The Cleveland Guardians need as much help as they can get right now. Their offense needs much more firepower, and they’re not going to make many — if any — big moves in the offseason.
The Guardians’ best hopes of improvement come from within. They already have more than enough talent in the building, so it’s now all about maximizing it.
With that in mind, they will definitely need to see some development from Jhonkensy Noel. He was one of the most disappointing players on the team last season, and he’s now entering a make-or-break campaign.
As reported by team insider Paul Hoynes, the Guardians still have high hopes and expectations for him.
“OF Jhonkensy Noel: He’s another big right-handed hitter. Pitchers have muted his power since his debut in 2024. He’s out of options,” Hoynes wrote.
Noel has already shown glimpses of what he’s capable of when he’s at his best. His postseason heroics two years ago made him a fan favorite and gave the team hope about finding a hard-hitting slugger for their outfield.
That wasn’t the case at all last season. He was demoted back to the minors, and while he got the nod again later in the season, it still wasn’t enough.
Noel has all the physical tools to be a menace, and he wouldn’t be the first star to struggle before breaking out. That being said, this team has more than enough talent in the outfield to continue giving him many more opportunities.
If he doesn’t get it together in 2026, he might not get it together at all, at least with the Guardians organization.
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