Jorge Ona

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #10 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Ona was arguably Cuba's best hitter for his age as an amateur and signed with the Padres for $7 million in 2016. He battled a host of injuries after signing and had season-ending right shoulder surgery in May 2019, but he returned healthy in 2020 and starred at the alternate training site. The Padres called him up in September and gave him four starts at designated hitter.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Ona is a thick, bulky hitter with massive raw power. His brute strength and solid bat speed produce towering drives to all fields, especially the opposite way to right-center. Ona's swing was previously stiff and prevented him from making enough contact, but his swing looked much looser post-surgery. He showed the ability to wait back on breaking balls and handle varied stuff, although he's still extremely aggressive and has big holes in his swing, particularly against elevated fastballs or anything inside. Ona's bulk makes him a below-average defender with below-average speed in the outfield. He flashed above-average arm strength before surgery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Ona has a better chance to reach his power with his looser swing. His outlook for playing time will improve if the National League permanently adopts the DH.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #26 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Oña hit .636 with four home runs in eight games for Cuba at the 2014 18U Pan American Championships. He left the island in 2015 and landed a $7 million signing bonus from the Padres in 2016. Oña struggled with the transition to the U.S and underwhelmed his first two seasons, but he found his stride at Double-A Amarillo in 2019 before suffering a season-ending torn labrum.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Oña is a thick, muscular specimen with massive raw power. He punishes balls and hits towering drives that demoralize opposing pitchers. His plus raw power plays to all fields, and he is particularly adept at driving the ball the other way. Oña is an aggressive hitter who hunts fastballs and swings at the first one around the strike zone. That freewheeling approach limits him to a potential fringe-average hitter, and his bulky body results in stiff actions in his swing despite above-average bat speed. Oña's below-average running speed and limited range make him a liability in the outfield, although he has flashed above-average arm strength when healthy.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Padres put Oña on the 40-man roster despite his abbreviated season. Whether he makes enough contact to access his power will determine his future.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #16 prospect in 2018
  Ona jumped on scouts' radars when he hit .636 with four home runs in eight games playing for Cuba at the 2014 COPABE 18U Pan American Championships. The Padres kept tabs on Ona after he left to train in the Dominican Republic, and signed him for $7 million when he became eligible in July 2016. Ona is a hulking physical specimen chiseled like a body-builder. He combines that brute strength with impressive bat speed to produce plus raw power, including the opposite way to right-center. However, Ona hit only 11 home runs and slugged just .405 at low Class A Fort Wayne because he is a free swinger who gets long and struggles to make adjustments, resulting in big holes and a below-average hit profile overall. He struck out almost a quarter of his plate appearances and nearly half of his batted balls were grounders. Defensively Ona is a liability in the outfield as a bulky, fringe-average runner who rakes poor routes. He has the above-average arm needed for right field if he improves. Ona's ability to adjust to get to his plus power will determine if he reaches his everyday potential. He'll start at high Class A Lake Elsinore in 2018.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #12 prospect in 2017
  Ona first made waves at the 2014 COPABE 18U Pan American Championship in Mexico, when he hit .636 (14-for-22) with four homers and a 1.364 slugging percentage in eight games. He left Cuba in July 2015 and trained in the Dominican Republic for a year before the Padres signed him for $7 million in July 2016. Ona is a muscular specimen with plus power to all fields, both present and projectable. His bat speed is above-average and his hand-eye coordination earns positive reviews, giving him a promising foundation as a hitter. Some evaluators, however, note stiff actions and poor timing in his swing, raising concerns he won't ever be more than a fringe-average hitter. The Padres acknowledge these shortcomings but believe they can be fixed with mechanical adjustments. Ona is a fringe-average runner and fringe-average defender limited to a corner, likely left field, though his above-average arm gives him a chance to stick in right. He hasn't played competitive game situations since leaving Cuba, so rust was a factor in his early evaluations. Ona's bat will be what carries him, with the potential to be an annual 25-home run threat. He will begin his career at low Class A Fort Wayne in 2017.

