Minors: Tirso Ornelas surging in May with Chihuahuas

Padres outfield prospect Tirso Ornelas hits fourth homer for Triple-A El Paso

May 17, 2024 5 AM PT

Tirso Ornelas hit his fourth home run in Triple-A El Paso’s 7-3 loss on Thursday in Las Vegas, continuing a strong May.

The left fielder is hitting .342/.390/.553 with two homers in 10 games to lift his season batting line to .283/.356/.481.

The 24-year-old Ornelas, one of the Padres’ few remaining signees from the 2016-17 international class, reached free agency this offseason but returned to the organization on a minor league deal.

Second baseman Matthew Batten (.769 OPS) went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored and first baseman Nate Mondou (.788 OPS) went 1-for-2 with an RBI and three walks.

Left-hander Ryan Carpenter (2-3, 8.19 ERA) allowed six runs in four innings in the loss.

El Paso is 17-25.

Thursday’s scoreboard

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (14-19)

Corpus Christi 8, Missions 1: RHP Ryan Bergert (0-4, 6.84 ERA) allowed four runs in 4⅓ innings the loss. He allowed nine hits, including two homers, and walked three. RHP Reggie Lawson (8.76 ERA) allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning. RF Robert Perez Jr. (.679 OPS) went 2-for-4 with a run scored. 3B Ripken Reyes (.608 OPS) hit a triple and CF Clay Dungan (.619 OPS) hit a double.

HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (14-22)

TinCaps 5, South Bend 1: LHP Miguel Cienfuegos (3-3, 3.78 ERA) struck out four and allowed a run on three this and a walk in six innings in the win. 1B Griffin Doersching (.628 OPS) hit his fourth homer and C Ethan Salas (.524 OPS) went 1-for-4 with a double. CF Homer Bush Jr. (.662 OPS) went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and two steals, giving him 18 on the season. 3B Devin Ortiz (.758 OPS) drove in two runs on two hits.

LOW SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (17-17)

Storm 7, Visalia 2: 1B Romeo Sanabria (.965 OPS), 3B Ethan Long (1.034 OPS) and LF Ryan Wilson (.624 OPS) all had two hits and Sanabria, Long and RF Braedon Karpathios (.751 OPS) all doubled. 2B Jose Sanabria (.585 OPS) and CF Wyatt Hoffman (.671 OPS) both drove in two runs. RHP Sam Whiting (1.93 ERA) threw four shutout innings in the start. DH Leodalis De Vries (.588 OPS) went 1-for-5 with three strikeouts.

ROOKIE ACL PADRES (5-5)

Rangers 4, Padres 3 (7): 1B Addison Kopack (1.095 OPS), 3B Yendry Rojas (.698 OPS) and LF Kashon Conliffe (.631 OPS) each had a double. DH Lamar King Jr. (1.167 OPS) went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.