The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Jones’ HR helps carry Captains
The buzz is building for Captains third baseman Nolan Jones.
Jones, the Indians’ secondround pick in the 2016 draft out of high school in his native eastern Pennsylvania, is turning heads in his third pro season.
On July 19 at Classic Park, Jones smacked the most audacious of his team’s 11 hits in an 8-1 victory over the Clinton (Iowa) LumberKings.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning and the Captains clinging to a 2-1 lead, Jones came to the plate for his third atbat against Clinton starter and eventual loser Ryne Inman (3-6, 5.07 ERA).
Lake County first baseman Jose Vicente was on third base after lashing a two-out double and moving up on a passed ball.
Jones, a left-handed batter, said he had seen plenty of off-speed pitches in two previous plate appearances against Inman, a righthander whose fastball sits in the low 90s.
Inman went curve-fastball-curve-curve-fastball to get to a 3-2 count. Jones had an idea what to expect on the payoff pitch.
“I was waiting on something off-speed,” Jones said.
Inman obliged with a 76 mph curve.
“The pitch was middle-away. I crushed it,” Jones said of the towering, opposite-field blast that easily cleared the wall in leftcenter field. The ball sailed over the grass embankment beyond the wall and then bounced high off the concrete walk on its way to a resting place in the kids play area.
The two-run home run, Jones’ 13th on the season, extended the Captains’ lead to 4-1. That was more than enough breathing room for Lake County starter and
winner Kirk McCarty (3-9, 4.67 ERA) and the two relievers who combined on a five-hitter.
In 79 games, Jones is batting a solid .279 with 43 RBI and a team-high 43 runs scored. His on-base percentage of .387, combined with team-high .443 slugging percentage and teamhigh .830 OPS (on-base plus slugging), reflect the consistency of Jones’ production
at the plate since the beginning of the season.
Captains manager Luke Carlin is working with Jones for a second straight season. They were together last year at short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley, where Jones batted .317 with four home runs and 33 RBI in 62 games
“It’s been exciting to watch Nolan’s development. He’s already a professional
hitter,” Carlin said.
From his vantage point in the third base coaching box, Carlin wasn’t surprised when Jones went deep the other way in the bottom of the fifth inning.
“The oppo-gap (opposite field) is his sweet spot,” Carlin said. “To hit a curveball like that on a 3-2 count is impressive at any level. He nuked it.”
Jones said he always has had the knack for using the entire field.
“I can definitely pull the ball, but I’m just as confident in my ability to drive the ball to the opposite side of the field,” he said.
The media guides of the Indians and Captains list the 20-year-old Jones at 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds. That’s a bit shy on both counts.
“More like 6-5 and 225 pounds, at least,” he said, smiling.
The size that gives Jones the appearance of a natural power hitter doesn’t necessarily fit the mold defensively at third base. In fact, Jones had issues with the glove last season at Mahoning Valley and earlier this season with the Captains. He has a teamhigh 17 errors.
But with guidance from Indians minor-league defensive coordinator John McDonald and infield special
assistant Travis Fryman, Jones’ play at third base has improved markedly over the course of the 2018 season.
McDonald and Fryman, both former Indians players, spent a combined 29 seasons in the big leagues. Fryman won the American League Gold Glove award at third base in 2000 while playing for the Indians. He is with the Captains for the three-game series against Clinton.
“Offensively, the gifts Nolan has are obvious,” Fryman said. “His defense is a work in progress, which in not uncommon for younger players. He has a lot of work ahead of him, but our goal is to make him a majorleague third baseman.”
Carlin and Fryman cited comparisons being made between Jones and former Indians slugger Jim Thome at similarly early stages of their careers. Thome will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 29.
Jones got plenty of help in propelling the Captains to a victory that evened the series at one game apiece.
Second baseman Miguel Eladio was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Center fielder Gabriej Mejia singled in two runs in the bottom of the eighth and raised his batting average to .320.