The Rockies introduced this night that nook infielder/outfielder Nolan Jones has been optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. Reliever Noah Davis was additionally optioned, whereas non-roster invitees Logan Allen, Jeff Criswell, Braxton Fulford and Karl Kauffmann have been all reassigned to minor league camp.
Jones’ demotion comes as a little bit of a shock. Colorado acquired the 24-year-old from the Guardians at first of the offseason, sending infield prospect Juan Brito the opposite manner. It was a uncommon swap of pretty nicely regarded younger gamers, with Colorado taking the shot on an influence hitter nearer to the majors whereas Cleveland added an up-the-middle expertise with glorious numbers in Low-A. Jones entered camp with what gave the impression to be a robust likelihood to crack the Opening Day workforce in Colorado, a chance that may not have been afforded on a deeper Guardians’ roster.
That turned significantly true as soon as the Rox misplaced beginning second baseman Brendan Rodgers to what may very well be a season-ending shoulder dislocation. That opened the potential for third baseman Ryan McMahon shifting again to the keystone. Colorado normal supervisor Invoice Schmidt declared that the plan a pair weeks in the past. The membership later added Mike Moustakas to the group on a non-roster pact. Moustakas performed a good quantity of second base between 2019-20 however has solely logged 10 2/3 innings there over the previous two seasons. Thomas Harding of MLB.com tweeted shortly after the signing that the Rockies seen Moustakas solely as a nook infield/designated hitter possibility.
With McMahon probably headed to second, third base turned a place for grabs. Jones, Elehuris Montero and non-roster veterans Moustakas and Harold Castro appeared the highest candidates. Jones is now out of the combo to begin the season, due at the very least partially to a disappointing spring efficiency. The left-handed hitter hit .186/.250/.233 in exhibition play, hanging out 20 instances in 48 plate appearances. Moustakas, Montero and Castro have all gotten off to higher begins this spring.
A former second-round choose, Jones appeared amongst Baseball America’s high 100 prospects every season from 2019-21. He has generated intrigue for enormous stroll tallies and massive energy potential in his 6’4″ body however lofty strikeout totals have been the largest concern. Jones routinely struck out in additional than 1 / 4 of his plate appearances climbing the minor league ladder, together with a 30% price in Triple-A in 2021. To his credit score, he trimmed that to 25.8% with a top quality .276/.368/.463 line over 55 video games there final yr. That earned him a 28-game MLB look, through which he posted a .244/.309/.372 slash with 31 punchouts and eight walks in 94 plate appearances.
Jones will begin the yr with the Isotopes and will profit from one of the crucial favorable offensive environments in professional ball. It wouldn’t be a shock to see him earn a recall to make his workforce debut earlier than too lengthy. Within the interim, his possibility appears to bode nicely for Moustakas’ and Castro’s probabilities of cracking the roster out of camp.
The rest of the nook spots needs to be spoken for if everybody’s wholesome. The Rockies have agreed to phrases with Jurickson Profar to play left discipline, thereby pushing Kris Bryant to proper. First baseman C.J. Cron has handled some again discomfort however knowledgeable reporters as we speak he expects to be prepared for Opening Day (by way of Harding). The identical is true for nook outfielder/DH Charlie Blackmon, who has additionally been slowed by a again drawback however expects to take part in batting apply this night (relayed by Danielle Allentuck of the Denver Gazette).
