Jhonkensy Noel

Jhonkensy Noel
(Big Christmas, La Belleza)

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 3", Weight 250 lb.

Debut June 26, 2024

Born June 15, 2001 in San Pedro de Macorís, San Pedro de Macorís D.R.

Biographical Information[edit]

OF/1B Jhonjensy Noel was signed by the Cleveland Indians as an international amateur free agent on July 15, 2017. A huge man at 6'3", 250 lb., he began his pro career in 2018 with the DSL Indians, batting .260 in 64 games, with 10 homers, a high total for the Dominican Summer League. In 2019, he moved over to the U.S., spending the season with the AZL Indians Blue. He continued to do well, batting .287/.349/.455 in 47 games. However, he then lost a year of development when the minor leagues were shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

In 2021, he resumed his career with the Lynchburg Hillcats of the Low-A East but was injured in late June, went on a brief rehabilitation assignment with the ACL Indians, then in mid-August was promoted to the Lake County Captains to finish the season. In all, he appeared in 70 games, and hit a scorching .340/.390/.615, including a .393 batting average in 38 games at Lynchburg. He also hit 19 homers and drove in 66 runs. He was named the top prospect in the Low-A east (soon to be renamed the Carolina League) after the season and an Indians organizational All-Star. In 2022, he was with three teams again, starting off with Lake County in the Midwest League, then being promoted to the Akron Rubber Ducks of the Eastern League, before getting a quick four-game look with the Columbus Clippers of the AAA International League. He batted .229/.310/.489 in 133 games, his batting average falling noticeably, but not his power as he banged 26 doubles and 32 homers. He also scored 80 runs and drive in 84. He was named to the American League team for the 2022 Futures Game and an organizational All-Star for the now Cleveland Guardians.

In 2023, he spent a full season with Columbus, hitting .220/.303/.420, with 23 doubles, 27 homers, 81 runs and 85 RBIs in 138 games. The power was there, but his 145 strikeouts were an issue. He thus returned to Columbus at the start of 2024 and after 65 games had shown the improvement the Guardians were looking for as he was hitting .295 and had already launched 18 homers. He was called up to Cleveland to make his debut on June 26th, joining the team with the best record in the majors at the time. In his debut that day, he faced the Baltimore Orioles, another American League powerhouse team, playing first base and batting sixth. His first big league at-bat was a memorable one, as he homered off Grayson Rodriguez with two outs in the 2nd inning, the ball traveling some 413 feet to center field at Camden Yards. That came after he had swung wildly on Rodriguez's previous pitch, losing control of his bat as it almost knocked down third base coach Rouglas Odor. he was the fourth player in Cleveland history to hit a homer in his maiden at-bat, and the first since Kevin Kouzmanoff, who had hit a grand slam no less, in 2006. The other two were Jay Bell in 1986 and Hall of Famer Earl Averill in 1929. He went 1 for 4 with a pair of strikeouts in the Guardians' 4-2 loss. He played 67 games for Cleveland, hitting .218 but with 13 homers and 28 RBIs, for an OPS+ of 115. He started most of the early games played by the Guardians in the postseason but with little success. His signature moment came in Game 3 of the ALCS on October 17th when he came on as a pinch-hitter with two outs in the 9th, with Lane Thomas on second and Cleveland trailing, 5-3. He hit a gigantic homer off closer Luke Walker, deep into left field, to tie the game and force extra innings, after which another homer, by David Fry, won the game in the 10th inning.

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