Jhonkensy

Noel

So Noel will remain with the Orioles after being designated for assignment by both Baltimore and Cleveland this offseason. The 24-year-old has big-time power but needs to make far more contact before he can be relied on as an MLB hitter.

Noel was just claimed on waivers on Monday, but will now be let go after the Orioles were able to land INF/OF Marco Luciano on waivers earlier today. Noel will hope somebody else wants to take a flyer on his big-time power and limited contact.

Noel was designated for assignment in December after hitting just .162/.183/.297 with 52 strikeouts in 153 plate appearances last season. He has tremendous raw power, but struggles to make consistent contact and has a real issue with hitting right-handed pitching. The Orioles will likely hope he can emerge as a short-side platoon option with their many left-handed hitters.

The A’s might have dropped someone else for Justin Bruihl had Noel had an option remaining, but that he’s out of them at age 24 does cut into his value. A helpful platoon player as a rookie in 2024, Noel came in at just .162/.183/.297 with 52 strikeouts in 153 plate appearances last season. He has top-of-the-line power, but it seems unlikely that he’ll ever make enough contact to rate as a useful regular. He could, however, bounce back well enough to contribute against lefties.

He also committed a key error that helped allow the go-ahead run to score in the seventh, which was probably the bigger issue today than him failing to reach base against a dominant Tarik Skubal. Noel and Jonathan Rodríguez, who also committed an error in right, will probably head to the bench now with the Guardians set to face right-handers for the remainder of the series against the Tigers.

The Guardians will be going with their typical lineup against left-handed pitching, which means Rodríguez will start in right field, with Jhonkensy Noel starting at first base, Austin Hedges catching, and Angel Martinez in center field. Rodríguez is slashing .240/.309/.460 against lefties this season with two home runs in 55 plate appearances, so his presence doesn’t move the needle a huge amount.

Noel clobbered a 394-foot (109.7 mph EV) solo shot off of Hoby Milner in the seventh inning that pulled the Guardians to within a run at 4-3. The 24-year-old slugger also singled in the ballgame. He had a rough season overall during his time with the Guardians, slashing a cringe-inducing .162/.183/.297 with six homers and 13 RBI.

Noel’s 411-foot homer was responsible for the only run off Skubal in six innings. It was his fifth long ball in 141 plate appearances this season. He’s batting just .161/.177/.285 in his role as a starter against left-handed pitching.

Manzardo has been starting more games against left-handed pitchers, but perhaps the Guardians feel that Tarik Skubal is a far more difficult challenge. Manzardo has hit .279 with 11 home runs and 30 RBI in 49 games since the All-Star break. He’s shaping up to be a solid fantasy contributor in 2026, but he will give way to Jhonkensy Noel at first base on Thursday. Angel Martinez will also start in center field, and David Fry will start at DH as the Guardians put most of their lefties on the bench against Skubal.

Noel has hit just .140/.162/.215 in 111 major league plate appearances this season, and he wasn’t hot in Triple-A of late. The Guardians will likely turn to him against lefties, but he’ll probably be on the bench versus most right-handers.