Nolan Jones

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #19 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: The Rockies acquired Jones for infielder Juan Brito prior to the 40-man deadline this offseason. A 2016 second-round pick by the Guardians, Jones ranked as Cleveland's top prospect entering the 2020 season. Since then, his prospect status has collapsed as he struggled to hit for impact at Triple-A. After spending the past two seasons at Triple-A Columbus, Jones made his major league debut this summer and spent the majority of July and August with the big league club. He was demoted to Triple-A in late August and spent the rest of the season in the minor leagues.
  
  Scouting Report: Not long ago, Jones was ranked as one of the top prospects in the game, with many evaluators liking his combination of on-base ability and projectable power. While Jones' ability to get on-base remains, the questions around his ability to get to his raw power persist. His underlying exit velocity data is above major league average, but too often his best-struck balls were hit on the ground. He made adjustments coming into 2022 and showed improved bat-to-ball skills and more consistent well-hit airborne contact to his pull side. Jones is an average runner but not a basestealer. Defensively, Jones has taken to a move to the corner outfield after spending a majority of his early career at third base. He's a fringe-average defender with an above-average throwing arm.
  
  The Future: Jones' change of scenery and lack of major league depth in Colorado is a welcome change. He profiles best as a second-division regular with the ability to fill in at multiple positions.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 50. Run: 50. Field: 45. Arm: 55.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #6 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Jones was expected to break through to the big leagues sooner than later, but it didn’t quite come together for him in 2021. He started the season slowly with Triple-A Columbus before heating up in the summer. His season came to an early end when he suffered a high ankle sprain in late August that ultimately required surgery and cost him the final month of the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Jones has an easy lefthanded swing and uses the whole field to hit. He is a patient hitter and led all Cleveland minor leaguers in walks in both 2018 and 2019, though his patience also means that he often works in deep counts and will always strike out fairly often as a result. In 2021, his walk rate decreased and his strikeout rate increased as he struggled with offspeed stuff, chasing more often than he has in the past. He has plus raw power and can drive the ball to all fields. Jones has dealt with questions about his ability to stay at third base throughout his career. He has plus arm strength and has worked hard to improve his glovework and infield actions, especially when ranging to his right. He also saw some action in the outfield as the Guardians work to increase his versatility and potentially open an additional route to Cleveland, where Jose Ramirez is still entrenched at third base.
  
  The Future: Jones is coming off his worst offensive season as a professional, but he’ll still be 23 on Opening Day and has the tools to develop into a big league corner bat. He’ll likely make his MLB debut in 2022.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #2 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 60. Power: 60. Running: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Indians viewed Jones as one of the best prep hitters in the 2016 draft and were surprised he was still available at No. 55, when they made him their second selection. He lived up to that reputation in pro ball, showing off his offensive ability at every stop and earning a selection to the 2019 Futures Game in Cleveland. Jones finished the season in Double-A and spent 2020 at the alternate training site before finishing at the instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Jones has an easy lefthanded swing and uses the whole field. He is a patient hitter and led all Indians minor leaguers in walks in both 2018 and 2019, though his patience also means he gets into deep counts and strikes out. He has plus raw power and has started to turn that into in-game production. Jones profiles at third base but has long faced questions whether he will stay at the position. He has plus arm strength and has worked hard to improve his glove work, infield actions and agility, especially ranging to his right. The Indians like their position players to be versatile and have started working Jones into the outfield and first base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Jones still needs seasoning before he reaches Cleveland. He’s closing in on the majors, and his offensive ability will get him into the lineup sooner rather than later.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #1 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Jones was one of the players the Indians targeted with their first-round pick in 2016. The team instead selected Will Benson 14th overall and didn't expect to see Jones on the board when they next picked at No. 55. They didn't pass on Jones, one of the top prep hitters in his class, a second time. In 2017, he led the New York-Penn League in OPS (.912) as a 19-year old and has followed that up in full-season ball. He had a busy 2019, beginning the year with high Class A Lynchburg, where he played well enough in 79 games to be selected to the Carolina League all-star team. He also was selected for the Futures Game and the Arizona Fall League's Fall Stars Game, and in July was promoted to Double-A Akron. His season came to an end in October when he re-aggravated an injury to his right thumb and had surgery to repair a ligament.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Jones has an easy lefthanded swing and uses the whole field to hit. He is a patient hitter and has led all Indians' minor leaguers in walks in back-to-back seasons (89 in 2018, 96 in 2019), though his patience also means that he often works in deep counts and will always strike out fairly often as a result. He has plus raw power and has started to turn that into in-game production. Jones fits the third-base profile but throughout his career has dealt with questions about his ability to stay at the position. He has plus arm strength and has worked hard to improve his defense and infield actions, especially when ranging to the right. He's improved his footwork and agility, giving him a strong chance to stay at the hot corner. While the Indians generally work to add versatility to all their position players, Jones has played exclusively third base since he was in Rookie ball. Still, his athleticism and speed should play in the outfield if required.
  
