Jorge Oña to make big league debut for Padres
Credit: AP Photo
The Padres have called up their number 24 prospect Jorge Oña to the big leagues. To make space for him, the Padres sent down RHP Luis Patiño.
Welcome to the Show, Jorge Oña! pic.twitter.com/mf9IuF5lB9
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 7, 2020
Oña was signed as a part of A.J. Preller’s famous 2016 international signing frenzy. At six feet and 235 pounds, his frame projects him to be a large, powerfully right-handed bat. He is an outfielder that will stick to either of the corner positions. The Padres saw Ona’s value and decided to protect him from the Rule 5 draft in 2019 by adding him to the 40-man roster.
In 2019 Oña took a step forward at the plate while playing Double-A ball. He saw his walk rate rise to 10.7% and dipped his strikeout rate to 25.2%. He also posted a .348/.417/.539 slash with a 167 wRC+. However, his 2019 season was cut short due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. That small sample size, however, did earn Ona a spot at the team’s alternate site this year.
Padres are promoting outfielder Jorge Oña and my dude hits TANKS 💣 pic.twitter.com/28A8kasTgl
— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) September 7, 2020
Just like all players for the Padres this year, playing time must be earned. The team has its best chance at ending a playoff drought that reaches all the back to 2006. Much like Luis Campusano, Oña has reported been on a tear with the bat at the USD alternate site. Tonight, he will slot in at DH against Kyle Freeland.
Evan is a student finishing up a degree in Finance from Northern Arizona University. The ability to break down numbers and find the story behind them has lead to his first of writing for East Village times. He covers baseball which is the sport he grew up playing and has followed even after his playing years.