Guardians Season in Review: Nolan Jones
Season Overview
Nolan Jones has been one of the most doubted players on the Guardians' 2025 roster. Among fans, he is often considered the least favorite Guardian, excluding gamblers.
Performance Metrics
Jones posted a .211/.296/.304 slash line in 2025, resulting in a 72 weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+). This placed him as the second-worst major league outfielder with 400 or more plate appearances, surpassed only by Brenton Doyle, who excels defensively in center field.
Angel Martinez slightly outperformed Jones with a 74 wRC+, highlighting the offensive struggles in the Guardians’ outfield. Additionally, Daniel Schneemann ranked fifth-lowest at a 79 wRC+.
Underlying Metrics and Potential
Interestingly, Jones's expected weighted On-Base Average (wOBA), which measures the quality of a player's batted balls, was the fifth best on the team at .308. This wOBA approximates a 98 wRC+, suggesting better offensive potential than his actual stats indicated.
If Jones had achieved the expected 98 wRC+, combined with his average center field defense and below-average right field defense, he might have contributed roughly 1 win above replacement. This raises the possibility of a Jones-Martinez platoon in center field as a viable option for the Guardians in 2026.
"Jones’s expected weighted on base average was fifth best on the team at .308, roughly a 98 wRC+."
Author’s summary: Nolan Jones showed offensive struggles in 2025 but demonstrated potential value through his underlying metrics, hinting at possible improvement in the next season.