| Jonathan Ornelas | |
|---|---|
 Ornelas with theRound Rock Express in 2024 | |
| New York Yankees – No. 64 | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: (2000-05-26)May 26, 2000 (age 25) Glendale, Arizona, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 7, 2023, for the Texas Rangers | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Batting average | .208 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 3 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Jonathan Ornelas (born May 26, 2000) is a Mexican-American professionalbaseballinfielder in theNew York Yankees organization. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theTexas Rangers andAtlanta Braves. He made his MLB debut in 2023.
Ornelas attendedRaymond S. Kellis High School inGlendale,Arizona.[1][2] In his senior season of 2018, he hit .464 with 15 doubles, six home runs, 29 RBI, and 19 stolen bases.[3] He had committed to theUniversity of Tennessee to playcollege baseball.[4] Ornelas was drafted by theTexas Rangers with the 91st overall selection in the 3rd round of the2018 MLB draft.[5] He signed with them for a $622,800signing bonus.[6]
Ornelas was assigned to the rookie-levelArizona League Rangers and in 48 games hit .302/.389/.459 with 3 home runs, 28 RBI, and 15 stolen bases over 48 games in his professional debut season of 2018.[7] Ornelas spent the 2019 season with theHickory Crawdads of theSingle–ASouth Atlantic League, hitting .257/.333/.373 with 6 home runs, 13 stolen bases, and 38 RBI.[8] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of theminor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[9] Ornelas returned to Hickory (which had moved classification to theHigh-A East level), hitting .261/.310/.394 with 8 home runs, 9 stolen bases, and 38 RBI.[10] Ornelas spent the 2022 season with theFrisco RoughRiders of theDouble-ATexas League.[11] He hit .299/.360/.425 with 14 home runs, 64 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and tied the Frisco franchise record by recording 157 hits in 2022.[12] Ornelas was named the Texas Rangers 2022 minor league Defender of the Year.[13]
On November 15, 2022, the Rangers added Ornelas to their40-man roster to protect him from theRule 5 draft.[14] Ornelas was optioned to theRound Rock Express of theTriple-APacific Coast League to begin the 2023 season.[15] On August 7, Ornelas was called up to the major leagues for the first time.[16] He made his debut that night versus theOakland Athletics as a pinch runner, scoring the eventual winning run in the eighth inning.[17]
Ornelas was optioned to Triple–A Round Rock to begin the 2024 season.[18] He was called up on June 30 following an injury toCorey Seager.[19] In 18 appearances for Texas, Ornelas batted .216/.256/.270 with three RBI.
Ornelas was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock to begin the 2025 season.[20] He played in four games for Texas, recording one walk and going hitless in five at-bats. Ornelas wasdesignated for assignment by the Rangers on May 19, 2025.[21]
On May 24, 2025, Ornelas was traded to theAtlanta Braves in exchange for cash considerations and optioned to the Triple-AGwinnett Stripers.[22] He played in two games for Atlanta, totaling two hits in four at-bats. On September 19, Ornelas was designated for assignment by the Braves.[23] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-AGwinnett Stripers on September 25.[24] Ornelas elected free agency following the season on November 6.[25][26]
On November 14, 2025, Ornelas signed a minor league contract with theNew York Yankees.[27]