All eyes are on a Guardians veteran approaching a critical 2026 campaign that could determine his role — and his career trajectory.NL
When the Guardians reacquired Nolan Jones from the Rockies ahead of spring training last year, it felt like a full-circle moment. Jones, once a promising infield prospect in Cleveland’s system, had shown flashes during a brief stint with the big-league club in 2022. But the Guardians opted to move him, trading him to Colorado for infield prospect Juan Brito-a classic sell-high move on a player who was still figuring things out.
Fast forward to now, and Jones’ journey has been anything but linear. After a breakout 2023 season in Colorado-where he slashed .297 with 20 homers and looked like he was finally tapping into his potential-things unraveled quickly. A rough 2024 campaign raised red flags, and another underwhelming season in 2025 has his future in Cleveland hanging in the balance.
The Guardians are giving Jones another shot-but the pressure is on
Jones’ 2025 numbers tell the story: a .211/.296/.304 slash line, just five home runs, and 34 RBI. By OPS+, he was 32% below league average. That’s a steep drop-off for a player who was once viewed as a middle-of-the-order bat in the making.
Despite the struggles, the Guardians didn’t cut bait. They tendered him a $2 million contract for 2026, signaling that they still see something worth investing in.
But let’s be clear: this isn’t a guarantee of playing time. It’s a prove-it year, plain and simple.
The outfield picture in Cleveland is getting crowded-and competitive. Will Brennan and Lane Thomas are no longer in the mix, but George Valera and Chase DeLauter are knocking on the door.
Both saw action late last season, with DeLauter even making his MLB debut in the postseason. C.J.
Kayfus, primarily a first baseman, also offers some flexibility in right field.
Jones led the team with 101 appearances in right field last season, but an oblique strain sidelined him down the stretch. That opened the door for Valera to see more time, and DeLauter’s debut only added to the intrigue.
There’s still upside-but it has to translate
Dig into the advanced metrics, and there’s a glimmer of hope. Jones finished last season in the 70th percentile in hard-hit rate and 66th percentile in average exit velocity.
That tells us the raw tools are still there-he’s making solid contact when he connects. The problem is, those flashes haven’t turned into consistent production.
We saw a glimpse of what he can be late in August when he went yard in back-to-back games against the Rays and Mariners. But that hot streak fizzled fast-he hit just .170 with no home runs over the next 19 games before landing on the injured list.
Meanwhile, Valera and DeLauter are younger, hungrier, and still climbing. They’re in the exciting “what could they be?”
phase of their careers. Jones, on the other hand, is in the “what happened?”
phase. And after two straight disappointing seasons, he’s running out of time to change the narrative.
Spring training will be a defining stretch
Jones will get his opportunities this spring. Even if the Guardians bring in outside competition, he’ll have every chance to earn a spot.
But the leash is shorter now. The Guardians are no longer waiting on potential-they need performance.
If Jones can tap back into the form he showed in 2023, he could still be a valuable piece in Cleveland’s outfield puzzle. But if the struggles continue, the Guardians have other options ready to step in.
This spring won’t just be about making the roster for Nolan Jones-it could be about keeping his place in the organization. The tools are still there. The question is whether he can finally put them together before the clock runs out.
