Brewers Surprisingly Cut Ties With Former Yankees Infielder

The Milwaukee Brewers designated infielder Jonathan Ornelas for assignment on Tuesday, ending a short major-league stint that began only 10 days earlier.

The move opened a roster spot for right fielder Sal Frelick, who was activated from the 10-day injured list after a shoulder strain.

Ornelas, 26, joined Milwaukee on Aug. 15 in a cash deal with the Athletics. The Brewers selected his contract immediately and started him at second base that night at Dodger Stadium, giving his parents their first look at him in a big-league starting lineup. He went 2-for-9 with an RBI in three games for Milwaukee before the club turned the page.

His 2026 season started far from Miller Park. Ornelas signed a minor-league contract with the New York Yankees in November 2025 and spent the first half with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

He hit .299/.362/.480 with nine home runs in 75 games, a clear step up from his prior Triple-A production. On July 16, he exercised an opt-out and became a free agent after the Yankees declined to add him to the major-league roster.

A week later he signed with the Athletics. Oakland selected his contract on July 31. In six games he went 2-for-12 with seven strikeouts.

When Zack Gelof returned from the injured list on Aug. 10, Ornelas was designated for assignment. He cleared waivers, elected free agency, then quickly re-signed with the A’s on a new minor-league deal — a sequence that made him eligible to be traded after the deadline. Milwaukee claimed him days later.

A former third-round pick of the Texas Rangers in 2018, Ornelas debuted in 2023 and has now appeared with four organizations.

He remains a career .203 hitter with no home runs and four RBI in 74 major-league at-bats. Versatility has kept him in the mix: he has played shortstop, second, third, and both corner-outfield spots. Manager Pat Murphy remembered him from Arizona youth ball as “Johnny Rockets,” the standout on a loaded 10U team.

The DFA is the latest chapter in a season of roster hopping. Ornelas can be traded, claimed on waivers, or outrighted if he clears. If no team claims him, he could elect free agency again.

For Milwaukee, the priority was getting Frelick back in the lineup as the club continues its playoff push.

For Ornelas, the search for a lasting big-league foothold continues.