DENVER — Should left-handed-hitting Nolan Jones transfer his potential into Major League production, hockey’s loss will be the Rockies’ bonanza.
Jones’ opportunities in baseball resulted from a dream change.
Growing up near Philadelphia, Jones played mostly hockey. Days were spent competing at home with brother Peyton, who developed into a solid goaltender.
“I was actually a forward, which worked out perfectly because I could shoot on my brother all the time,” Nolan Jones said. “We had a cement basement. My parents wanted to finish it, but my brother and I were like, ‘This is our hockey rink. This is where the magic is gonna happen.’ We put our rollerblades on.
“And we had a batting cage in our backyard.”
As for Nolan Jones, thank goodness for the backyard batting cage.
“I suffered a concussion my sophomore year of high school, which, unfortunately, wasn’t my first,” he said. “I was asked to take some time away from hockey. I wasn’t able to play my sophomore season.
“But I really got to put my focus all into baseball. I’d really never worked out my entire life, but I got to work out for baseball, spending the winter practicing for baseball. I wish I’d have gotten the opportunity to choose which sport I would play. But it worked out, and I’m happy with it.”
It worked out well enough that Cleveland took Jones in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Holy Ghost Prep in Philadelphia. The high school shortstop soon became a well-regarded defensive third baseman. However, the Guardians have a star at that position in José Ramírez — hence, the need to add other positions.
Before earning his opportunity with Cleveland, Jones had to overcome a difficult 2021 during which his batting average dipped to.238, with 122 strikeouts in 407 plate appearances, in his first Triple-A season. Again, Jones turned a setback into a step forward.
“I wouldn’t say I was chasing any specific thing, such as launch angle,” said Jones, who entered the MLB Pipeline Rockies Top 30 at No. 11. “I was chasing my swing, trying to feel good. And it looked different every single day. It felt different every single day. I think 2020 [with no Minor League ball due to the COVID-19 pandemic] played a part in that, not having the at-bats. I was able to improve and be a good player in 2022.”
Jones broke in with the Guardians last year, batting .244 with two home runs and 13 RBIs in 28 games. He spent most of the year at Triple-A Columbus,…
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