Jhonkensy Noel Fantasy Stats

The Cleveland Guardians announced on Wednesday that they designated outfielder Jhonkensy Noel for assignment to make room on the roster for left-hander Justin Bruihl, who was acquired for cash via the Toronto Blue Jays. Noel, 24, gets booted off Cleveland's 40-man roster this offseason after struggling to a .162/.183/.297 slash line in 153 plate appearances over 69 games played in his second year in the majors. He had six home runs, 13 RBI, and 19 runs scored after hitting .218 (39-for-179) with 13 homers, 28 RBI, and 25 runs scored in 67 games in his rookie campaign. Big Christmas is big and powerful at 6-foot-3, 260 pounds, but he has posted an ugly 32.8% strikeout rate and a low 4.8% walk rate in his two seasons in the Show. The high-end power should make it easy for him to latch on with another club going into the 2026 season, but he'll merely be battling for a roster spot in spring training.

The Cleveland Guardians optioned outfielder Jhonkensy Noel to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday and recalled outfielder Johnathan Rodriguez from Columbus in a corresponding move, according to MLB.com's Tim Stebbins. With Lane Johnson battling injuries pretty much all year to this point, Noel has had plenty of opportunities to showcase his power in Cleveland's outfield, but he's failed to do so. The 23-year-old Dominican has hit just .146 (15-for-103) with two home runs, nine RBI, 12 runs scored, three walks and 34 strikeouts in 107 trips to the plate over his 46 games in his second MLB season. Since the start of May, he had gone 5-for-48 (.104) in 23 games, so he'll go down to the farm to find ways to make more contact. The right-handed-hitting Rodriguez will now be in line for a platoon in right field with Nolan Jones.

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Jhonkensy Noel will retreat to the bench for Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the hosting Washington Nationals. The left-handed-hitting Nolan Jones will start in right field and bat eighth against Nationals right-hander Jake Irvin. This will be Noel's second straight game on the bench after he's gone 4-for-31 with two home runs, four RBI, no walks and 13 strikeouts in his last 12 games since April 20. The 23-year-old Dominican has hit just .164 (11-for-67) on the year with two homers and eight RBI. Jones hasn't been any better from the left side as an option in right field, going 12-for-77 (.156) with one long ball, five RBI, five runs and two stolen bases. Neither player has stood out and gained extra playing time for the Guards as of early May. Jones won't be a very attractive DFS play due to his slump and his low lineup placement.

According to Mandy Bell of MLB.com, the Cleveland Guardians will likely have a rotating door in right field to start the 2025 season. Bell noted that Jhonkensy Noel and Will Brennan would likely operate in a platoon role to begin the season as they did throughout most of the second half of the 2024 season. Across 64 games, Noel posted a .218/.288/.486 slash line with 13 home runs. Under the hood, Noel flashed upside power as he generated a 14.5 percent barrel rate. However, he held a hefty 31.8 percent strikeout rate. Brennan held a .264/.309/.388 slash line across 114 games with just eight home runs and four stolen bases. Unlike Noel, Brennan showed a strong eye at the plate with a 13.6 percent strikeout rate but struggled to generate much power as he posted a 4.6 percent barrel rate. Fantasy managers should only target Noel and Brennan in deeper formats, as their upside will be limited due to sharing playing time.

Cleveland Guardians first baseman/outfielder Jhonkensy Noel came up with one of the signature moments of the postseason on Friday, blasting a two-out, two-run homer off New York Yankees closer Luke Weaver in the bottom of the ninth to tie Game 3 of the ALCS. Noel was down to his final strike before he got a hold of a pitch and sent Progressive Field into a frenzy. The 23-year-old may very well have saved the Guardians season, as they would have gone down 3-0 in the series if it wasn't for his heroics. He may not be in the lineup every day for Cleveland, but when he is at the dish there is always the possibility of a long ball.

Cleveland Guardians rookie first baseman/outfielder Jhonkensy Noel will retreat to the bench for Wednesday's Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the division-rival Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Noel will take a seat for the first time in the ALDS after going hitless in four at-bats with a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Will Brennan will make the start in right field on Wednesday and will hit seventh against Tigers rookie right-hander Keider Montero. Brennan, who hits from the left side, was much better against right-handers this year, going 82-for-295 (.278) against them with all eight of his home runs and 28 of his 30 RBI on the season. He has seen just one at-bat so far in the two games of the ALDS and was unable to record a hit. Brennan finished the final month of the regular season hitting .370 (17-for-46) with three doubles, two RBI and four runs scored in 18 games played.

Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder Jhonkensy Noel is making the start in right field and is batting seventh for the Guardians in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday against the division-rival Detroit Tigers and left-handed opener Tyler Holton at Progressive Field. In his first year in the big leagues in 2024, Noel played in a total of 67 games and slashed .218/.288/.486 with a .774 OPS, 13 home runs, 28 RBI, 25 runs scored and 63 strikeouts in his 198 plate appearances. With Cleveland also facing a left-hander (Tarik Skubal) in Game 2 on Monday, it's possible Noel will make two straight starts to begin the series. Noel hit .246 (14-for-57) with seven of his 13 long balls against left-handers this year, compared to .205 (25-for-122) against righties. Noel packs a punch from the right side of the plate, but he should be considered more of a DFS sleeper long shot on Saturday.

Cleveland Guardians rookie first baseman/outfielder Jhonkensy Noel is out of the starting lineup on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field. With Noel back on the bench after starting each of the last three games, Will Brennan will make the start in right field and will bat seventh against Rays right-hander Ryan Pepiot. Noel does have 13 home runs in his first 55 big-league games with Cleveland this year, but he's also hitting only .232 (35-for-151) and has 55 strikeouts in 169 plate appearances. The Dominican slugger has really struggled of late, too, as he doesn't have a hit since Sept. 2. In nine games in September, Noel has gone 2-for-23 (.087) with a double, two RBI and 10 strikeouts. The left-handed-hitting Brennan has not recorded a hit in only three career at-bats against Pepiot and should be considered a low-upside DFS sleeper.

Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder Jhonkensy Noel was in the thick of the action in Monday's 9-8 win over the Cubs. Noel went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a three-run HR, and a strikeout. The 23-year-old capped off a big fourth inning, going down to drive a Shota Imanaga splitter deep onto the left-field porch. He added another long ball in the sixth, taking Nate Pearson over the left-center wall. Noel has shown plenty of pop in his time with the Guardians, slashing .250/.299/.588 with eight HR, 10 runs scored, and 12 RBI in 87 plate appearances. He has struck out at a 29.9% clip, but Noel could be a spark plug for fantasy managers' lineups down the stretch in deeper leagues.

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Jhonkensy Noel went yard during his MLB debut in Wednesday afternoon's loss to the Baltimore Orioles, launching a solo home run in the second inning. After letting go of his bat, Noel then hit a solo homer in his first major-league at-bat to give the Guardians an early 1-0 lead on Wednesday. The 22-year-old slugger is Cleveland's No. 26 prospect for 2024 and is worth a speculative add in deep fantasy leagues for his raw power potential, having slashed .295/.359/.578 with 18 round-trippers, 15 doubles, and 59 RBI over 258 ABs at Triple-A Columbus this season. With plus position eligibility, Noel belongs on all watch lists at the very least.