Nolan Jones was seen as part of the Cleveland Guardians’ plans for this season heading into spring training. In their desire to improve their lineup from within, it was hoped that he could rediscover the offensive production he had shown earlier in his career.
However, after hitting just five home runs in 136 games for Cleveland in 2025, that was a long shot, and it did not pay off. After re-signing with Cleveland during the offseason, Jones did not make the Opening Day roster, and he has been playing the entire 2026 campaign at Triple-A.
At 28 years old, his demotion could have been a setback that proved too difficult to overcome. Instead, Jones has risen to the challenge and is keeping his major league dreams alive.
The forgotten Guardians outfielder is making a loud statement in Triple-A right now, with a long on-base streak that is highlighting his potential.
“Cleveland Guardians OF Nolan Jones extended his on-base streak to 19 straight games tonight collecting 4 hits (4-5 R 2B) for Columbus including his 7th double of the season in the team’s win over Toledo,” Guardians Prospective posted.
Cleveland #Guardians OF Nolan Jones extended his on-base streak to 19 straight games tonight collecting 4 hits (4-5 R 2B) for Columbus including his 7th double of the season in the team's win over Toledo.
Season:
AVG .269
OBP .383
SLG .419
OPS .802#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/PTfEXpzDKy— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) May 29, 2026
His on-base streak dates back to May 3. He has 18 hits and 12 walks during that span.
For the season, Jones has a slash line of .269/.383/.419, giving him an OPS of .802 in 46 games. He has 45 hits with six home runs and 26 RBIs.
It is a noteworthy performance considering the crossroads Jones was facing. A second-round pick by Cleveland in the 2016 MLB Draft out of high school, he did not make his major league debut until 2022. After one season with the Guardians, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies for infield prospect Juan Brito.
Playing home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field, Jones hit 20 home runs with 20 stolen bases and 22 doubles in 106 appearances in 2023 and looked to be on his way to a productive MLB career. However, the following season, multiple back strains limited him to 79 games.
He was traded back to Cleveland for Tyler Freeman and was a regular in the Guardians outfield last season. But he batted just .211 with an OPS of .600, which opened up opportunities for other players this spring.
Now, with rookie Chase DeLauter and Angel Martinez excelling alongside Steven Kwan, there is no need for Jones in Cleveland right now, but if an opening does arise, he looks to be worthy of consideration.
NEXT: Guardians Are Riding Something Special Into This Red Sox Showdown