  THE FUTURE: After his impressive 2019 and stint in the AFL, Jones is nearing the big leagues and will likely open 2020 at Triple-A Columbus. He's a potential impact bat who also stands out for his work ethic. His impending big league debut and Jose Ramirez's versatility gives the Indians options over the next couple of years, but even if Ramirez stays in the hot corner, Jones' offensive ability is such that the team will find a way to get them both into the lineup.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #2 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Jones was regarded as one of the best prep hitters in the 2016 draft class and while he slipped to the second round on draft day, he's lived up to his amateur reputation in pro ball. After leading the New York-Penn League in OPS (.912) in 2017, he followed that up with a strong year at two Class A stops in his first taste of full-season ball, ending the year in high Class A Lynchburg.
  
  Scouting Report: Jones has an easy lefthanded swing and uses the whole field to hit. He is a patient hitter who led all Indians minor leaguers in walks (89), though his patience also means plenty of deep counts. He will always strike out fairly often as a result. He has plus raw power and in 2018 began to turn what had previously been doubles pop into over-the-fence strength. Jones fits the third base profile, but he will need to improve defensively to stay at the hot corner. He has a plus arm but needs to improve his glove work and infield actions, especially when ranging to his right. If he did need to move, his athleticism and average speed should play in the outfield, though some believe he is destined for first base.
  
