CLEVELAND, Ohio — The author of one of the Guardians’ signature moments from the 2024 postseason will write his next chapter in Columbus.
Jhonkensy Noel, whose prodigious power provided an indelible memory with his game-tying home run against the Yankees in Game 3 of last year’s American League Championship Series, was optioned to Triple-A ahead of Sunday’s series finale against Houston.
The Guardians recalled outfielder Johnathan Rodriguez, who was hitting .324 with seven home runs and 32 RBI for the Clippers.
Noel, who went hitless in two plate appearances in Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the Astros, hit .146 in 103 at-bats for the Guardians while struggling with inconsistent playing time. In 46 games he totaled two doubles, two home runs and nine RBI while striking out 34 times and drawing three walks.
Manager Stephen Vogt admitted Noel has not had start to the season that he would have liked or that the Guardians would have liked. The orders for Noel as he heades to Columbus are to get back to what makes him unique.
“Just go play, go relax, get back to being you,” Vogt said. “There’s some adjustments that need to be made, obviously, but I think in Jhonkensy’s case, we know how good of a player he is … It just hasn’t been there yet this year. We still hold true to the belief that Jhonkensy, the best version of him, helps us win games.”
Noel started 23 times in right field, while Nolan Jones, acquired just before the end of spring training, has started 32.
Vogt said players in Noel’s position naturally begin to put pressure on themselves.
“You feel like you have to go 5-for-4 every time you play,” Vogt said. “We have conversations with our guys all the time about this. We do our best to keep them in a good mental head space, but there’s nothing that can help when you’re struggling and you’re down on yourself and you put more pressure on yourself to be perfect.”
Rodriguez made Cleveland’s opening day roster, but was quickly sent to the minors on April 9 after getting just five major league at-bats.
Since then, the 25-year-old outfielder has posted a .902 OPS with 23 walks and 48 strikeouts. He ranks second in Cleveland’s farm system in batting average and OPS, and is tied for second in RBI and hits.
Vogt said Rodríguez has made some adjustments to his swing while at Triple-A and has been trending in the right direction.
“We asked him to really work and he bought in and he’s been working on it,” Vogt said. “We’re going into a stretch of facing some left-handed pitchers in the next few days, so it gives Jonathan an opportunity to get a couple days in a row of playing time to get his feet wet and jump right in.”
Since May 1, he hitting .330 with eight extra-base hits and 20 RBI in 29 games and has collected an RBI in 9 of his last 10 outings.
