Vintage Nolan Jones, the one we saw in 2023 with the Colorado Rockies, is a comfortably above-average hitter.
That version can brag about having an OPS over .900, with 20-homer power and the ability to swipe 20 bags and get lots of walks.
Yes, he will strike out a lot anyway, but he can do damage if the Cleveland Guardians, his current employer, are patient with him.
On Tuesday, he drove in the only run of the game with a bases-loaded walk.
Before that, he was having an amazing game.
Between the consistent hard contact and the patience at the plate, you could very well say he is about to go on a tear.
“Nolan Jones today: AB 1: 107.6 mph groundout (.550 xBA), AB 2: 104.1 mph lineout (.760 xBA), AB 3: 9-pitch walk, AB 4: 6-pitch walkoff walk. I’m telling you, he’s about to break out,” Guardians of the Land posted on X.
Nolan Jones today:
AB 1: 107.6 mph groundout (.550 xBA)
AB 2: 104.1 mph lineout (.760 xBA)
AB 3: 9-pitch walk
AB 4: 6-pitch walkoff walkI'm telling you, he's about to break out.
— Guardians of The Land (@OurCLEGuardians) April 8, 2025
These things are obviously impossible to predict, but there are often signs.
When a player like Jones starts achieving the things he wants to achieve at the plate, you can sense that a breakout is coming.
In his case, he is well on his way: he is hitting the ball hard and seeing lots of pitches.
We will probably see a nice run from him very soon.
He is still struggling in the 2025 overall, though, hitting .125 with a .458 OPS.
However, his hard-hit rate (percentage of batted balls at 95 mph or higher) is an incredible 64.3, in the 97th percentile.
If he can get his 35.7 percent strikeout rate to come down a bit, he’ll probably resemble the player who posted a .931 OPS in 2023 and not the one who slumped to a .641 mark last year between injuries and slumps.
NEXT: Guardians Prospect Is Having Impressive Power Surge
