CLEVELAND INDIANS TOP 10 PROSPECTS
1. NOLAN JONES, 3B
AGE: 21. B-T: L-R. HT: 6-2. WT: 185.
DRAFTED: HS–Bensalem, Pa., 2016 (2nd round).
SIGNED BY: Mike Kanen.
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 still on the board when they next picked at No. 55. But he remained available and the Tribe didn’t pass on the Pennsylvania prep product a second time, happy to be able to select one of the best high school hitters in the draft class. He’s lived up to that reputation in pro ball, showing off his offensive ability at every stop in the minor leagues. In 2017, Jones 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. He is expected to be back to full strength to start 2020.
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
