The Atlanta Braves have acquired infielder Jonathan Ornelas from the Texas Rangers in exchange for cash considerations, as confirmed by both teams. With the Braves designating Orlando Arcia for assignment yesterday, they had an open spot on their 40-man roster, so no further roster moves were necessary.
Ornelas is primarily known for his defensive skills and versatility, having played second base, third base, shortstop, and even some center field. He has appeared in 30 major league games since his debut in 2023 but has only 54 plate appearances at the MLB level.
His standout minor league season came in 2022 at Double-A, where he hit 14 home runs and stole 14 bases, posting a solid 101 wRC+. While he has maintained decent strikeout and walk rates throughout his minor league career, his overall hitting performance has been below average in recent years.
In a very limited major league sample, Ornelas has struggled, with a 35 wRC+ and a strikeout rate exceeding 37%.
Drafted in the third round out of high school by the Rangers in 2018, Ornelas provides the Braves with additional infield depth behind primary backup Luke Williams. At nearly 25 years old, he also still has options remaining.
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