If anyone had predicted two years ago that Miguel Andújar would be a key member of the Padres' offense in 2026, no one would have taken them seriously.
Yet, here is Andújar, batting fifth for the Padres as the primary DH for a team that needs an offensive boost. He has proven to be a versatile addition to the San Diego Padres lineup, which explains why the team targeted him in free agency.
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The veteran journeyman was once the Yankees' starting third baseman, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting in 2018. He was considered a future star in New York, but injuries and slumps held him back over the next three years. He bounced from New York to Pittsburgh to Oakland, and ultimately ended up with the Reds, where he broke out in 2025 and became a key part of a surprise playoff push in Cincinnati.
In 34 games with the Reds, Andújar was worth 0.6 bWAR, hitting .359, slugging .544, and finishing with a .944 OPS. This helped him earn an $8 million deal with the Padres in free agency, the most he ever made in his nine-year MLB career.
No one in San Diego expected Andújar to match his .944 OPS with the Reds, and perhaps he would never do so again. However, he has continued to perform well. The utility man is slashing .261/.320/.391 for a .711 OPS through his first seven games. He's getting good at-bats as the Padres' DH, but still has the versatility to play third base or the corner outfield.
Fans are still getting used to the idea that Andújar can be a consistently good major league player. Recent evidence suggests that Andújar is a legitimate bat going forward.
comeback story
Between 2019 and 2022, Andújar was viewed as a marginal major leaguer. During those four years, he played in 114 major league games, was worth -2.0 bWAR, and had a 61 OPS+. He also played 93 minor league games in that span.
Something changed in 2023 when Andújar was in the Pirates' minor-league system. With Triple-A Indianapolis, Andújar had a .944 OPS in 103 games, while hitting .338. He proved good enough to earn a call-up at the end of the season and a place in the Athletics in 2024.
Since being called up in 2023, here are his MLB numbers: 205 games, 1.3 bWAR, .296 average, 113 OPS+, 39 doubles, 18 home runs and 94 RBI. He's been an above average hitter at the big league level for 205 games so far, and he's showing no signs of slowing down.
The Padres suddenly seem to have identified Andujar as an underrated player who could provide an immediate spark to their offense, and so far, he's been exactly that. Against former All-Stars like Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth and Nick Castellanos, he has the fifth-highest OPS ever on the team.
Andujar may not be a superstar, but he has been the middle of the lineup spark the Padres need.
