Guardians Season in Review: Nolan Jones

Nolan Jones was arguably the most criticized player on the Guardians' 2025 roster. Among fans, he was often considered the least favored non-gambler Guardian that year.

Offensive Performance

Jones finished the season with a slash line of .211/.296/.304 and a 72 weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+). Among major league outfielders with 400+ plate appearances, he had the second-lowest wRC+, just ahead of Brenton Doyle, a strong defensive centerfielder.

Angel Martinez posted a 74 wRC+, slightly better but still underperforming.
Daniel Schneemann was fifth lowest on the team with a 79 wRC+.

Underlying Metrics

Interestingly, Jones’s expected weighted On-Base Average (wOBA), which evaluates the quality of batted balls, ranked fifth best on the team at .308. This wOBA corresponds roughly to a 98 wRC+, suggesting his performance was unexpectedly poor compared to his batted ball quality.

Defensive and Overall Value

If Jones had performed to his expected wOBA level of .308, he would have been an average fielder in center and a below-average right fielder. This level of play would have yielded approximately 1 win above replacement (WAR).

"We would be potentially talking about if a Jones-Martinez combo in centerfield can be a winning platoon for the team in 2026."

Overall, while Jones’s 2025 season was disappointing at the plate, his underlying metrics hint at untapped potential for future improvement.

Summary: Nolan Jones’s 2025 season revealed discrepancies between surface stats and underlying performance, suggesting potential for a valuable defensive and offensive role in 2026.

Covering the Corner — 2025-11-04