Padres release José Miranda from Triple-A El Paso roster

The Padres made a depth-chart verdict in El Paso, releasing José Miranda after the 27-year-old veteran posted a respectable Triple-A line but still lost ground to other infield options. Miranda carried a .790 OPS over 28 games and had an opt-out in his deal, and that combination was not enough to keep him ahead of the organizational logjam.

His production was useful, just not decisive. MiLB’s 2026 line showed Miranda with 104 at-bats, 26 hits, five home runs, 25 RBI, a .250 average, a .295 on-base percentage and a .757 OPS. He was still turning up in El Paso game activity as recently as May 15, including a clip against Caden Dana, and he homered on May 6 with Mason McCoy scoring. Those are the kinds of moments that keep a player visible in a Triple-A clubhouse, but they were not enough to override the roster math.

Miranda’s profile still carries real pedigree. MiLB lists the right-handed-hitting third baseman at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, born June 29, 1998, in Manatí, Puerto Rico. MLB.com says the Twins selected him 73rd overall in the 2016 draft out of Leadership Christian Academy in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, and that he climbed as high as the No. 3 prospect in Minnesota’s system in 2022. He made his major league debut on May 2, 2022, and his career MLB line includes 28 home runs and 133 RBI.

That history explains why another organization is expected to take a look quickly. It also explains why the Padres could move on without hesitation. San Diego’s front office is clearly prioritizing other Triple-A and MLB infield paths, and Miranda’s release shows how narrow the lane has become for veteran depth players who are no longer forcing an immediate call-up. Even with some power, some pedigree and enough recent activity to stay on the radar, he did not separate himself enough to hold the spot in El Paso.