Guardians Season in Review: Nolan Jones

Nolan Jones was one of the most questioned players on the Guardians' 2025 roster. Fans likely saw him as their least favorite Guardian, excluding gamblers. Let's examine his performance this season.

Offensive Performance

Jones posted a .211/.296/.304 slash line in 2025, resulting in a 72 weighted runs created plus (wRC+). Among major league outfielders with 400 or more plate appearances, he recorded the second-worst wRC+, only ahead of Brenton Doyle, known for his excellent defense in centerfield.

Angel Martinez slightly outperformed Jones with a 74 wRC+, highlighting the offensive struggles of the Guardians' outfield.
Daniel Schneemann was fifth-worst with a 79 wRC+.

Advanced Metrics and Potential

Interestingly, Jones’s expected weighted on-base average (wOBA), which evaluates the quality of batted balls, ranked fifth on the team at .308. This .308 wOBA approximately equals a 98 wRC+.

Had Jones put up a 98 wRC+, he was roughly an average fielder in center and a below-average right fielder, likely earning around 1 win above replacement.

This could have sparked discussions about a possible winning Jones-Martinez platoon in centerfield for 2026.

Summary

Nolan Jones's 2025 season showed a disparity between poor actual offensive stats and promising advanced metrics, suggesting untapped potential despite his struggles.

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Covering the Corner — 2025-11-04