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Struggling MN Twins Infielder Wants Out
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- Struggling MN Twins Infielder Wants Out
William Purnell-Imagn Images William Purnell-Imagn Images
This offseason is likely to represent a significant amount of turnover for the Minnesota Twins . They'll have a new manager , that much we know already. But more than likely, that will only be the beginning of major changes in the Twins' clubhouse, and not for the better .
It remains to be seen how far Derek Falvey and the front office will go should they continue the roster deconstruction that went into high gear at the 2025 trade deadline. But the Twins aren't the only side of this equation looking for change.
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Jose Miranda as good as gone for the Minnesota Twins
Two years ago, Jose Miranda racked up hits in twelve consecutive plate appearances, to set a major league record. Last season, he was so putrid that, not only was he not big-league caliber, but he wasn't even worth his batting average in St. Paul either… and that's saying something since he hit .195 on the season at Triple-A.
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And while the MN Twins have an opening at first base, Miranda isn't interested in competing for that spot next spring. According to the Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale , the 27-year-old corner infielder "threw away his shot" and is now looking for a "fresh start" elsewhere.
After making the Opening Day roster, he threw away his shot. Hit .167 with the Twins and .195 with the Saints as a bat-first corner infielder.
2026 outlook: Looking for a fresh start with a new organization.
It's been a brutal fall from grace for Miranda, who moved from the hot corner to first base the past couple seasons, and failed to solidify his place in the Minnesota Twins' future plans, despite that position having no real competition.
E5 • Jose Miranda • 1st error of the season
Minnesota Twins errors on the season: 8
0️⃣4️⃣/1️⃣0️⃣/2️⃣5️⃣ pic.twitter.com/Bc7IB9yBMY— MLB Errors (@errorsmlb) April 12, 2025
Beyond not being able to capably field at first base, Miranda also struggled to hold water quite literally. His injury at a local Target while attempting to remove a bundle of bottled water from the shelf cost him even more time with St. Paul.
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It's possible Miranda washes his disastrous 2025 away and resumes his trajectory as an everyday MLB infielder, but it won't happen in Minnesota. Now, the late-blooming former second round draft pick — now out of options — will be a reclamation project for someone else.
Edouard Julien not quite in the Miranda boat
It's easy to lump both Jose Miranda and Edouard Julien in together, given their career arcs and positional similarities. The reality is that they are not in the same place, and that's why the Twins plan to give Julien one more shot to prove his worth at the big league level, according to Nightengale Jr.
After an excellent rookie season, he's had two bad years. He hit .220 with three homers and 12 RBI in 208 plate appearances while maintaining a 29% strikeout rate. Out of minor league options, a new manager might give him a long look during spring training as a last chance. It's hard to give up on hitters like him.
Like Miranda, Julien is not a good defender. He posted a -2 DRS (defensive runs saved) and -3 OAA (outs above average) in just 175 innings at first base this year. That may be easier to ignore if he hit, but that hasn't happened lately, either. Julien's 75 OPS+ the past two seasons is nearly half of the 130 OPS+ he put up as a rookie.
Eddie Julien even said the other day that he doesn't usually pull his home runs — but he just did it again.
Got a hanging changeup, crushed it to the porch. 1-0 Twins early on his sixth. pic.twitter.com/C7ikAhZ5M8— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) July 5, 2023
But the Twins are hoping, under a new manager, the Canadian slugger can regain the groove he was in prior to 2024, when he rose to one of the most exciting young hitters in the Minnesota Twins organization. At 26, Julien is a year younger than Miranda too.
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This duo is just another data point in a previously up-and-coming core that seemed destined to lay roots with the organization, only to trip, fall and fall through the future floor plan of the MN Twins future.
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