The Padres announced that outfield Tirso Ornelas has been designated for assignment. That’s the corresponding 40-man roster move for right-hander Griffin Canning, whose signing is now official.
Ornelas, 26 next month, has been on San Diego’s roster since July of 2024. He got to make a brief major league debut in 2025, putting up a .071/.188/.071 batting line in 16 plate appearances over seven games.
He has generally been a pretty good hitter in his minor league career. Over the past three years, he has stepped to the plate 1,471 times on the farm, mostly at the Triple-A level. His 11.3% walk rate and 17% strikeout rate in that span are both good numbers, with 48 home runs to boot. However, since that production came in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, his .285/.371/.452 line isn’t as impressive as it initially appears. That translates to a 108 wRC+, indicating he was 8% better than average for that league.
That’s still solid hitting but Ornelas really needs to crush to provide value. He has some center field experience but is mostly a corner guy who isn’t considered a strong defender, nor is he a burner on the basepaths. The Friars have Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ramón Laureano in their outfield corners with Jackson Merrill up the middle. The roster also features other guys who could factor into the outfield mix, such as Gavin Sheets, Nick Castellanos, Miguel Andujar, Sung Mun Song and Bryce Johnson.
The overall picture has pushed Ornelas off the roster and into DFA limbo, which can last as long as a week. The waiver process takes 48 hours, so the Friars could take five days to field trade interest. He still has one minor league option remaining, so he could appeal to a club looking for some extra outfield depth, especially one that needs another lefty bat. Despite his flaws, Baseball America recently ranked him the #28 prospect in the system.
If he were to pass through waivers unclaimed, he would not have the right to elect free agency since he has less than three years of big league service time and does not have a previous career outright.
Photo courtesy of Chadd Cady, Imagn Images
Well Tirso, we will always have Paris.
Time for a change of scenery
So long partner
Padres making some quality moves, looks like Preller was waiting for items to go on the clearance rack.
Isn’t Canning hurt though? I thought he was starting the year on the IL. Does the IL status only mean he can stay off the 26 man roster?
He has to occupy a spot first before he can go on the 60-day. They’ll have a free spot after he’s put on the 60
Preller said their medical team will decide if they feel a 60 day stint is necessary.
If he were to be placed on the 60-day IL anyway. Sounds like Canning won’t be out that long. That’s how it would work if he was though.
Maybe Padres can outwit Phillies and pre-sign an international 10 year old player
Ornelas has an option and he’s got a good AAA track record.
Someone will claim him or he gets traded. He’s only 25 years old.
Wherever he ends up he should learn to play first for some roster flexibility.