Padres prospect finally set to realize his potential after getting added to roster

The San Diego Padres enter the second half of the 2024 season with a number of questions that will need to be answered soon. They are a game over .500 after a bit of a rough patch right before the All-Star break, and are in pretty desperate need of some consistency if San Diego is going to make a run at a playoff spot. For the moment, they will have to figure out how to do with Fernando Tatis Jr., Yu Darvish, and Joe Musgrove, all out with injuries for at least the near future.

Despite the hurdles they need to overcome, there are plenty of bright spots. Jackson Merrill and Jurickson Profar have been huge additions to the Padres' offense to start the year, and it has been heartening to see Manny Machado show signs of getting back to his usual awesome self over the last couple of months.

However, San Diego isn't taking anything for granted right now. Not only are they poised to be one of the most active teams at the trade deadline this year, but they are also continuing to dip into their minor leagues for reinforcements, as the Padres are adding outfielder prospect Tirso Ornelas to the 40-man roster prior to the second half commencing. Odds are high he'll be promoted shortly.

Padres News: San Diego add Tirso Ornelas to 40-man roster for some much needed depth

Much of the shine has worn off of Ornelas as a prospect since he got a seven-figure bonus as an international free agent back in 2016. After a strong start as a pro, Ornelas struggled for a few years, as he couldn't impact the ball the way scouts had hoped. However, after posting an .823 OPS in 2023, Ornelas has played well so far this season with a .316/.390/.515 line. Clearly, the Padres hadn't forgotten about him.

However, where things get a little weird is trying to find playing time for Ornelas. Tatis Jr. still being out helps the cause, and one wonders if calling Ornelas implies that Tatis Jr. could be out for a while longer, but finding at-bats for him is far from trivial with Profar and Merrill firmly entrenched. The odd man out is likely Bryce Johnson, as a .404 OPS in his short stint in the big leagues hasn't impressed anyone.

With his 12 homers so far this season, Padres fans may be hoping that Ornelas will soon give the team a jolt of power. However, most of the data suggests that his power numbers could be fueled by playing in the hitter-friendly PCL. That said, the bat-to-ball skills are real and he should at least be able to contribute regularly on offense, even if he isn't a true impact bat.

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