The Milwaukee Brewers acquired infielder Jonathan Ornelas from the Athletics and added him to their active roster Saturday, designating utility player Jihawn Bae for assignment in a corresponding move.
Brewers beat reporter Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel announced the transaction on X, writing: “The Brewers have acquired Jonathan Ornelas from the Athletics and added him to the roster. Jihawn Bae DFA.”
The Athletics confirmed they traded the minor league infielder to Milwaukee for cash considerations. Ornelas was immediately activated and is available for the Brewers’ game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ornelas, 26, brings defensive versatility to a Milwaukee club that has shuffled its position player group in recent weeks. The right-handed hitter can play shortstop, second base, third base and the outfield corners. He made his major league debut with the Texas Rangers in 2023 and has also appeared for the Atlanta Braves and Athletics.
In limited big league action this season with Oakland, Ornelas went 2-for-12 with one walk and seven strikeouts over six games. His career major league line stands at .200 with no home runs and three RBIs in 38 games.
The Arizona native has shown stronger production at the Triple-A level in 2026. Between stops with the New York Yankees’ affiliate and the Athletics’ Las Vegas club, he posted a .310 batting average, .378 on-base percentage and .505 slugging percentage with 11 home runs, 46 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in 308 plate appearances.
Ornelas signed a minor league deal with the Athletics in late July after being released by the Yankees. Oakland selected his contract at the end of the month before designating him for assignment earlier this month when Zack Gelof returned from the injured list. He cleared waivers and was outrighted before the trade to Milwaukee.
Bae’s time with the Brewers lasted less than a week. The 27-year-old South Korean signed a minor league contract on Aug. 9 and had his deal selected the same day after shortstop Cooper Pratt was placed on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring injury.
In four games with Milwaukee, Bae recorded one hit in two at-bats, scored one run and stole a base. He primarily served as a defensive replacement and pinch runner. Career-wise, Bae owns a .225 batting average with two home runs, 44 RBIs and 38 stolen bases over parts of five major league seasons, mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Before joining the Brewers, Bae spent the bulk of 2026 at Triple-A with the New York Mets organization, where he hit .257 with a .360 on-base percentage, five home runs, 32 RBIs and 36 stolen bases in 91 games. The Mets released him earlier this month.
The roster move comes as the Brewers sit atop the National League Central with a 75-48 record, three games ahead of the Chicago Cubs. Milwaukee has the second-best mark in the National League behind only the Dodgers’ recent surge and holds strong postseason odds.
Manager Pat Murphy’s club has relied on a mix of young talent and depth pieces throughout a successful campaign. The addition of Ornelas provides another option amid injuries and ongoing evaluation of the bench.
Ornelas was originally a third-round draft pick by the Rangers in 2018 out of high school in Glendale, Arizona. He progressed through Texas’ system before bouncing between organizations in recent years while seeking a more consistent major league role.
Bae, a left-handed hitter, first signed with the Atlanta Braves as an international free agent before joining the Pirates. He has drawn attention for his speed and ability to play multiple positions, including center field and second base.
With the trade deadline long past, Milwaukee continues to make incremental adjustments to its 26-man roster as it navigates the final six weeks of the regular season. The Brewers open a series against Seattle next week after wrapping up their road trip in Los Angeles.
Ornelas will look to contribute immediately as a utility piece, while Bae faces the possibility of being claimed by another club or returning to the minor leagues if he clears waivers.
The move underscores Milwaukee’s preference for fresh options as it aims to maintain its division lead and prepare for October baseball.
