Phillies Add Former Twins Triple-A Catcher on Minor League Deal
The Philadelphia Phillies have added catching depth by signing Mark Kolozsvary, a former Triple-A catcher in the Minnesota Twins organization, to a minor league contract. The agreement also includes an invitation for Kolozsvary to participate in major league spring training, as first reported by The Athletic’s Will Sammon.
Kolozsvary, who is 30 years old, most recently spent time with the Twins organization during the 2023 season. He signed a minor league contract with Minnesota on June 20, 2023, just days after being designated for assignment by the Baltimore Orioles. His time with the Twins was brief, as he appeared in only six games at the Triple-A level with St. Paul. In those limited opportunities, he recorded three hits in 14 at-bats, including a home run and a double, drew one walk, and drove in four runs. Much of his tenure with the Twins was spent on the organization’s Development List, and he ultimately elected free agency at the conclusion of the season.
At the major league level, Kolozsvary has appeared in 11 games across his career. Most of that experience came with the Cincinnati Reds during the 2022 season, when he played in 10 games and went 4-for-20 at the plate, collecting one home run, two doubles, one walk, and three RBIs. He also made a single appearance for the Orioles in 2023 but did not record a plate appearance in that game.
Originally selected by the Reds in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of the University of Florida, Kolozsvary remained in Cincinnati’s organization for several years before being claimed off waivers by Baltimore on October 14, 2022. After his short stint with the Twins, he signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox during the 2023–24 offseason and later re-signed with the organization on another minor league deal the following offseason.
Despite his offensive struggles, Kolozsvary continues to draw interest from organizations due to his defensive abilities behind the plate. Over 407 career Triple-A plate appearances, he has posted a slash line of .194/.309/.338, numbers that reflect significant challenges at the plate. However, his reputation as a reliable defensive catcher has allowed him to continue finding opportunities within major league systems. He also has two minor league options remaining.
With long-time Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto currently a free agent, Philadelphia’s catching depth is thin. Garrett Stubbs and Rafael Marchán are the only other catchers in the organization with MLB experience aside from Kolozsvary. While the Phillies could re-sign Realmuto or acquire another established catcher via free agency or trade, Kolozsvary could compete for a backup role if the team opts not to make a significant addition. Even so, the most likely scenario is that he will begin the season serving as a Triple-A catcher for Philadelphia.
Former Twins Top Prospect José Miranda Joins Padres Organization
Meanwhile, former Minnesota Twins infielder José Miranda has found a new home after being released by the club earlier this offseason. Miranda has signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres that includes an invitation to major league spring training, according to Just Baseball’s Aram Leighton.
The Twins released Miranda in early November following a difficult 2025 season. He opened the year on Minnesota’s 26-man roster but struggled mightily at the plate, hitting just .167/.167/.250 with one home run and five RBIs in 12 games. His demotion to Triple-A St. Paul came immediately after a costly baserunning mistake, further compounding his rough start.
Miranda’s struggles continued in the minors, as he hit .195/.272/.296 across 90 games at Triple-A to close out the season. He finished the year with seven home runs and 28 RBIs, but his overall production failed to rebound.
At one time, Miranda appeared to be a foundational piece for the Twins. He ranked as the organization’s No. 3 prospect and enjoyed a strong rookie campaign in 2022, hitting .268/.325/.426 with a 114 OPS+ over 483 plate appearances. However, a slow start to the 2023 season led to a demotion, and shortly after being recalled to the majors, he suffered a season-ending injury in early July.
Miranda rebounded in 2024 with the best season of his career, producing 1.7 bWAR and slashing .284/.322/.441 with nine home runs, four triples, 28 doubles, and 49 RBIs. During that season, he also tied the MLB record for most consecutive hits in at-bats, recording 12 straight hits on July 6, 2024.
Now 27 years old, Miranda provides positional versatility, capable of playing both first and third base. With Luis Arráez and Ryan O’Hearn—both of whom handled significant time at first base for San Diego last season—now entering free agency, Miranda could potentially work his way into the Padres’ first base picture. Doing so, however, will require an impressive spring training or a strong showing early in the minor leagues.
Ultimately, Miranda’s defensive limitations and inconsistent performance against Triple-A pitching made him expendable for Minnesota, especially given the organization’s crowded infield depth. With players such as Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee, Luke Keaschall, Josh Bell, Kody Clemens, Kaelen Culpepper, and others competing for roster spots, the Twins simply lacked room to retain a below-average defender who struggled to produce consistently.
