Padres may be running out of patience with a prospect bat they’ve waited on for years

Given all the chatter around the San Diego Padres' need for cheap, cost-controlled talent one would think that a 25-year-old in Triple-A who posted a 104 wRC+ in 2025 and hit .297/.367/.497 with 23 home runs in 2024 would be garnering a lot more hype.

Alas, Tirso Ornelas has never quite been considered a top prospect since originally signing with the Friars out of Mexico in 2016. He finally received his long-awaited MLB debut last year, though he managed all of one hit while stepping up to the plate just 16 times for Mike Shildt's squad.

A lingering plantar fasciitis issue kept him out for a chunk of the season, and he spent the rest of his time in Triple-A El Paso. There's an argument to be made that he deserved another opportunity in the majors on a struggling offensive squad, but that's water under the bridge at this point.

Now on the 40-man roster and just a few months away from turning 26, is this year finally the time that Ornelas breaks out in San Diego?

Tirso Ornelas facing make-or-break 2026 season with Padres

At one point last year, it looked like Ornelas was a shoo-in for the starting left field job that was in flux until Ramon Laureano took over following the trade deadline. Then, his injury happened, and his solid-yet-disappointing production at Triple-A to close the season may have removed the shine from his profile.

And, unlike their obvious need at first base, the Padres are mostly well-covered in the outfield thanks to their starting triumvirate of Laureano (left field), Jackson Merrill (center), and Fernando Tatis Jr. (right).

That would make Ornelas a candidate for the fourth outfielder job, a gig currently held by pinch-hitting legend Bryce Johnson. The 30-year-old is far from insurmountable in that role, though — Johnson struck out 22.6% of the time (compared to a 3.6% walk rate) while providing little in the way of power (.092 ISO).

Is that really the ceiling for Ornelas, though? Holding down a pure reserve role while potentially factoring in at DH on occasion when Gavin Sheets has a bad matchup or needs rest?

Ornelas isn't a great defender by any means, and he'll be relegated to the outfield corners if and when he's in San Diego. But he's a strong contact hitter with a patient eye at the plate, and he's got the frame (6'3") and levers in his swing to translate his .185 ISO from the minors over the past two seasons to the big leagues.

With Laureano set to hit free agency after this upcoming season, left field remains a long-term black hole in the Padres' plans. Ornelas may not get unlimited opportunities to audition for that job in 2026, but he could make a great case to be considered the frontrunner by producing in a bench role. First, though, he'll need to make sure he impresses in spring training enough to make the Opening Day roster.