Nolan Jones DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

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.