Tirso Ornelas, the San Diego Padres’ No. 18 prospect, could finally reach the majors in 2025 after nine years in the organization. The 24-year-old outfielder, signed from Tijuana, Mexico, in 2017 at age 16, has participated in nearly every spring training since 2018 but has yet to earn an MLB call-up. Padres president AJ Preller highlighted Ornelas’s growth, noting his youth and consistent improvement: “People forget he’s only 24 because he signed so young,” Preller told *The Athletic’s* Jim Bowden, who noted Ornelas’s standout spring training performance.
Ornelas briefly debuted in Triple-A in 2022 with three games for the El Paso Chihuahuas. By 2025, he elevated his performance, posting a .297/.367/.497 slash line over 128 Triple-A games.
Despite his progress, the Padres’ starting outfield features All-Stars Jackson Merrill (center field) and Fernando Tatis Jr. (right field). While Jurickson Profar’s departure left a vacancy in left field, newcomers Connor Joe and Jason Heyward are frontrunners for the role. However, if Ornelas continues to excel, he may secure a bench spot on the Opening Day roster, marking his long-awaited MLB breakthrough.
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