Tirso Ornelas: Taking the Next Step

EL PASO – Tirso Ornelas, 24, is one of the last members left of the vaunted 2016 international class when new general manager A.J. Preller broke the bank and spent over $70 million ( including penalties) on the international free agent class as he attempted to rebuild the San Diego Padres minor league system in one big swoop.

While Cuban pitcher Adrian Morejon has been a big part of this year’s big league team, players such as Jorge Ona ($7 million) and Luis Almanzar ($4 million)  never made it. Tijuana-born Ornelas is the last player left who might have a chance.

This season, he was named one of the Padres’ minor league players of the year; the other was pitcher Henry Baez, after leading the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate in hits (144),  home runs (23), and total base with 241 in route to a .297/.367/.497 slash line.

“I’ve always tried to work as hard as I can,” said Ornelas near the end of the Pacific Coast League season. “This has been a good environment for me, and so many people both here and in the entire organization have helped me,”

In 2024, the 6-foot-3, 235-pound left-handed outfielder had his best season for power with 49 extra-base hits and led the team in another offensive category with 89 RBI.

“I tend to go to the person first before we get into their performance on the field,” said his manager, Pete Zamora, on the reasons for Ornelas’ career year at the plate. “He’s a fabulous teammate and kid and struggled early in the first month and a half – and he wasn’t getting much playing time.”

“But he never stopped working. He came to the park daily with a smile; he kept working with Raul [Padron, the El Paso hitting coach] and kept going. He went through it in the first six weeks, and it’s an absolute compliment to him to where he is now.

“Tirso is very open-minded about what he needs to improve, which is getting more balls into the air.”

Getting the ball in the air has been the most noticeable improvement for Ornelas this season, with a career-high isolated power of .200 and his highest career slugging percentage.

“Yes, I’m getting better at getting the ball into the air more,” laughed Ornelas when asked about his power increase. “I’ve been more consistent with every at-bat and have been able to maintain some of the mechanical changes that I did in the offseason.”

Although he spent the majority of his time in left field, the organization also gave him opportunities in right and center field and ten games at first base, a position he had only played once before in 2022.

“My defense is getting better,” smiled Ornelas. “This year, I’ve also got some time in the right and center field, and I’m starting to play first base, too. I like that because it makes me a better athlete, and I can make more plays and help my team more.

“I am very thankful for the opportunity to do so.”

The Mexican native has enjoyed his time off the field in the Borderlands, particularly with the cuisine in El Paso.

“El Paso is great because the border is so close —a lot of Juarez-style food, which is excellent. But I also liked San Antonio, which was also good for Mexican food.”

If the organization approves, he plans to return to the Mexican Pacific Winter League for his fifth season, where he has put up numbers with a  .790 OPS.

“If the organization is okay with it, yes, I hope to play,” Ornelas said about his winter plans.

“I played Navojoa last season, and now I’m going to play in Guadalajara, where I live. My house is there, and I’d be excited if I got a chance to play there.

“I got traded to play at home with my brother.”

However, Ornelas’s primary focus this offseason will be the same as in the past: getting better.

“I want to become more athletic because it will make me a better baseball player, and I can still work on my arm,” Ornelas said about his primary goals. “I want to keep playing more positions in my offseason because that gives me more options to play in the big leagues.”

“There are many things that I can, and will do, better.”