CLEVELAND, OH – The Cleveland Guardians today announced the following transactions relative to the Major League roster:
Recalled 1B/OF Jhonkensy Noel (#43, /jh-AAHN-ken-z/) from AAA Columbus.
Optioned OF Johnathan Rodríguez to AAA Columbus.
Noel, 22, hit .295 (76-for-258) with 15 doubles, 18 home runs, 59 RBI, a .578 slugging percentage and a .937 OPS in 65 games with AAA Columbus this season. The right-handed-hitting outfielder leads the International League in RBI, total bases (149) and extra-base hits (35) in 2024, also ranking in home runs (2nd), hits (5th), slugging percentage (5th) and OPS (8th). After batting .193 (16-for-83) through April 30, Noel has recorded a .343 (60-for-175) average with 14 home runs and a 1.055 OPS since May 1, ranking 4th among all MiLB players in OPS in that span (min. 150AB). He has appeared at first base (26 starts), left field (16 starts), designated hitter (14 starts) and right field (9 starts) for the Clippers this year.
Signed by Cleveland as an amateur free agent on July 15, 2017, the San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic native has posted an .824 OPS with 112 home runs in 517 career MiLB games. He leads the club’s Player Development System with 96 home runs since 2021, including slugging a career-high 32 homers across 3 levels in 2022 and producing 27 homers for Columbus last year. Noel was named an organizational All-Star by MiLB.com in 2021 and 2022, and he is currently ranked as Cleveland’s No. 26 prospect by MLB.com.
Noel will wear No. 43 and is slated to make his MLB debut.
