The Guardians announced that outfielder Nolan Jones has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right oblique strain. Outfielder Petey Halpin was called up from Triple-A Columbus in the corresponding move, and no other transaction was required since Halpin was already on the 40-man roster.
Jones came off the bench as a late-game sub in the Guardians’ 6-2 win over the Twins yesterday, but was replaced by a pinch-hitter when it was his turn at bat. The timing of the injury will at least end Jones’ regular season, and will probably sideline him for any October action if Cleveland can make the playoffs.
It already didn’t seem too likely that Jones would make a postseason roster anyway, given how he has struggled in his return to Cleveland. Re-acquired from the Rockies in a trade just prior to Opening Day, Jones has hit just .211/.296/.304 over 403 plate appearances with the Guards this season. Seemingly a breakout rookie with Colorado in 2023, Jones has fallen back to earth since a .218/.307/.311 slash line in an even 700 PA since the start of the 2024 campaign.
Despite these numbers, Jones was still getting semi-regular playing time in the Guardians’ lineup, mostly working in a timeshare capacity in center and right field. Since Steven Kwan is the only cornerstone piece of Cleveland’s ever-shifting outfield, the Guards can juggle any number of players around to pick up at-bats over the season’s final nine games. Losing Jones does remove one less option for what will be a busy day for the roster, as the Guardians play a doubleheader against Minnesota.
As such, the door could be open for Halpin to receive the first Major League playing time of his pro career. A third-round pick for Cleveland in the 2020 draft, Halpin was added to the 40-man roster last November in advance of the Rule 5 Draft. Halpin was promoted to Triple-A for the first time this year, and has hit .249/.321/.414 over 553 PA in Columbus, with 14 homers and 15 steals (in 18 attempts).
Baseball America ranks Halpin 24th on their list of the top 30 Guardians prospects, describing him as at least a “solid fourth outfielder” type due to his speed and excellent defense. It remains to be seen whether he can hit enough to gain any kind of regular playing time in the bigs, as Halpin hasn’t shown much in the power department. Known as a contact hitter, his strikeout rate ballooned to 28.2% in Columbus, so Halpin will need to be much more selective if he is to have any chance against Major League pitchers.
Finally Jones is gone. Along with his negative WAR & 113 Ks.
Here’s to hoping Halpin can salvage some of that 2020 draft class. If he could provide any consistency getting on base, he could slide easily into a CF platoon with Martinez.
IF Halpin can provide solid defense in CF and some RF, this is a plus for Cleveland…whether he hits or not.
Jones and Angel Martinez have combined for -7 DRS in center.
Cleveland RFs have combined for -14 DRS.
I like Kahlil Watson better — or at least his more powerful bat, it’s so hard to get a solid read on minors defense so I can’t attest to that. But you go Petey!
Halpin was already on the 40-man roster.
I prefer just “Pete”
How do you feel about Ralphy? The y suffix denotes a whiff of familiarity or intimacy of which this Cleveland organization has aplenty but it can come off like too much baby talk too. And why not, after all these guys chase little white balls around on dirt and grass for our amusement. Wee!
They need to let Big Christmas play and see if that monster power in the minors shows up in the Majors
Yeah I get that but since Angel and Schneemann can already play CF decently I’d still opt for the better bat. 129 wRC+ over 95. There’s slack on this 40 to make a move and if we want to keep Watson which I hope we do we have to add him this December anyway. I’d swap him on the 40 with Halpin if it came to either or. I mean, I think I would predicated on his CF defense being okay. I think it is, he’s fast and a great athlete and his star looks like it’s rising.
No big deal though, I imagine he’s just in there as a defensive replacement. Don’t ABs away from George!
Of course Vogt starts him right away and sits the hot bat. Oh well, he hasn’t made any bad moves lately …
Sounds like a 1930s baseball player name