The Padres outrighted Ornelas to Triple-A El Paso on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Though he's no longer a member of the 40-man roster, Ornelas will stick around in the Padres organization after clearing waivers and will continue to participate in major-league camp. The 25-year-old outfielder is expected to begin the season as an everyday outfielder at El Paso.

The Padres designated Ornelas for assignment Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

The club had to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Griffin Canning (Achilles), whose signing was officially announced Tuesday. Ornelas did not appear to be in the Padres' immediate plans, but it's still a bit surprising that they elected to expose him to waivers. The 25-year-old outfielder went 1-for-14 during his brief time in the majors in 2025 but boasts a .291/.369/.465 slash line during his time at Triple-A El Paso.

The Padres optioned Ornelas to Triple-A El Paso on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Ornelas is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

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.

The Padres recalled Ornelas from Triple-A El Paso on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Ornelas was optioned to minor-league camp Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Ornelas had a chance to make the Padres' roster in a corner outfield spot, but the additions of Connor Joe and Jason Heyward made his path more difficult. Ornelas performed well by collecting 15 hits across 51 at-bats -- six of which went for extra bases -- so he should be in San Diego at some point in 2025.

Through nine Cactus League games, Ornelas is slashing .421/.522/.789 with a home run, two RBI, four runs, four walks and just one strikeout.

EDGE Analysis

Ornelas is one of San Diego's top prospects and is coming off a 2024 campaign during which he posted an .871 OPS with 23 homers and 93 RBI at the Triple-A level. That performance and his hitting this spring have given the soon-to-be 25-year-old a chance at breaking camp with the Padres, and the fact that he's already on the 40-man roster also helps his case. However, Ornelas' path to a roster spot is clouded by the Padres' Feb. 7 signing of two veteran outfielders -- Connor Joe and Jason Heyward -- to replace the departed Jurickson Profar.

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.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Ornelas will begin the 2019 season at High-A Lake Elsinore, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Ornelas is on the 7-day disabled list with Low-A Fort Wayne with a wrist injury, Elizabeth Wyman of The Journal Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 18-year-old outfielder has been on the shelf since July 20, but it's unclear exactly how serious the injury is. His numbers this season in the Midwest League (.252/.341/.392, eight home runs, five steals in 355 plate appearances) may not look impressive on the surface, but Ornelas turned 18 in March and has still been eight percent better (108 wRC+) than the league's average hitter. He has plus raw power, a good handle of the strike zone (68:40 K:BB) and a true all-fields approach. As he matures, that power should show up more in games, and he has quite a bit more batting average upside than he has shown in 2018.