CLEVELAND – Jhonkensy Noel, remembered for his home run that tied Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, was sent to Triple-A Columbus by the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday. Noel, who was part of the initial roster for the first time, batted only .146 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 46 games. The right-handed hitter found himself on the short side of a platoon in right field, which limited him to 103 at-bats.
It hasn’t been the start of the season that he would have wanted or that we would have wanted. We know what a good player he is, so we told Jhonkensy to just play, relax, and be himself.
Stephen Vogt, Guardians manager
Nicknamed “Big Christmas”, Noel, who is 6-foot-3 and weighs 250 pounds, hit a two-run home run as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning, in what became a 7-5 victory over the New York Yankees in 10 innings on October 17th.
Cleveland lost the American League Championship Series in five games, but Noel’s hit to left field was one of the most memorable moments at Progressive Field since the stadium opened in 1994.We still believe that Jhonkensy, at his best, helps us win games. He plays an incredible right field, is a good baserunner, and has the power to hit the ball out of the park. He just hasn’t been there this year.
Stephen Vogt, manager of the Guardians
Johnathan Rodriguez was called up from Columbus and started in right field in the final game of the three-game series for the Guardians against the Houston Astros.
Cleveland also announced that outfielder Will Brennan and right-handed pitcher Andrew Walters will undergo surgery on Monday. Brennan has been sidelined with left elbow inflammation since May 22, while Walters experienced a right lat strain on May 30 while pitching against Angels star Mike Trout.