  The Future: Jones has established himself as the system's top position player prospect and has the potential to be an impact bat in the future. He's impressed the Indians with his all-around offensive game and work ethic. He likely will return to high Class A Lynchburg to begin 2019.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #4 prospect in 2018
  Jones was regarded as one of the best prep hitters in the 2016 draft class, but he slipped to the second round, where the Indians were happy to take him at No. 55 overall. After a very modest debut in the rookie-level Arizona League in 2016, Jones got back to his elite hitting ways in 2017 with short-season Mahoning Valley, where he led the New York-Penn League in OPS (.912) as a 19-year-old. Jones has an easy lefthanded swing and uses the whole field to hit. He is a patient hitter and led the NYPL in walks (43). He significantly cut down on his strikeout rate from his pro debut in 2016, but his patience means he works in many deep counts and will always strike out a fair amount as a result. He has proven to be an advanced hitter, but also has above-average raw power that he is still learning to get to consistently in games. As he physically matures, he projects to hit for plus power. Jones fits the third base profile, but he still has work to do to ensure he can stick at the hot corner. He has plus arm strength, but needs to improve his glove-work and infield actions. If he did need to move, his athleticism and average speed would play in right field. Jones' first full professional season was very encouraging for the Indians and he provides plenty of upside. He'll get his first taste of full-season ball in 2018 when he opens the year with low Class A Lake County.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #8 prospect in 2017
  Jones was regarded as one of the best prep hitters in the 2016 draft class, but he slipped to the second round, where the Indians were happy to be able to take him at No. 55 overall. He signed for $2.25 million, making him one of five players drafted after the first round to sign for more than $2 million. Jones has advanced consistency in his approach and contact skills, especially for a prep hitter from the Northeast. That helped him stand out on the showcase circuit in the summer of 2015, and continued to push him up draft boards in the spring. His easy lefthanded swing generates plus raw power now, but he projects to have more as he physically matures. He has plenty of room to add strength to his lanky frame as he begins to work in a professional training environment. He is an average runner. Jones was a shortstop in high school, but his size made it likely he would soon outgrow the position and profile better at third base. The Indians quickly moved him to the hot corner, and he should be able to develop into an average defender with steady hands and a plus arm at his new position. While he has the defensive tools to develop, it will be up to his bat to carry him through the minor leagues. Jones will join fellow 2016 first-day prep pick Will Benson at low Class A Lake County in 2017.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #19 prospect in 2016 draft
  In the summer leading up to his senior year, Jones was a wiry 6-foot-5 shortstop. Scouts watched him transform into a prospect throughout the summer. Jones made steady adjustments to his swing and caught up to quality pitching. He showed plus raw power and his arm receives above-average to plus grades from scouts. At shortstop, Jones showed smooth actions and promising glove work during the summer, but 6-foot-5 shortstops don't often stick at the position long term. Jones had not been in a weight room prior to August, and he added roughly 30 pounds of good weight. He showed exceptional power during a strong week at the WWBA tournament in Jupiter, likely cementing himself as a day one draft pick. Jones has also received some draft interest as a pitcher, though he sees himself as a position player. Jones also has a hockey playing background, and his older brother is a legitimate hockey prospect and will attend Penn State next year.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Eastern League #6 prospect in 2019
  Jones did not disappoint in his first stint of action in the upper minors with Akron. He began to hit for power, and in the month of August he drew 22 walks in 27 games. Jones has plenty of raw power, and his bat profiles as a hit-over-power tool. He has a big move to load his hands during his swing, but he is able to repeat it and should grow into even more power. Jones is very patient at the plate, although at times he appears too passive, getting himself into pitchers' counts. Jones has a plus arm and is athletic enough to stick at the hot corner as he matures. His ceiling is that of a middle-of-the-order bat, and his defensive play should add value.
• 
  Ranked Carolina League #2 prospect in 2019
  After slugging just .353 without any home runs in April, Jones went on a tear that continued at Double-A Akron. He finished the season with 16 home runs, including nine in 179 at-bats in the Eastern League. That binge was no surprise to Carolina League managers. "He’s a big, tall, lefthanded power bat,” Winston-Salem manager Justin Jirschele said. "He drives the ball to all fields.” Scouts said Jones’ defense improved considerably at third base this season, but that he’s still below-average there. His arm could play in right field, though, and he also could ably move to first base or left field. "He puts good at-bats together,” Down East manager Corey Ragsdale said. "The walks and strikeouts are good. I think he has untapped power potential as well. As he moves up ladder and the strike zone gets smaller, he’s going to be fine.”
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #19 prospect in 2018
  Jones was one of the best hitters and sluggers in the Midwest League in 2018. While it was his teammate Will Benson that led the league with 22 home runs, it was Jones who managed to combine power - he was fourth in the league in home run rate with one home run every 20 at-bats - and hitting ability. Jones was fourth in the league with a .393 on-base percentage. At the plate, Jones shows all-fields power and does not succumb to the temptation to expand his zone to try to hit pitcher's pitches. He projects as an above-average to plus hitter with plus power. Defensively, Jones has made steady improvement at third base. He reads balls well off the bat and has cleaned up his footwork.
• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #8 prospect in 2017
  Jones was one of the more physical hitters in the New York-Penn League, combining excellent patience with power potential. Jones is rarely tempted to chase pitches out of the strike zone. While the average New York-Penn League hitter is still an easy mark for a breaking ball that breaks out of the zone, Jones usually spit on those pitches. He patiently waited for the pitcher to come to him, and when he did get the pitch he was looking for in the zone, he had the power to either line a double to the opposite field or occasionally pull an inside pitch for a home run. When they didn't, he happily took his walk. He led the league with a .430 on-base percentage. Jones has more work to do if he's going to stay at third base. He's made some significant strides, but his footwork has improved and he's getting caught in between hops less often. He has plenty of arm strength, but he doesn't have the ability yet to throw accurately from a variety of arm angles. He doesn't always get his feet set properly, but when he does, he shows off an above-average arm.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Complex League #6 prospect in 2016
  With first-round picks from both the 2015 (Brady Aiken) and 2016 (Will Benson) drafts on its roster, the Indians were the most interesting AZL team to watch. Another gem from the recent draft was Jones, who signed for $2.25 million out of a suburban Philadelphia high school. Jones is expected to outgrow shortstop and spent most of his pro debut at third base, his expected future home. Jones made adjustments in the field during the year, improving his footwork and learning how to read hops, and his plus arm will be more than enough for the hot corner. At the plate, he projects as a gap-to-gap hitter who drives balls to all fields with some over-the-fence power. He has good bat control, a fluid stroke and good plate discipline, and he improved the ability to pick up spin as the season progressed. His swing still has a lot of moving parts, and he needs repetition to solidify his approach at the plate. While he doesn't have teammate Benson's sky-high ceiling, Jones is a better bet to reach his solid-regular projection.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #45 prospect in 2021
• Ranked Baseball America's #50 prospect in 2020
• Ranked Baseball America's #96 prospect in 2019

