Padres Recall Tirso Ornelas After Heyward Injured

HOUSTON, Texas — The San Diego Padres announced Saturday that outfielder Jason Heyward has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to inflammation in his left knee. To fill the void left by Heyward, the team has recalled 25-year-old Tirso Ornelas from Triple-A El Paso, marking Ornelas’s Major League Baseball debut.

Heyward’s injury adds to the Padres’ struggles with depth, as three outfielders—Jackson Merrill, Brandon Lockridge, and now Heyward—are currently on the injured list. Heyward was scratched from the lineup during Friday’s game and had been missing in action while recovering from knee soreness.

“It didn’t improve as well as he would’ve liked,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said in reference to Heyward’s knee. “We need to be cautious with him.”

Ornelas, the Padres’ 12th-ranked prospect, is expected to primarily play in left field but may also see action in center field as the club navigates personnel challenges. He has impressed in the minors, boasting a .281 batting average with a .777 OPS this season and a strong .297 average with an .864 OPS last year with El Paso.

Following a promising spring where he hit .294/.368/.451 in 23 games, Ornelas was notably one of the Padres’ final cuts before the season began. His rise through the ranks since being signed from Tijuana, Mexico in 2017 represents a significant achievement for both Ornelas and the organization.

While Ornelas prepares for his debut, Oscar Gonzalez will also factor into the outfield mix. Gonzalez has been making waves after stepping in for the injured players, demonstrating solid hitting metrics, including hard contact exceeding 100 mph.

“Incredibly strong,” Shildt commented on Gonzalez’s performance. “He’s got history. He played every day in Cleveland. We’ll play the matchups, but this guy takes good at-bats regardless of the pitcher.”

As the Padres adjust to a series of injuries, the organization remains focused on capitalizing on opportunities, with Ornelas’s debut expected to deepen their outfield reserves. Padres’ fans and teammates alike are eagerly anticipating how he will perform in his first big league game.

“I’m excited for a local guy to get his shot,” one fan expressed in excitement. “Let’s see what he can do.”

This season has already tested the Padres depth, particularly in center field, where lesser-experienced players like Connor Joe have had to step up. The hope is that both Ornelas and Gonzalez can help the team weather the injury storm until key players return.