.
Daniel Duarte was placed on the 15-day IL with a triceps strain. It's an injury that further tests the depth of a bullpen that enters a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers as the best unit in baseball. Rather than call up a pitcher from St. Paul, the Twins are opting for some defense -- or more accurately some offensive potential from a once-promising young star.
Twins call up Jose Miranda after placing Daniel Duarte on 15-day IL
On Monday the Twins placed Daniel Duarte on the IL and called up Jose Miranda from Triple-A. It's a move that has some layers to it, not the least of which is how the team is hoping his bat provides a much needed spark in the lineup.
José Miranda is back up from Triple-A St. Paul. Daniel Duarte hitting the IL with a triceps strain.
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) April 8, 2024
Miranda was 7-for-28 (.250) with a homer and two doubles for the Saints to start the season and lefty James Paxton is starting for the Dodgers tonight.
It's a second chance for Miranda, who followed up a stellar rookie season in 2022 by flaming out hard last year. A combination of injuries and poor play forced him out of the picture at the same time Royce Lewis was finally making his ascent as a star player.
With Lewis on the IL for the foreseeable future, Miranda getting called up also gives the Twins an extra option at third base along with Kyle Farmer and Willi Castro. It's a total 'how the turntables have turned' moment that hopefully ends better than it did last time.
Another reason Miranda is getting recalled is his offensive potential. He was hitting .250 with the Saints but lit up Fort Myers. Miranda finished the spring slashing .320/.393/.360, which seems pretty on-par with where he was headed when he burst onto the scene as a rookie back in 2022.
It's unclear how long he'll stay on the MLB roster, but he has a perfect opportunity to prove himself in ways he failed to last season. There's a clear path to him finding a role with Lewis out and Brooks Lee injured and unable to fill in, and it's up to him to capitalize in ways Twins fans are hoping he can.