ARLINGTON — If you weren’t looking closely you might have thought prime Elvis Andrus was at shortstop for the Texas Rangers again Tuesday night.
But Jonathan Ornelas, who has bounced back and forth between Triple-A Round Rock and Arlington all season, was at shortstop tonight in place of Corey Seager.
In the top of the 8th inning, Chicago White Sox pinch hitter Tommy Pham laced a ground ball deep into the hole between Ornelas and third baseman Josh Smith.
Ornelas snagged the ground ball just beyond the dirt and made a sparkling jump throw to Nathaniel Lowe for the second out of the inning.
JONATHAN ORENELAS WHAT A GEM!
— SportsDay Rangers (@dmn_rangers) July 24, 2024
An INCREDIBLE jump throw for the second out in the 8th!
(via @BallySportsSW) #StraightUpTX pic.twitter.com/37oxipdtym
“I was trying to do my best [Derek] Jeter impression,” Ornelas said after the game.
It’s certainly in the conversation of the team’s best defensive plays of the season. The play brought Tuesday’s sellout crowd to its feet.
“I think I was just trying to get to it and get rid of it as quick as I could,” he said. “I’ve made that play a couple times in Round Rock, and I mean it’s never been as big as this, but I was just trying to get it out quick and make a strong, accurate throw.”
![Texas Rangers third base Jonathan Ornelas attempts to hit during the second inning of a...](https://dmn-dallas-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7U7PGQSGHBBBHKR6TMT2Z6ANR4.jpg?auth=a794f610458c73b89f4528dd2dbc6f012f393aa0ce6d33d78bf7f729f5004755&width=430&quality=80)
No one appreciates outstanding defensive plays more than pitchers. Just ask Tuesday’s starter Jon Gray.
“That was unbelievable,” Gray said. “It really shocked me, I just thought that there was no chance at that one. Really fired me up.”
Gray threw 7.2 innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts and allowing just four hits.
If Ornelas’ incredible play seems like it’s one bullet point on a long list of outstanding defensive plays this year, that’s because it is.
Per StatCast, the Rangers have the best defense in baseball in terms of outs above average with 34. That total of 34 is nine runs higher than the second place Diamondbacks. Texas also leads the league in runs prevented by a wide margin.
“If you can make the routine plays routine, then the extraordinary plays are going to happen,” Ornelas said.
Ornelas hasn’t had a ton of opportunities to contribute to the Rangers this season. Tuesday was just his ninth appearance of the season. When the opportunities are few and far between, he wants to cash them in and help the Rangers’ cause.
“Defensively, being able to contribute is just awesome,” he said. “It definitely helps the confidence. It makes me feel like I definitely helped the team out today.”
It got quite the reaction out of the Texas dugout, especially Thursday’s starting pitcher Max Scherzer.
We're all Max rn pic.twitter.com/dfjEK6waya
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) July 24, 2024
The Rangers’ dugout is full of players and coaches who have accomplished great things in the baseball world. For a 24-year-old bouncing between the big leagues and minor leagues just trying to make his mark, moments like that are special.
“It was sweet, everybody was up there congratulating me,” Ornelas said. “It’s the first time I’ve made a play like that, so it’s just awesome to see the excitement coming out of the guys.”
It was fitting that Ornelas was the one to cap Tuesday’s 3-2 win over Chicago with the final putout, though the routine putout paled in comparison to his play in the 8th inning.
Twitter/X: @nate_sanch77
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