Nolan Jones Expected To Be In Strong Side Of Platoon In Right Field
MLB.com's Tim Stebbins writes that the bulk of Cleveland Guardians new outfielder Nolan Jones' at-bats this year are expected to come in right field against right-handed pitchers. After the Guardians acquired Jones from the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, they also optioned left-handed-hitter Will Brennan to Triple-A Columbus. Jhonkensy Noel is expected to get starts in right field when Cleveland faces left-handed pitchers. The 26-year-old Jones, who was previously selected by the Guardians in the second round in 2016, is moving from the best hitter's park in baseball in Coors Field to Progressive Field, which actually played very favorably to lefty hitters in 2024. He hit 20 homers and stole 20 bags in 106 games in 2023 before slumping to a .227/.321/.320 slash line and only three homers in 79 games in an injury-plagued 2024 campaign. If Jones can avoid injuries in his return to Cleveland, a bounce-back could be coming.
Colorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones has been traded to the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday. Jones was scratched ahead of Saturday's contest, so now that makes sense why he was benched. The 26-year-old will head to Cleveland in exchange for infielder Tyler Freeman. The Guardians can't be exactly sure what they will be getting with Jones. He put together an outstanding 2023 season with a .297 batting average, 20 home runs, and 20 stolen bases in 106 games. However, Jones was awful in 2024, hitting only .227 with three homers and five steals with the Rockies. Jones has a strong arm in the outfield, but his defense isn't exactly stellar right now. It's worth noting that Jones began his career in Cleveland, so now it appears they want him back after two seasons in Colorado.
Colorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. This appears to be a routine rest day for the young slugger who has been in a slump at the plate lately. Jones is hitting .209 with three home runs and 25 RBI in 74 games this season. Sam Hilliard will cover left field and bat sixth while Jordan Beck takes over right field against right-hander Michael McGreevy. Hilliard could be a low-end streaming option as he's posted a .254 batting average with nine long balls this season.
Colorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones is absent from Tuesday's starting lineup against the Detroit Tigers. It's a bit odd to see Jones sitting out against a right-handed starting pitcher. It has been a disappointing year for Jones who is hitting .212 with three home runs in 65 games this season. It's worth noting that Jones has picked it up with the bat over the last few weeks. This appears to be a routine rest day, so Jones should be back in the lineup after this game. Jordan Beck will cover right field and bat ninth against right-hander Keider Montero. Beck has a ton of potential, but he's off to a slow start at the plate during his rookie season.
The Colorado Rockies will have outfielder Nolan Jones in Tuesday's lineup against the Washington Nationals, his first appearance in the big leagues since July 11. Jones will play left field and will bat seventh in the order against Nationals rookie left-hander DJ Herz. He is hitting .202/.311/.313 with three homers, 14 RBI, 19 runs scored with three stolen bases in 49 games. Jones' .623 OPS is a staggering .308 lower than last season, as he has been plagued with a lower-back strain, resulting in two trips to the injured list. Fantasy managers still holding onto Jones hope he can generate enough production to merit keeping him on their rosters, but many have tossed Jones aside as one of the season's biggest fantasy busts.
Colorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones (back) has been activated off the 10-day injured list on Sunday. Jones appears to be ready to play again after missing a month of action due to a lower back strain. The young slugger is having a disappointing 2024 campaign after hitting .297 with 20 homers last season in Colorado. Now, Jones is barely hitting .200 with only three long balls and 14 RBI in 49 games this season. Despite that, Jones should still get regular playing time down the stretch on this rebuilding Rockies roster. In a corresponding move, infielder/outfielder Hunter Goodman has been optioned to Triple-A with Jones being activated.
Colorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones (back, personal) took a brief pause from his minor-league rehab assignment this week for the birth of his child, but he returned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday and walked in his only plate appearance after coming off the bench. During his rehab assignment, Jones has gone 5-for-16 with two home runs in six games and could be nearing his return to the big-league roster. Although it's been a terrible season for the 26-year-old left-handed hitter, he should return to a regular role in the Rockies' outfield to close out the year. Jones has hit just .202/.311/.313 with three homers and 14 RBI in 49 games in 2024, but there's still plenty of power/speed intrigue after he had a 20-20 season in his first year in Colorado in 2023.
Colorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones (back) joined Single-A Fresno recently after a few days of strengthening at the team's spring training complex in Scottsdale, Ariz. Jones has gone 5-for-16 with two home runs over his first four games with Fresno. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger started his minor-league rehab assignment last Tuesday and went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer while serving as the designated hitter. It's good to see him playing in games again, but there's still no timetable for his return from a strained lower back. As long as he doesn't suffer a setback, though, it seems likely that he'll be back with the Rockies at some point this week. 2024 has been a lost season for the former second-round pick of the Cleveland Guardians in 2016, but don't forget that Jones had 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in 106 games for the Rockies in 2023.
Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black said prior to Tuesday's game against the visiting Boston Red Sox that the club doesn't have "a total game plan" for outfielder Nolan Jones (back), who was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 13. "He's feeling better, that's the main thing," Black said. "With Nolan, it starts with that. If he gets through the next couple of days, we'll probably have a little bit more of a plan." It's the second time this year Jones has been on the shelf with a strained lower back, so the Rockies are likely going to be more inclined to take a cautious approach this time around. The 26-year-old left fielder enjoyed a breakout season in 2023, but he's slashing a dreadful .202/.311/.313 with three home runs, 14 RBI, 19 runs scored, and three stolen bases over 163 at-bats in 2024 and is no longer a must-stash fantasy asset.
Colorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones (back) participated in live batting practice on Friday, according to Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com. Jones still does not have a timetable for his potential return, but it is promising that he will not face any setbacks yet. The 26-year-old hit the injured list on July 13 with a back strain. Jones has had a disappointing season as he holds a poor .202/.311/.313 slash line with just three home runs, 14 RBI, and a 25:63 BB:K ratio across 49 games. Last summer, he posted an excellent .297/.389/.542 line with 20 home runs and 20 swiped bags. Jones is still worth a look in standard leagues once he returns, as he could provide a strong combination of power and speed down the stretch run despite his struggles in the first half.
Nolan Jones
• LF
•
Guardians
