Nolan Jones

American baseball player (born 1998)

Baseball player

Nolan Jones
Jones during the 2019 All-Star Futures Game
Colorado Rockies – No. 22
Infielder / Outfielder
Born: (1998-05-07) May 7, 1998 (age 25) Langhorne, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Bats: Left Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 8, 2022, for the Cleveland Guardians
MLB statistics (through April 12, 2024)
Batting average	.275
Home runs	23
Runs batted in	81

Teams
Cleveland Guardians (2022) Colorado Rockies (2023–present)

Nolan Allen Jones (born May 7, 1998) is an American professional baseball infielder and outfielder for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022 with the Cleveland Guardians.

Amateur career

Jones attended Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Cornwells Heights, Bensalem, Pennsylvania. He played shortstop in high school. Jones hit a home run in his final high school at-bat. ^[1] He committed to the University of Virginia to play college baseball.^[2]

Professional career

Cleveland Indians/Guardians

Jones was considered a top prospect for the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6] The Cleveland Indians selected Jones in the second round of the draft.^[7] On July 1, Jones signed with the Indians for a $2.25 million signing bonus.^[8]

Jones struck out swinging on his first career at-bat for the Arizona League Indians. He finished his first professional season with a .257 batting average over 109 at bats.^[9] Jones spent 2017 with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers where he batted .317 with four home runs, 33 RBIs, and 18 doubles over 62 games.^[10] He began the 2018 season with the Lake County Captains before being promoted to the Lynchburg Hillcats, slashing a combined .283/.405/.466 with 19 home runs and 66 RBIs over 120 games between both teams.^[11]

Jones returned to Lynchburg to begin 2019 and was promoted to the Akron RubberDucks during the season.^[12] He was named to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.^[13] Over 126 games between both teams, he slashed .272/.409/.442 with 15 home runs and 63 RBIs.^[14] He led the minor leagues in walks with 96.^[15] He was also selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Mesa Solar Sox following the season.^[16] However, he left the league early after aggravating a previous hand injury.^[17] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the season.^[18] Cleveland selected Jones' contract on November 20, 2020.^[19] Jones spent the 2021 season with the Columbus Clippers with whom he slashed .238/.356/.431 with 13 home runs, 48 RBIs, and 25 doubles over 99 games.^[20]^[21]

The Guardians recalled Jones from the minor leagues on July 8, 2022.^[22] He made his major league debut that same day against the Kansas City Royals. In the game, Jones collected his first career hit, an RBI double off of Royals starter Brady Singer.^[23] The next day, Jones hit his first career home run, a 450 foot shot off of Jackson Kowar.^[24]

Colorado Rockies

On November 15, 2022, Jones was traded to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Juan Brito.^[25] Jones was optioned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes to begin the 2023 season.^[26] In 106 games for Colorado, he batted .297/.389/.542 with new career–highs in home runs (20), RBI (62), and stolen bases (20).^[27] He placed fourth in the 2023 National League Rookie of the Year balloting.^[28]

Personal

His brother, Peyton Jones, played Division I ice hockey for four years at Penn State and was signed by the Colorado Eagles of the AHL.^[29] He is currently a goaltender for the Iowa Heartlanders of the ECHL.^[30]

References

^ Grotz, Bob. "BASEBALL:Holy Ghost Prep's Jones leaves lasting mark on area fans - Bucks Sports - BucksLocalNews.com".
^ "Nolan Jones - Player Profile". Perfect Game USA. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
^ "Holy Ghost Prep's Nolan Jones a potential first-round pick in MLB Draft". June 8, 2016.
^ "For Nolan Jones, strength has led to a surge on MLB draft boards".
^ "Holy Ghost Prep SS Nolan Jones A Possible First-Round Selection". June 6, 2016.
^ "Holy Ghost Prep's Jones could have big decision to make".
^ "MLB DRAFT: Langhorne's Nolan Jones selected by Cleveland Indians in MLB Draft (VIDEO)".
^ "MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: Langhorne's Nolan Jones signs with Cleveland".
^ "Power Will be Key to Nolan Jones' Development".
^ "The Emergence of Nolan Jones".
^ "The Road to the Show™: Nolan Jones".
^ "Tribe to promote Jones to Double-A Akron".
^ Jim Callis (June 28, 2019). "Here are the 2019 Futures Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
^ "Nolan Jones Adds Versatility as He Nears Cleveland".
^ "2019 Register Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. January 1, 1970. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
^ Norris, Josh (August 28, 2019). "2019 Arizona Fall League Rosters Announced". Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
^ "Cleveland Indians No. 1 prospect Nolan Jones removed from Arizona Fall League after aggravating previous hand injury". October 22, 2019.
^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
^ Franco, Anthony (November 20, 2020). "Indians Select Five Players To 40-Man Roster". MLB Trade Rumors.
^ "The 2022 season will be critical for Nolan Jones: 40-man roster review podcast". December 9, 2021.
^ "Cleveland Indians prospect Nolan Jones evaluates what he describes as a humbling season".
^ McDonald, Darragh (July 8, 2022). "Guardians Promote Nolan Jones, Designate Sandy Leon". MLB Trade Rumors.
^ "WATCH: Nolan Jones Hits RBI Double For First Major League Hit". si.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
^ "Top Guardians prospect hits massive 450 foot bomb for first MLB home run". amp.thecomeback.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
^ "Guardians trade Nolan Jones, a former top prospect, to Colorado for INF Juan Brito". November 16, 2022.
^ "Rockies' Nolan Jones: Opening year at Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
^ "Nolan Jones' Rolex". denvergazette.com. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
^ "Here are the Rookie of the Year vote totals". MLB.com. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
^ "EAGLES SIGN NETMINDER OUT OF PENN STATE". May 4, 2020.
^ "HEARTLANDERS INK QUARTET OF PLAYERS". June 27, 2023.