Brewers Throw a Life Raft to Their Infield, Snag Ornelas from A's and Start Him That Night
LOS ANGELES -- The Milwaukee Brewers didn't waste a second. One minute Jonathan Ornelas was an Athletic, the next he's in a Brewers uniform, starting at second base and batting ninth against the Dodgers on Saturday night. That's how desperate the infield situation has become in Cream City.
The team announced the move ahead of the matchup with L.A., sending cash considerations to Oakland for the 26-year-old infielder. Ornelas was thrown directly into the fire, a clear sign Milwaukee is looking for any kind of spark after losing four of five on this Southern California road trip.
New Face, Familiar Numbers
Ornelas isn't exactly a household name. He's played 38 career games across three franchises -- Texas, Atlanta, and Oakland -- and he's hit a modest .200 with two doubles and three RBI in that span. This season with the A's, he appeared in just six games and posted a .167 average in 13 plate appearances. This isn't a guy you build around, but the Brewers aren't looking for a star. They need bodies who can turn a double play and keep the ship from sinking.
The urgency makes a little more sense when you hear that Brice Turang is banged up with a left knee injury. Brewers skipper Pat Murphy says he doesn't think Turang will need an injured-list stint, but the fact that they're making moves suggests the front office isn't taking any chances.
Roster Moves Hit Real People
To clear room for Ornelas, the Brewers designated infielder Jihwan Bae for assignment. That's the cold reality of baseball: one guy's opportunity is another guy's pink slip. Bae now waits to see if another club takes a flier, but Milwaukee made its choice.
With the Dodgers looming large and the NL Central race heating up, the Brewers are trying to patch holes before the bottom falls out. Whether Ornelas can provide a jolt is anyone's guess, but you have to love the confidence -- the guy's literally in the lineup before he's had time to unpack his duffel bag.