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: The Rockies acquired Jones for infielder Juan Brito prior to the 40-man deadline this offseason. A 2016 second-round pick by the Guardians, Jones ranked as Cleveland's top prospect entering the 2020 season. Since then, his prospect status has collapsed as he struggled to hit for impact at Triple-A. After spending the past two seasons at Triple-A Columbus, Jones made his major league debut this summer and spent the majority of July and August with the big league club. He was demoted to Triple-A in late August and spent the rest of the season in the minor leagues.
  
  Scouting Report: Not long ago, Jones was ranked as one of the top prospects in the game, with many evaluators liking his combination of on-base ability and projectable power. While Jones' ability to get on-base remains, the questions around his ability to get to his raw power persist. His underlying exit velocity data is above major league average, but too often his best-struck balls were hit on the ground. He made adjustments coming into 2022 and showed improved bat-to-ball skills and more consistent well-hit airborne contact to his pull side. Jones is an average runner but not a basestealer. Defensively, Jones has taken to a move to the corner outfield after spending a majority of his early career at third base. He's a fringe-average defender with an above-average throwing arm.
  
  The Future: Jones' change of scenery and lack of major league depth in Colorado is a welcome change. He profiles best as a second-division regular with the ability to fill in at multiple positions.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 50. Run: 50. Field: 45. Arm: 55.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: The Rockies acquired Jones for infielder Juan Brito prior to the 40-man deadline this offseason. A 2016 second-round pick by the Guardians, Jones ranked as Cleveland's top prospect entering the 2020 season. Since then, his prospect status has collapsed as he struggled to hit for impact at Triple-A. After spending the past two seasons at Triple-A Columbus, Jones made his major league debut this summer and spent the majority of July and August with the big league club. He was demoted to Triple-A in late August and spent the rest of the season in the minor leagues.
  
  Scouting Report: Not long ago, Jones was ranked as one of the top prospects in the game, with many evaluators liking his combination of on-base ability and projectable power. While Jones' ability to get on-base remains, the questions around his ability to get to his raw power persist. His underlying exit velocity data is above major league average, but too often his best-struck balls were hit on the ground. He made adjustments coming into 2022 and showed improved bat-to-ball skills and more consistent well-hit airborne contact to his pull side. Jones is an average runner but not a basestealer. Defensively, Jones has taken to a move to the corner outfield after spending a majority of his early career at third base. He's a fringe-average defender with an above-average throwing arm.
  
  The Future: Jones' change of scenery and lack of major league depth in Colorado is a welcome change. He profiles best as a second-division regular with the ability to fill in at multiple positions.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 50. Run: 50. Field: 45. Arm: 55.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/Medium
  
  Track Record: Jones was expected to break through to the big leagues sooner than later, but it didn&#39t quite come together for him in 2021. He started the season slowly with Triple-A Columbus before heating up in the summer. His season came to an early end when he suffered a high ankle sprain in late August that ultimately required surgery and cost him the final month of the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Jones has an easy lefthanded swing and uses the whole field to hit. He is a patient hitter and led all Indians&#39 minor leaguers in walks in both 2018 and 2019, though his patience also means that he often works in deep counts and will always strike out fairly often as a result. In 2021, his walk rate decreased and his strikeout rate increased as he struggled with off-speed stuff, chasing more often than he has in the past. He has plus raw power and can drive the ball to all fields. Jones has dealt with questions about his ability to stay at third base throughout his career. He has plus arm strength and has worked hard to improve his glove work and infield actions, especially when ranging to his right. He also saw some action in the outfield as the Guardians work to increase his versatility and potentially open an additional route to Cleveland, where Jose Ramirez is still entrenched at third base.
  
