The Padres optioned Ornelas to Triple-A El Paso on Friday.
The 25-year-old was called up by San Diego on April 19 and will return to El Paso after going 1-for-14 with two walks and two strikeouts in his first seven big-league games. Ornelas, who is one of the Padres' top prospects, could get another look in the majors later this year, but for now he'll head back to Triple-A, where he has a .281/.418/.359 slash line through 79 plate appearances this year.
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Padres' Tirso Ornelas: Playing time slipping
Rotowire
Ornelas is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.
Ornelas will hit the bench for the second day in a row, and his brief run as a regular in the San Diego lineup has likely come to an end with the recent returns of Luis Arraez and Jason Heyward from the injured list. The left-handed-hitting Heyward is unlikely to start against most left-handed pitchers, but since Ornelas also bats from the left side, the Padres are more likely to turn to the right-handed-hitting Oscar Gonzalez to serve as a platoon mate for Heyward.
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Padres' Tirso Ornelas: Recalled by San Diego
Rotowire
The Padres recalled Ornelas from Triple-A El Paso on Saturday.
Ornelas wasn't able to crack the Padres' Opening Day roster despite a strong performance in spring training, but he'll make his way to the big club after Jason Heyward (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list. Ornelas started the Triple-A season slashing .281/.418/.359 with 13 walks, three stolen bases, 17 runs scored, one home run and seven RBI across 79 plate appearances. With Heyward sidelined, the lefty-hitting Ornelas could see some starts in the outfield in a platoon with Oscar Gonzalez.
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Padres' Tirso Ornelas: Added to 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Padres selected Ornelas' contract and optioned him to Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday.
Ornelas has spent the entire 2024 season at El Paso, slashing .316/.390/.515 with 12 home runs and five stolen bases across 310 plate appearances. Though he'll remain with El Paso coming out of the All-Star break, the 24-year-old outfielder is now a part of the Padres' 40-man roster. The transaction should improve his chances of receiving his first big-league call-up at some point later this season.
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Padres' Tirso Ornelas: Promoted to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Padres promoted Ornelas to Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Ornelas briefly appeared in Triple-A last season, going 3-for-14 with two RBI and two runs scored across three games. After slashing .273/.374/.449 with nine homers and 46 RBI over 289 plate appearances with Double-A San Antonio, he will get another opportunity in El Paso. Unless he catches fire in Triple-A, the 23-year-old outfielder will likely finish the season in the minors.
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Padres' Tirso Ornelas: Riding high in Cal League
Rotowire
Ornelas is hitting .321/.431/.509 with one home run, one steal and a 16:11 K:BB in 65 plate appearances with High-A Lake Elsinore.
Ornelas is the youngest hitter at High-A, but he is handling the level just fine through 14 games. His 2018 production was limited due to bad luck on balls in play and a second-half wrist injury, but he still managed to post a 109 wRC+. Ornelas may not be much of a threat on the bases by the time he reaches the majors, but he could be a valuable contributor in the other four roto categories, offering upside in OBP, AVG and points leagues.
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Padres' Tirso Ornelas: Starting season at High-A
Rotowire
Ornelas will begin the 2019 season at High-A Lake Elsinore, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Ornelas saw his 2018 season end in late July due to a wrist injury, but his .252/.341/.392 batting line over 355 plate appearances at Low-A Fort Wayne was apparently enough to earn him a move up on the minor-league ladder. The 19-year-old outfielder will again be one of the younger hitters at his level, so even league-average production with Lake Elsinore in 2019 would likely be enough for Ornelas to maintain his status as one of the Padres' better position prospects.
