Jorge Oña Explained

Jorge Oña
Width:175
Team:Free agent
Position:Outfielder
Birth Date:31 December 1996
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 7
Debutyear:2020
Debutteam:San Diego Padres
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:2020 season
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.250
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:1
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:2
Teams:

Jorge Luis Oña Ugarte (born December 31, 1996) is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres.

Career

At the COPABE 18U Pan American Championships 2014, Oña hit .636 with four home runs.[1] In July 2015 he defected from Cuba to pursue a Major League Baseball career in the United States.[2]

Oña signed with the San Diego Padres on July 21, 2016.[3] He began his professional career in 2017 with the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Single–A Midwest League[4] and spent the whole season there, posting a .277 batting average with 11 home runs and 64 RBIs in 107 games. In 2018, he played for the Lake Elsinore Storm where he batted .239 with eight home runs and 44 RBIs in 100 games.[5] He played in only 25 games in 2019 for the Amarillo Sod Poodles, hitting .348/.417/.539/.956 with 5 home runs and 18 RBI, due to suffering a labrum tear in his right shoulder which required surgery.[6]

On November 20, 2019, the Padres added Oña to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[7] He was not immediately assigned to an affiliate in 2020 after the minor league season was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

On September 7, 2020, Oña was promoted to the major leagues and made his debut that day against the Colorado Rockies.[9] In his rookie year, Oña went 3-for-12 with one home run. On May 4, 2021, Oña underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow, putting him out of action for six to eight weeks.[10] On May 9, Oña was placed on the 60-day injured list.[11] Oña did not appear in a major league game in 2021, appearing in just 5 minor league rehab games. He was outrighted off of the 40-man roster following the season on November 19, 2021.[12]

Oña spent the 2022 season with the Double–A San Antonio Missions, playing in 69 games and batting .220/.301/.352 with 8 home runs and 25 RBI.[13] He played in 35 games for San Antonio in 2023, hitting .218/.301/.391 with 3 home runs and 12 RBI. Following the season on December 18, 2023, Oña was released by the Padres organization.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cuban prospect Oña cleared, expected to sign with Padres. Dennis Lin. The San Diego Union-Tribune. July 19, 2016. November 19, 2016.
  2. Web site: Jorge Ona, No. 6 Cuban Player, Leaves Cuba. Baseball America. July 5, 2015. November 19, 2016.
  3. Web site: Source: Padres sign Jorge Ona for $7 million. Dennis Lin. The San Diego Union-Tribune. July 20, 2016. November 19, 2016.
  4. Web site: Fort Wayne sets opening day roster. Jeff Sanders. The San Diego Union-Tribune. June 2, 2017. April 2, 2017.
  5. Web site: Jorge Ona Stats, Highlights, Bio. MiLB.com. October 21, 2018.
  6. Web site: Minors: Shoulder surgery for Jorge Oña; Garrett Richards back in action . Jeff Sanders. The San Diego Union-Tribune. July 18, 2019. November 15, 2019.
  7. Web site: Oña up, Martini DFA'd as Friars set roster. MLB.com. AJ Cassavell. November 20, 2019. November 20, 2019.
  8. Web site: 2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled. December 21, 2023. mlb.com. en.
  9. Web site: Padres Recall Jorge Ona.
  10. Web site: Health Notes: Sale, Middleton, Odor, Ona, Graterol.
  11. Web site: Major League Baseball Transactions.
  12. Web site: Padres' Jorge Ona: Sent outright to Triple-A .
  13. Web site: Jorge Oña Stats & Scouting Report. December 21, 2023. baseballamerica.com. en.
  14. https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-12-18