Jonathan Ornelas, a former member of the New York Yankees’ minor league system, has been designated for assignment by the Athletics.
The move came Monday as the A’s reinstated infielder Zack Gelof from the 10-day injured list, creating a corresponding roster change that left no room for the 26-year-old utility player.
Ornelas had appeared in six games for the Athletics this season, managing just two hits and posting a .167 batting average.
Before joining the A’s, he spent the earlier portion of 2026 with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate. That stint ended in mid-July when the RailRiders released him, freeing him to sign with another organization.
Originally selected in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft, Ornelas has already logged time with three major league clubs: the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, and now the Athletics. Across 38 career big-league games he owns a .200 average, with 13 hits, three RBIs, and four runs scored.
While those numbers are modest, his ability to play multiple infield positions has occasionally kept him on 40-man rosters and given him opportunities when injuries create openings.
The Athletics currently sit fourth in the American League West with a 47-71 record. Their decision to clear a roster spot for Gelof reflects the club’s desire to evaluate younger, higher-upside talent as the season winds down.
Ornelas now faces the standard 10-day window in which he can be claimed off waivers by another team. Should he clear waivers, he could elect free agency or accept an outright assignment back to Triple-A with the Athletics.
Meanwhile, the Yankees, who once employed Ornelas in their system, continue their own push in the AL East. Sitting second with a 66-52 mark, they are coming off a series split with the Atlanta Braves and prepare to host the Seattle Mariners.
The organization has moved on from Ornelas, but his brief presence in Scranton earlier this year underscores how quickly roster needs can shift across the minors and majors.
Whether another club decides Ornelas still offers enough defensive flexibility and occasional offensive production to justify a roster spot remains to be seen.
For now, the former Yankees farmhand finds himself in limbo, waiting to learn if his major league journey will continue in 2026 or if he will return to the minor leagues once more.