  The Future: Jones is coming off his worst offensive season as a professional, but he&#39ll still be 23 on Opening Day and has the tools to develop into a big corner bat. He&#39ll likely make his MLB debut in 2022.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 60. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Jones was expected to break through to the big leagues sooner than later, but it didn’t quite come together for him in 2021. He started the season slowly with Triple-A Columbus before heating up in the summer. His season came to an early end when he suffered a high ankle sprain in late August that ultimately required surgery and cost him the final month of the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Jones has an easy lefthanded swing and uses the whole field to hit. He is a patient hitter and led all Cleveland minor leaguers in walks in both 2018 and 2019, though his patience also means that he often works in deep counts and will always strike out fairly often as a result. In 2021, his walk rate decreased and his strikeout rate increased as he struggled with offspeed stuff, chasing more often than he has in the past. He has plus raw power and can drive the ball to all fields. Jones has dealt with questions about his ability to stay at third base throughout his career. He has plus arm strength and has worked hard to improve his glovework and infield actions, especially when ranging to his right. He also saw some action in the outfield as the Guardians work to increase his versatility and potentially open an additional route to Cleveland, where Jose Ramirez is still entrenched at third base.
  
  The Future: Jones is coming off his worst offensive season as a professional, but he’ll still be 23 on Opening Day and has the tools to develop into a big league corner bat. He’ll likely make his MLB debut in 2022.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 60. Power: 60. Running: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Indians viewed Jones as one of the best prep hitters in the 2016 draft and were surprised he was still available at No. 55, when they made him their second selection. He lived up to that reputation in pro ball, showing off his offensive ability at every stop and earning a selection to the 2019 Futures Game in Cleveland. Jones finished the season in Double-A and spent 2020 at the alternate training site before finishing at the instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Jones has an easy lefthanded swing and uses the whole field. He is a patient hitter and led all Indians minor leaguers in walks in both 2018 and 2019, though his patience also means he gets into deep counts and strikes out. He has plus raw power and has started to turn that into in-game production. Jones profiles at third base but has long faced questions whether he will stay at the position. He has plus arm strength and has worked hard to improve his glove work, infield actions and agility, especially ranging to his right. The Indians like their position players to be versatile and have started working Jones into the outfield and first base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Jones still needs seasoning before he reaches Cleveland. He's closing in on the majors, and his offensive ability will get him into the lineup sooner rather than later.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 60. Power: 60. Running: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Indians viewed Jones as one of the best prep hitters in the 2016 draft and were surprised he was still available at No. 55, when they made him their second selection. He lived up to that reputation in pro ball, showing off his offensive ability at every stop and earning a selection to the 2019 Futures Game in Cleveland. Jones finished the season in Double-A and spent 2020 at the alternate training site before finishing at the instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Jones has an easy lefthanded swing and uses the whole field. He is a patient hitter and led all Indians minor leaguers in walks in both 2018 and 2019, though his patience also means he gets into deep counts and strikes out. He has plus raw power and has started to turn that into in-game production. Jones profiles at third base but has long faced questions whether he will stay at the position. He has plus arm strength and has worked hard to improve his glove work, infield actions and agility, especially ranging to his right. The Indians like their position players to be versatile and have started working Jones into the outfield and first base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Jones still needs seasoning before he reaches Cleveland. He’s closing in on the majors, and his offensive ability will get him into the lineup sooner rather than later.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 60. Power: 60. Running: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Indians viewed Jones as one of the best prep hitters in the 2016 draft and were surprised he was still available at No. 55, when they made him their second selection. He lived up to that reputation in pro ball, showing off his offensive ability at every stop and earning a selection to the 2019 Futures Game in Cleveland. Jones finished the season in Double-A and spent 2020 at the alternate training site before finishing at the instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Jones has an easy lefthanded swing and uses the whole field. He is a patient hitter and led all Indians minor leaguers in walks in both 2018 and 2019, though his patience also means he gets into deep counts and strikes out. He has plus raw power and has started to turn that into in-game production. Jones profiles at third base but has long faced questions whether he will stay at the position. He has plus arm strength and has worked hard to improve his glove work, infield actions and agility, especially ranging to his right. The Indians like their position players to be versatile and have started working Jones into the outfield and first base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Jones still needs seasoning before he reaches Cleveland. He’s closing in on the majors, and his offensive ability will get him into the lineup sooner rather than later.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Jones was one of the players the Indians targeted with their first-round pick in 2016. The team instead selected Will Benson 14th overall and didn’t expect to see Jones on the board when they next picked at No. 55. They didn’t pass on Jones, one of the top prep hitters in his class, a second time. In 2017, he led the New York-Penn League in OPS (.912) as a 19-year old and has followed that up in full-season ball. He had a busy 2019, beginning the year with high Class A Lynchburg, where he played well enough in 79 games to be selected to the Carolina League all-star team. He also was selected for the Futures Game and the Arizona Fall League’s Fall Stars Game, and in July was promoted to Double-A Akron. His season came to an end in October when he re-aggravated an injury to his right thumb and had surgery to repair a ligament.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Jones has an easy lefthanded swing and uses the whole field to hit. He is a patient hitter and has led all Indians’ minor leaguers in walks in back-to-back seasons (89 in 2018, 96 in 2019), though his patience also means that he often works in deep counts and will always strike out fairly often as a result. He has plus raw power and has started to turn that into in-game production. Jones fits the third-base profile but throughout his career has dealt with questions about his ability to stay at the position. He has plus arm strength and has worked hard to improve his defense and infield actions, especially when ranging to the right. He’s improved his footwork and agility, giving him a strong chance to stay at the hot corner. While the Indians generally work to add versatility to all their position players, Jones has played exclusively third base since he was in Rookie ball. Still, his athleticism and speed should play in the outfield if required.
  