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Ona was arguably Cuba's best hitter for his age as an amateur and signed with the Padres for $7 million in 2016. He battled a host of injuries after signing and had season-ending right shoulder surgery in May 2019, but he returned healthy in 2020 and starred at the alternate training site. The Padres called him up in September and gave him four starts at designated hitter.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Ona is a thick, bulky hitter with massive raw power. His brute strength and solid bat speed produce towering drives to all fields, especially the opposite way to right-center. Ona's swing was previously stiff and prevented him from making enough contact, but his swing looked much looser post-surgery. He showed the ability to wait back on breaking balls and handle varied stuff, although he's still extremely aggressive and has big holes in his swing, particularly against elevated fastballs or anything inside. Ona's bulk makes him a below-average defender with below-average speed in the outfield. He flashed above-average arm strength before surgery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Ona has a better chance to reach his power with his looser swing. His outlook for playing time will improve if the National League permanently adopts the DH.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Ona was arguably Cuba's best hitter for his age as an amateur and signed with the Padres for $7 million in 2016. He battled a host of injuries after signing and had season-ending right shoulder surgery in May 2019, but he returned healthy in 2020 and starred at the alternate training site. The Padres called him up in September and gave him four starts at designated hitter.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Ona is a thick, bulky hitter with massive raw power. His brute strength and solid bat speed produce towering drives to all fields, especially the opposite way to right-center. Ona's swing was previously stiff and prevented him from making enough contact, but his swing looked much looser post-surgery. He showed the ability to wait back on breaking balls and handle varied stuff, although he's still extremely aggressive and has big holes in his swing, particularly against elevated fastballs or anything inside. Ona's bulk makes him a below-average defender with below-average speed in the outfield. He flashed above-average arm strength before surgery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Ona has a better chance to reach his power with his looser swing. His outlook for playing time will improve if the National League permanently adopts the DH.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Ona was arguably Cuba's best hitter for his age as an amateur and signed with the Padres for $7 million in 2016. He battled a host of injuries after signing and had season-ending right shoulder surgery in May 2019, but he returned healthy in 2020 and starred at the alternate training site. The Padres called him up in September and gave him four starts at designated hitter.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Ona is a thick, bulky hitter with massive raw power. His brute strength and solid bat speed produce towering drives to all fields, especially the opposite way to right-center. Ona's swing was previously stiff and prevented him from making enough contact, but his swing looked much looser post-surgery. He showed the ability to wait back on breaking balls and handle varied stuff, although he's still extremely aggressive and has big holes in his swing, particularly against elevated fastballs or anything inside. Ona's bulk makes him a below-average defender with below-average speed in the outfield. He flashed above-average arm strength before surgery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Ona has a better chance to reach his power with his looser swing. His outlook for playing time will improve if the National League permanently adopts the DH.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Oña hit .636 with four home runs in eight games for Cuba at the 2014 18U Pan American Championships. He left the island in 2015 and landed a $7 million signing bonus from the Padres in 2016. Oña struggled with the transition to the U.S and underwhelmed his first two seasons, but he found his stride at Double-A Amarillo in 2019 before suffering a season-ending torn labrum.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Oña is a thick, muscular specimen with massive raw power. He punishes balls and hits towering drives that demoralize opposing pitchers. His plus raw power plays to all fields, and he is particularly adept at driving the ball the other way. Oña is an aggressive hitter who hunts fastballs and swings at the first one around the strike zone. That freewheeling approach limits him to a potential fringe-average hitter, and his bulky body results in stiff actions in his swing despite above-average bat speed. Oña’s below-average running speed and limited range make him a liability in the outfield, although he has flashed above-average arm strength when healthy.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Padres put Oña on the 40-man roster despite his abbreviated season. Whether he makes enough contact to access his power will determine his future.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Oña hit .636 with four home runs in eight games for Cuba at the 2014 18U Pan American Championships. He left the island in 2015 and landed a $7 million signing bonus from the Padres in 2016. Oña struggled with the transition to the U.S and underwhelmed his first two seasons, but he found his stride at Double-A Amarillo in 2019 before suffering a season-ending torn labrum.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Oña is a thick, muscular specimen with massive raw power. He punishes balls and hits towering drives that demoralize opposing pitchers. His plus raw power plays to all fields, and he is particularly adept at driving the ball the other way. Oña is an aggressive hitter who hunts fastballs and swings at the first one around the strike zone. That freewheeling approach limits him to a potential fringe-average hitter, and his bulky body results in stiff actions in his swing despite above-average bat speed. Oña's below-average running speed and limited range make him a liability in the outfield, although he has flashed above-average arm strength when healthy.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Padres put Oña on the 40-man roster despite his abbreviated season. Whether he makes enough contact to access his power will determine his future.
• November, 2016 Scouting Report
  Ona was a standout player on a stacked Cuban junior national team at the COPABE 18U Pan American Championship in Mexico in 2014. He hit four home runs in eight games, led the tournament in batting average (.636) and slugging (1.364) and went 14-for-22 with eight walks and five strikeouts. Ona played sparingly for his Industriales team in Cuba before leaving the country in summer 2015 to pursue a contract with a major league team. Still a teenager and a few years from contributing in the major leagues, Ona has the tools to be an impact right fielder. With a strong frame, Ona has quick hands and a compact swing. His bat speed and power are both plus, with the chance to grow into more power once he gets stronger. He can drive the ball with authority to all fields, which he showed with an opposite-field home run against Mexico. He keeps his head locked in when he swings and has a solid hitting approach for his age, though he tinkered with his hitting mechanics over the past year. Ona is close to an average runner and has a plus arm in right field. Subject to the international bonus pools, Ona is ready to start his career with a low Class A team once he signs.