Guardians Season in Review: Nolan Jones

Nolan Jones was arguably the most doubted player on the Guardians' 2025 roster. Among fans, he might have been considered the least favorite non-gambler Guardian.

2025 Performance Overview

Jones recorded a .211/.296/.304 slash line in 2025, translating to a 72 wRC+. This ranked him as having the second-worst wRC+ among major league outfielders with 400 or more plate appearances, trailing only Brenton Doyle, who is notable for his strong defensive skills in center field.

Angel Martinez posted a 74 wRC+, slightly ahead of Jones, highlighting the offensive struggles in the Guardians’ outfield.
Daniel Schneemann ranked fifth-worst with a 79 wRC+, adding to the challenges faced by the team.

Advanced Metrics Insight

An interesting contrast was Jones' expected weighted on-base average (wOBA), which measures the quality of batted balls. Jones ranked fifth best on the team with a .308 wOBA, roughly equivalent to a 98 wRC+.

Had Jones produced a 98 wRC+, he would have been around an average center fielder and a below-average right fielder. This performance might have resulted in about 1 win above replacement.

With that level of production, discussion about a potential winning platoon in center field combining Jones and Martinez might have been on the table for the Guardians in 2026.

Summary: Nolan Jones' 2025 season was widely questioned, yet his underlying metrics suggested potential that could have made him an average contributor and sparked strategic discussions for the team's future.

Covering the Corner — 2025-11-04