The decision to send former All-Star Orlando Arcia packing as the subsequent move to bring Ronald Acuña Jr. back to Atlanta cost the Braves some valuable middle infield depth.
Nick Allen has been firmly entrenched in the starting shortstop gig for most of the season at this point, but one injury to either him or Ozzie Albies would leave the Braves scrambling for options.
Thankfully, that problem is less dire now after Alex Anthopoulos swung a trade with the Texas Rangers to acquire infielder Jonathan Ornelas in exchange for cash considerations. The Braves immediately optioned Ornelas to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Braves acquire Jonathan Ornelas to help with infield depth after Orlando Arcia DFA
Ornelas is a former third-round pick by Texas in the 2018 draft, and will turn 25 in just a couple of days. Ornelas has appeared in parts of the last three seasons with Texas, although he’s never played in more than 18 games in any single season. He was also a former top 30 prospect in the Rangers system as recently as 2023. Ornelas has played all around the diamond, with most of his action coming in the middle infield.
For his career, Ornelas sports a .184/.245/.224 slash line at the major league level. This season, Ornelas received 121 plate appearances with the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate before Atlanta swooped in and acquired him. His numbers with Round Rock won’t inspire you, as his OPS is sub-.600 in Triple-A as well. He’s a depth piece, but the upside certainly doesn’t seem overwhelming.
Ornelas will simply come to Atlanta as a trustworthy glove that can provide organizational depth. Because of top prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr.’s wrist injury that landed him on the 60-day IL, middle infielders aren’t exactly booming with overflowing supply in Atlanta’s upper minor league levels.
Losing Orlando Arica as organizational infield depth is a price you can certainly pay when it results in former MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. returning with an emphasis. Thus, the move for Ornelas is yet another Alex Anthopoulos deal on the margins to preserve the organizational depth he deeply covets.