  THE FUTURE: After his impressive 2019 and stint in the AFL, Jones is nearing the big leagues and will likely open 2020 at Triple-A Columbus. He’s a potential impact bat who also stands out for his work ethic. His impending big league debut and Jose Ramirez’s versatility gives the Indians options over the next couple of years, but even if Ramirez stays in the hot corner, Jones’ offensive ability is such that the team will find a way to get them both into the lineup. Year Player, Pos. 2019 Org 2009 Carlos Santana, C Indians 2010 Carlos Santana, C Indians 2011 Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B Pirates 2012 Francisco Lindor, SS Indians 2013 Francisco Lindor, SS Indians 2014 Francisco Lindor, SS Indians 2015 Francisco Lindor, SS Indians 2016 Bradley Zimmer, OF Indians 2017 Francisco Mejia, C Padres 2018 Francisco Mejia, C Padres 2019 Triston McKenzie, RHP Indians Best Hitter for Average Tyler Freeman Best Power Hitter Bobby Bradley Best Strike-Zone Discipline Ernie Clement Fastest Baserunner Quentin Holmes Best Athlete Will Benson Best Fastball Daniel Espino Best Curveball James Karinchak Best Slider Kyle Nelson Best Changeup Eli Morgan Best Control Eli Morgan Best Defensive Catcher Bo Naylor Best Defensive Infielder Brayan Rocchio Best Infield Arm Nolan Jones Best Defensive Outfielder Steven Kwan Best Outfield Arm Johnathan Rodriguez SCOUTING GRADES Hit: 60. Power: 60. Run: 50. Field: 50. Arm: 60. BA GRADE 60 Risk: High
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Jones was one of the players the Indians targeted with their first-round pick in 2016. The team instead selected Will Benson 14th overall and didn't expect to see Jones on the board when they next picked at No. 55. They didn't pass on Jones, one of the top prep hitters in his class, a second time. In 2017, he led the New York-Penn League in OPS (.912) as a 19-year old and has followed that up in full-season ball. He had a busy 2019, beginning the year with high Class A Lynchburg, where he played well enough in 79 games to be selected to the Carolina League all-star team. He also was selected for the Futures Game and the Arizona Fall League's Fall Stars Game, and in July was promoted to Double-A Akron. His season came to an end in October when he re-aggravated an injury to his right thumb and had surgery to repair a ligament.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Jones has an easy lefthanded swing and uses the whole field to hit. He is a patient hitter and has led all Indians' minor leaguers in walks in back-to-back seasons (89 in 2018, 96 in 2019), though his patience also means that he often works in deep counts and will always strike out fairly often as a result. He has plus raw power and has started to turn that into in-game production. Jones fits the third-base profile but throughout his career has dealt with questions about his ability to stay at the position. He has plus arm strength and has worked hard to improve his defense and infield actions, especially when ranging to the right. He's improved his footwork and agility, giving him a strong chance to stay at the hot corner. While the Indians generally work to add versatility to all their position players, Jones has played exclusively third base since he was in Rookie ball. Still, his athleticism and speed should play in the outfield if required.
  
