If someone ties an all-time MLB record by collecting 12 hits in 12 consecutive at-bats as a 26-year-old who made his MLB debut two seasons prior, then one would think he has a future in the big leagues. However, that is likely not the case for the Twins’ former No. 3 prospect Jose Miranda.
After Miranda tied the record for most hits in consecutive at-bats on July 6, 2024, his career went into a nosedive; he finished the 2024 season by going 35-for-161 with just four walks and zero home runs, then was demoted to Triple-A St. Paul this season after collecting just six hits and zero walks in 36 at-bats over 12 games with Minnesota. The final straw for the Twins’ front office regarding Miranda’s poor performance occurred when the infielder committed a costly baserunning gaffe on April 12. He was sent to Triple-A one day later. A couple of days later, Minnesota placed Miranda on the minor league injured list after he bizarrely hurt his hand while shopping at Target.
Why didn’t the Twins recall Jose Miranda after gutting nearly 40% of their 26-man roster at the trade deadline?
When infielders Edouard Julien and Ryan Fitzgerald are among the Twins’ large number of recent call-ups, but Miranda isn’t, it’s pretty telling that things probably haven’t been going well for Miranda in St. Paul lately.
Even with the series of unfortunate events for Miranda at the beginning of the season, many expected him to be back in the major leagues at some point, considering he can play both corner infield spots and has a career 101 OPS+. But when looking at his minor league stats, it’s clear that he deserves to stay in Triple-A; he has a poor .198/.264/.300 slash line with five homers, 21 RBIs and 39 strikeouts in 265 plate appearances with the Saints since being demoted.
There is a plausible argument for Minnesota to recall Miranda, since he is already 27 years old, has a successful past, and the Twins waved the white flag on the season at the trade deadline. But his recent performance shows that he is most likely not suited to be in the big leagues. The fact that the Twins kept Miranda in Triple-A even though they don’t have much to lose by calling him up, besides taking away playing time from other players, proves the front office no longer views him as an everyday major-leaguer.