The Guardians introduced that outfielder Nolan Jones has been positioned on the 10-day injured checklist attributable to a proper indirect pressure. Outfielder Petey Halpin was referred to as up from Triple-A Columbus within the corresponding transfer, and no different transaction was required since Halpin was already on the 40-man roster.
Jones got here off the bench as a late-game sub within the Guardians’ 6-2 win over the Twins yesterday, however was changed by a pinch-hitter when it was his flip at bat. The timing of the damage will at the very least finish Jones’ common season, and can in all probability sideline him for any October motion if Cleveland could make the playoffs.
It already didn’t appear too possible 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 commerce simply previous to Opening Day, Jones has hit simply .211/.296/.304 over 403 plate appearances with the Guards this season. Seemingly a breakout rookie with Colorado in 2023, Jones has fallen again to earth since a .218/.307/.311 slash line in a fair 700 PA because the begin of the 2024 marketing campaign.
Regardless of these numbers, Jones was nonetheless getting semi-regular enjoying time within the Guardians’ lineup, principally working in a timeshare capability in heart and proper area. Since Steven Kwan is the one cornerstone piece of Cleveland’s ever-shifting outfield, the Guards can juggle any variety of gamers round to choose up at-bats over the season’s ultimate 9 video games. Dropping Jones does take away one much less choice for what shall be a busy day for the roster, because the Guardians play a doubleheader in opposition to Minnesota.
As such, the door might be open for Halpin to obtain the primary Main League enjoying time of his professional profession. A 3rd-round decide for Cleveland within the 2020 draft, Halpin was added to the 40-man roster final November prematurely of the Rule 5 Draft. Halpin was promoted to Triple-A for the primary time this yr, and has hit .249/.321/.414 over 553 PA in Columbus, with 14 homers and 15 steals (in 18 makes an attempt).
Baseball America ranks Halpin twenty fourth on their checklist of the highest 30 Guardians prospects, describing him as at the very least a “strong fourth outfielder” kind attributable to his velocity and wonderful protection. It stays to be seen whether or not he can hit sufficient to realize any sort of common enjoying time within the bigs, as Halpin hasn’t proven a lot within the energy division. Referred to as a contact hitter, his strikeout price ballooned to twenty-eight.2% in Columbus, so Halpin will should be way more selective if he’s to have any probability in opposition to Main League pitchers.
