The Athletics have sent infielder Jonathan Ornelas outright to Triple-A Las Vegas, according to the MLB.com transaction tracker, a move that gives him the option to elect free agency because it is his second career outright.
Ornelas had only just reached the big league roster a couple weeks ago before Monday’s designation for assignment, which came when Zack Gelof returned from a knee laceration. In his brief stint with the A’s, Ornelas made six appearances and four starts - three at second base and one in left field - and went 2-for-12 with a walk and seven strikeouts over 13 plate appearances.
The latest shuffle extends a pattern for the former third-round pick, who has now logged a bit of major league action in four straight seasons. He’s still looking for his first home run and carries a .200 career batting average, but he has produced better numbers this season in Triple-A. Between the Yankees’ and A’s affiliates, Ornelas has posted a .310/.378/.505 line with 11 homers in a little over 300 plate appearances.
If Ornelas accepts the assignment, or chooses free agency and later re-signs on a minor league deal, he could be back in the picture later this year. For now, the A’s are working with Jeff McNeil, Tommy White and Donovan Walton on the right side of the infield. Gelof has started at three positions in as many games since returning, which has kept Max Muncy involved at third base, while Alika Williams continues to occupy a big league roster spot as a glove-first utility player.
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