The shortstop position was such a major storyline for the New York Yankees this season that any offseason addition, big or small, is worth tracking.
Former star prospect Anthony Volpe not only failed to improve offensively in his third year in the big leagues, but he also regressed significantly on defense. Then, late in the year, it was revealed that the 24-year-old spent most of the season playing through a torn labrum in his left shoulder, and in October, he underwent surgery that is expected to delay his return until after opening day.
Volpe’s struggles helped motivate the Yankees to acquire Jose Caballero from the Tampa Bay Rays at the July trade deadline. But they rightfully felt they needed more insurance at the position heading into spring training, and they recently made an addition tailored to fit that specific need.
According to the official transactions log on his roster page, 25-year-old infielder Jonathan Ornelas signed a minor-league contract to join the Yankees for spring training. The transaction was backdated to Friday, but was not reflected in the log until several days later.
Ornelas, a former third-round draft pick of the Texas Rangers, has three partial seasons of major league experience, mostly in Texas. He also had a four-game stint late in the year for the Atlanta Braves before electing free agency on Nov. 6.
In 32 major league games, Ornelas has hit .208 without a home run, good for just a .508 OPS. After putting together strong offensive seasons early in his minor-league career, he’s struggled down on the farm as well, as he hit just .196 in 115 games at the Triple-A level this past season.
However, if there’s one positive thing one can glean from Ornelas’ scouting reports through the years, it’s that he can really pick it at shortstop, which always earns players extra looks from pro teams.
Truthfully, there’s not much evidence from Ornelas’ brief big-league career to suggest that he represents a threat to Volpe, or even Caballero, for playing time. But he’s best regarded for his defense, something that often plagues the Yankees, so perhaps if called upon, he could be a valuable substitute at some point this season.
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