Nolan Jones is giving Rockies fans something they haven’t had in a while.
Namely, hope. And excitement.
He busted out in June, becoming the Rockies’ most electrifying player and providing a ray of promise for a struggling team.
“Nolan’s been awesome on both sides of the ball,” said veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon. “He’s brought energy and a little swag for us.”
On June 11, the 25-year-old outfielder/first baseman hit the first walk-off home run of his career, launching a 472-foot rocket against the Padres that ranks as the longest walk-off homer in the Statcast era (since 2015). That prodigious homer came on the heels of his 483-foot blast June 7 vs. San Francisco, the second-longest home run in the majors this season. Jones is the only player with two of the top-10 longest homers in the majors this season.
He entered the weekend series against the Angels on a torrid 15-game tear in which he slashed .385/.492/.712 with four homers, five doubles and four stolen bases.
Those close to Jones are thrilled, but not surprised.
“He always had this dream and he always said he was going to be a professional athlete,” said his mom, Regina Jones. “He never once questioned himself and he always, and I mean always, gave it everything he had. Nothing was ever just given to him.”
Except for his God-given athletic skills.
The hints came early.
At age 3, Jones could catch anything tossed his way.
“It was kind of remarkable,” Regina recalled.
At 6, Jones was the starting pitcher for the local 8-year-old Little League team in Langhorne, Pa.
“People used to say to us, ‘What are you feeding him?’ ” Regina recalled with a laugh. “He had good speed and a lot of skill. It was pretty apparent.”
When Jones’ father, Tom, would return from work, his son would greet him before Tom even got out of the car, begging his dad to play catch or throw batting practice.
But the ah-ha moment, that lightning bolt that made the major-league scouts jump out of their seats, came during Jones’ junior season at Holy Ghost Prep in Bensalem, Pa.
The Firebirds were playing against La Salle College High School, their chief rival. Scouts flocked to the game to see a top-level prospect named Jimmy Herron, who currently plays at Triple-A Albuquerque, Colorado’s top farm team. Going into the game, Jones, a high school shortstop, got second billing.
“Herron was a good hitter and he could really fly,” recalled Vince Rossomando, Holy Ghost’s coach at the time. “So Herron turns on a fastball and hits this seed between third and short. I mean, he killed it.
“Nolan dives to his right, gloves the balls, pops to his feet, and throws a bullet to first, just barely getting Herron. I’m telling you, nine out of 10 professional shortstops couldn’t make that play.”
After that game, Rossomando was besieged by scouts.
“Some scouts told me, ‘We’re being serious, we don’t think we’ve ever seen a high school kid make that play before,’” Rossomanodo recalled.
Jones had drawn some interest before that game, but now he was a must-see high school player.
“One of the scouts came up to my dad and said, ‘You’ll see us again next year because your son is going to have a chance to get drafted up high,’” Jones said. “That kind of opened my eyes to the fact that I could get drafted and that I was one of the better players in the country.
“Pennsylvania isn’t really known for its baseball, so I never knew how I measure up. But then when I started traveling to tournaments and I could compare myself to other players. I realized I could hang with them.”
When Jones was a sophomore, he stood 5-foot-8, 140 pounds. But he was a tough 5-8, 140, and a talented hockey player. He played left wing until a series of concussions derailed his hockey dreams and he began concentrating on baseball.
“I still absolutely love hockey,” he said.
More than baseball?
“It’s very close, very close,” he replied. “I wish I could put skates on right now. I loved the competition, I loved the physicality of hockey.”
Jones’ older brother, Peyton, currently plays goalie for the Nottingham (England) Panthers, having previously played for the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s AHL club.
“Peyton had a big influence on Nolan,” their father said. “They have always pushed each other and always motivated each other. When they were little kids, Nolan was the pitcher and Peyton was the catcher.”
Rossomando said the Jones was “just a toothpick of a kid” when they first met, but by the time Jones was a senior he was 6-4, 220. His days as a hockey player gave him strong legs and terrific balance. His work ethic packed on the muscle.
Dave Amaro, who coached Jones on the Philly Bandits travel ball team, realized quickly that he was dealing with a special kid.
“Nolan is self-motivated and was very, very different from some of the other talented kids who came through our program,” said Amaro, who’s the brother of Ruben Amaro Jr., the former Phillies GM and currently a color commentator for the Phillies’ TV broadcasts. “Behind the scenes, Nolan always did so much work to be stronger, quicker and more agile. He was an incredibly hard worker and his teammates loved him.”
Jones committed to play baseball for the University of Virginia but decided to turn pro when Cleveland drafted him in the second round and rewarded him with a $2.25 million signing bonus.
He seemed to be a big part of the Guardians’ future, but when the Guardians gave star third basemen Jose Ramirez a seven-year, $141 million contract, Jones’ path in Cleveland was blocked at third base. Last November, the Guardians traded Jones to Colorado in exchange for minor-league infielder Juan Brito.
With McMahon already set at third, the Rockies decided to make Jones a corner outfielder and first baseman. He began the year at Triple-A as something of a project, but it’s looking as if the Rockies pulled off an excellent trade.
“It’s still just a small sample size with us, just (86) at-bats, but Nolan can run, he can throw, he can hit for power,” said manager Bud Black, who measures his words carefully when he talks about young players. “He has the skill set, he has the tools. He’s got an upside, which is great. Now it’s just a matter of letting him play with freedom, letting him play with confidence and we’ll see where it goes.”
Jones said he understands that baseball is a game of failure and lessons. He loves the chess game.
“It’s a constant game of learning, which is one of the reasons I love it,” he said. “The pitchers are learning what I hit well, so then I have to learn to hit what they want to throw to me. I have to learn what my weaknesses are, work on them and make sure I don’t get exposed.”
After a rough series last week at Atlanta, Jones rebounded with a strong series at Cincinnati featuring a 4-for-4 game on Tuesday that included two doubles and a home run, leaving him a triple shy of the cycle. He became the first player in franchise history to reach base five times in a game while recording three extra-base hits, including one home run, and steal a base.
“He’s swinging it really well,” McMahon said. “And the big thing I’m seeing is that even when he might not have his best stuff at the dish that day, he’s finding a way to get on base by working a walk or grinding out a hit.”
And McMahon, as a baseball fan, has enjoyed seeing Jones bloom.
“He’s been really fun to watch,” he said. “I think the sky’s the limit for Nolan.”
The Jones File
• Nolan Allen Jones was born May 7, 1998, in Langhorne, Pa., to Tom and Regina Jones. He has an older brother, Peyton (27), a younger sister, Liana (21), and a younger brother, Andrew (21).
• 2016 graduate of Holy Ghost Prep in Bensalem, Pa. He hit .636 in 19 games as a senior. Was named a 2016 Rawlings Perfect Game first-team All-American.
• Committed to play at the University of Virginia before signing with Cleveland. Was drafted in the second round (55th overall pick).
• Made his major-league debut July 8, 2022, and began his major league career with a four-game hitting streak, slashing .538/.625/.923 with two doubles, one home run and eight RBIs.
• Appeared in 28 games for the Guardians in 2022, slashing .244/.309/.372 with five doubles, two home runs, 13 RBIs, eight walks and 31 strikeouts.
• Traded to the Rockies for infield prospect Juan Brito on Nov. 15, 2022. Began the season with Triple-A Albuquerque, hitting .356 and 12 homers in his first 39 games.
• Made his Rockies debut on May 26 vs. the New York Met at Coors Field
— Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
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