Rangers Spring Training Preview: Jonathan Ornelas

Jonathan Ornelas has worked his way up the Texas Rangers minor-league system and is an intriguing, multi-position prospect.

InsidetheRangers.com previews every player on the Texas Rangers 40-man roster heading into Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona.

INF Jonathan Ornelas

In 2022: Last year was a breakthrough season for Ornelas, who had career highs in most offensive categories, including home runs. In fact, his 14 home runs in 2022 matched the 14 combined he hit in the 2019 and 2021 seasons. He also set a career high in strikeouts, too.

But between his consistency at the plate and his versatility in the field (he played four different positions), he worked his way up the ladder in the eyes of the organization, finishing at Double-A Frisco. By season’s end, he was among the Rangers’ Top 30 prospects at MLB.com.

The Rangers elevated Ornelas to the 40-man roster in November in an effort to protect him from the Rule V Draft.

Ornelas batted .299/.360/.425/.785, scoring 84 runs with 20 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs and 64 RBI. He drove in 64 runs.

Ornelas’ Career at a Glance: Drafted in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of high school, Ornelas has made slow and steady progress through the minors, leading to his breakout season with Frisco in 2022.

Contract Status: Ornelas has not made his Major League debut and therefore isn’t under an MLB contract.

In Surprise: A spot on the Major League 40-man roster should not be taken as an indication that his appearance in Arlington is imminent. It’s far more likely he’ll end up in Triple-A Round Rock in 2023. However, he’ll get a chance to prove his value to the organization with an appearance at Major League spring training in Surprise. Because he’s proven to have a solid bat and a versatile glove, he could be trade bait if the Rangers feel the need to make a move to get another bat, for example.

2023 Texas Rangers 40-Man Spring Training Previews:

Joe Barlow | John King | Dane Dunning | Brett Martin | Jake Odorizzi | Yerry Rodriguez | Owen White | Cole Ragans | Andrew Heaney | Glenn Otto | Josh Sborz | Ricky Vanasco | Cole Winn | Nathan Eovaldi | Jon Gray | Jonathan Hernández | Spencer Howard | José Leclerc | Martín Pérez | Brock Burke | Jacob deGrom | Taylor Hearn | Jonah Heim | Sam Huff | Luisangel Acuña | Ezequiel Duran | Josh Jung | Bubba Thompson | Nathaniel Lowe 

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