The Unlikely Rise Of Jhonkensy Noel

The Cleveland Guardians have been having an offensive resurgence this season. Headliners like Jose Ramirez, Josh Naylor, and Steven Kwan immediately come to mind. However, one player in Cleveland’s lineup who should be getting more attention is mid-season call-up Jhonkensy Noel. Since being called up, the 22-year-old has taken the league by storm and helped make Cleveland’s offense much more dangerous. Jhonkensy Noel’s surprising success deserves much more attention.

Noel Wasn’t A Highly Coveted Prospect

Since signing with Cleveland as an international free agent in 2017, Jhonkensy Noel was never a highly coveted prospect. Noel never cracked MLB’s top 100 prospects list. The highest he ever ranked in the Guardians farm system was 13^th in 2022. He then dropped to 20^th in 2023 and was ranked 26^th heading into this season. He also wasn’t even supposed to be a part of Cleveland’s plans in 2024. While the Guardians invited him to Spring Training, he was cut early in camp and sent back to Triple-A Columbus.

Jhonkensy Noel Offensive Success Has Been A Pleasant Surprise

On June 26^th, the Cleveland Guardians called up the 22-year-old versatile player to the show. He was swapping spots with 14th-ranked prospect Jonathan Rodriguez. During his debut against the Baltimore Orioles, Jhonkensy Noel became just the third hitter in franchise history to homer in their first at-bat. After homering in his debut, the young outfielder hasn’t looked back.

Since being called up, Jhonkensy Noel has put up a slash line of .254/.326/.602 with 12 homers, 23 RBI, and a .928 OPS. Despite being in the big leagues for just two months, manager Stephen Vogt has even had him batting him in the middle of Cleveland’s lineup. The only hitters above him have been Steven Kwan, Lane Thomas, Jose Ramirez, David Fry, and Josh Naylor. Pretty good for a player who wasn’t supposed to be a part of the big club this year.

Noel’s Success Has Made Cleveland’s Offense More Dangerous

Jhonkensy Noel’s power from the right side has helped make Cleveland’s offense much more explosive. With Noel becoming a big offensive threat, it has also taken the pressure off Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor. In the past, the Guardians relied on those two guys to carry their offense. With the young outfielder showing he can be a force in the lineup, this has allowed the Guardians offense to thrive even more. Now that Cleveland has multiple capable offensive contributors, the Guardians have a better chance of having a deep postseason run. The last time Cleveland went to the World Series, that lineup also had multiple offensive threats.

A Deep Postseason Run Could Be Possible

Nobody expected Jhonkensy Noel to be a factor in the Cleveland Guardians lineup. However, it certainly has been a very welcoming surprise for them this season. Noel’s success has taken a lot of pressure off both Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor. This has allowed the Guardians offense to have even more success. If Noel continues to be successful at the big-league level, a deep postseason run is possible.

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