Colorado Rockies: Nolan Jones surprised to learn of rookie status for 2023

Nolan Jones of the Colorado Rockies received quite a surprise upon reporting to Coors Field recently.

Unbeknown to him, the up and coming infielder-outfielder of the Colorado Rockies, learned that — although now in his second year in Major League Baseball  —Jones has been deemed to retain rookie-eligible status for the 2023 campaign.

“I didn’t even know there was a certain day or deadline,” Jones said Wednesday before his team’s home game against the Los Angeles Dodgers about the possibility of gaining rookie status for this season.

“I just got to the field one day and they (Rockies players, officials) told me I was a rookie again. I didn’t know (if) I was or wasn’t. So, I guess, it was news to me.”

Nolan Jones of the Colorado Rockies can be considered for such 2023 honors as National League Rookie of the Month and for the league’s Rookie of the Year.

Jones was a member of the Cleveland Guardians a year ago (batted .244 while playing in 28 games) but, since his service time did not exceed 45 days on the team’s active roster, the 25-year-old will be able to keep his rookie eligibility.

As such, the native of Langhorne, Pa., can be considered for such 2023 honors as National League Rookie of the Month and for the league’s Rookie of the Year.

Considering the offensive numbers Jones has posted since being recalled to Colorado’s active roster on May 26, the second round selection in the 2016 MLB Draft (No. 55 selection overall) could receive prime consideration for postseason rookie accolades.

Since his recall in May — his second of the 2023 season — Jones has hit safely in 24 of his 27 starts. Overall, he is slashing .316/.396/.551 with eight doubles, five homers and 14 runs batted in.

His batting average stands 13th in the National League — fourth among rookies — entering action of June 28. Among rookies, he also ranks second in on-base percentage (.396), slugging percentage (.551) and is tied for second in doubles (eight).

In addition, Jones reached based in a career-best 15 games from June 7-21. That on-base streak is the third-longest this season among Rockies players.

Jones defers mention of any postseason recognition for himself but would rather see success for the Rox.

“It’s not really something I look at,” he said. “I think that I want to help the team win. It’s day-to-day for me.

”If I were to win something like that,” he added, “it’d be really cool. But it’s not something that I look at or follow. It is what it is.”

Jones became the first player in Rockies franchise history to reach base five times, amass three extra-base hits, including a homer, and steal a base in the same game when he accomplished the feat June 20 against Cincinnati.

But the individual highlight thus far for Jones might have come June 11 against San Diego in a Coors Field game that was delayed by rain.

After the rain delay, Jones slammed his first walk-off home run of his career, crushing a pitch 472 feet for the longest walk-off homer in the Statcast Era (since 2015).

Jones’ game-wining heroics brought postgame raves from teammates Ryan McMahon and Coco Montes.

“You guys have seen plenty of Nolan already,” McMahon told media after the rain-delayed win. “It’s been really impressive. He’s fun to play with.”

Added Montes: “We got the win at the end with Nolan Jones’ walkoff. It was a great day all around.”

Jones, who was acquired by Colorado in a trade with Cleveland on November 15, 2022, thinks his prior experience in the minors and with Cleveland and now the Colorado Rockies, has given him the foundation to have success in the Majors.

“I think I prepared myself to play here,” he said. “I think the hardest thing about being in the big leagues is proving that you belong and believing you belong. I think some early success has helped me believe that. But I think it’s something that I’ve worked really hard for.

“There’s going to be goods; there’s going to be bads,” he added. “Unfortunately, that’s the way baseball goes. But it was nice to have some early success for sure.”