  THE FUTURE: After his impressive 2019 and stint in the AFL, Jones is nearing the big leagues and will likely open 2020 at Triple-A Columbus. He's a potential impact bat who also stands out for his work ethic. His impending big league debut and Jose Ramirez's versatility gives the Indians options over the next couple of years, but even if Ramirez stays in the hot corner, Jones' offensive ability is such that the team will find a way to get them both into the lineup.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  After slugging just .353 without any home runs in April, Jones went on a tear that continued at Double-A Akron. He finished the season with 16 home runs, including nine in 179 at-bats in the Eastern League. That binge was no surprise to Carolina League managers. "He’s a big, tall, lefthanded power bat,” Winston-Salem manager Justin Jirschele said. "He drives the ball to all fields.” Scouts said Jones’ defense improved considerably at third base this season, but that he’s still below-average there. His arm could play in right field, though, and he also could ably move to first base or left field. "He puts good at-bats together,” Down East manager Corey Ragsdale said. "The walks and strikeouts are good. I think he has untapped power potential as well. As he moves up ladder and the strike zone gets smaller, he’s going to be fine.”
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Jones did not disappoint in his first stint of action in the upper minors with Akron. He began to hit for power, and in the month of August he drew 22 walks in 27 games. Jones has plenty of raw power, and his bat profiles as a hit-over-power tool. He has a big move to load his hands during his swing, but he is able to repeat it and should grow into even more power. Jones is very patient at the plate, although at times he appears too passive, getting himself into pitchers' counts. Jones has a plus arm and is athletic enough to stick at the hot corner as he matures. His ceiling is that of a middle-of-the-order bat, and his defensive play should add value.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Jones moved up to full-season ball this season and has found success at the plate after a slow April in which he was hampered by knee soreness. He’s continued to hit the ball hard and doubled his home run total from last year in the same number of games. Jones’ strikeout rate has slowly been lowered to a tick under 25 percent, while his walk rate remains solid and he earns praise for his ability to control the strike zone.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Jones was regarded as one of the best prep hitters in the 2016 draft class, but he slipped to the second round, where the Indians were happy to take him at No. 55 overall. He got back to his elite hitting in 2017 at short-season Mahoning Valley, where he led the New York-Penn League with a .912 OPS as a 19-year-old. Scouting Report: Jones has an easy lefthanded swing and uses the whole field to hit. He is a patient hitter who led the NYP in with 43 walks. He reduced his strikeout rate, but his patience means he works many deep counts and will always strike out a fair amount. He has proven to be an advanced hitter but also has above-average raw power that he is still learning to get to consistently in games. As he physically matures, he projects to hit for plus power. Jones fits the third-base profile, but he still has work to do to ensure he can stick at the hot corner. He has plus arm strength but needs to improve his glove work and infield actions. If he moves, his athleticism and average speed will play in right field. The Future: Jones provides plenty of upside. He will get his first taste of full-season ball in 2018 when he opens the year at low Class A Lake County.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Jones was regarded as one of the best prep hitters in the 2016 draft class, but he slipped to the second round, where the Indians were happy to be able to take him at No. 55 overall. He signed for $2.25 million, making him one of five players drafted after the first round to sign for more than $2 million. Scouting Report: Jones has advanced consistency in his approach and contact skills, especially for a prep hitter from the Northeast. That helped him stand out on the showcase circuit in the summer of 2015, and continued to push him up draft boards in the spring. His easy lefthanded swing generates plus raw power now, but he projects to have more as he physically matures. He has plenty of room to add strength to his lanky frame as he begins to work in a professional training environment. He is an average runner. Jones was a shortstop in high school, but his size made it likely he would soon outgrow the position and profile better at third base. The Indians quickly moved him to the hot corner, and he should be able to develop into an average defender with steady hands and a plus arm at his new position.
  
  The Future: While he has the defensive tools to develop, it will be up to his bat to carry him through the minor leagues. Jones will join fellow 2016 first-day prep pick Will Benson at low Class A Lake County in 2017.