Guardians rookie loses bat in 1st career at-bat, then homers on next pitch
Jhonkensy Noel had quite an MLB debut
Many rookies have made their MLB debuts this season, but none was as eventful as the first at-bat for Cleveland Guardians prospect Jhonkensy Noel.
Facing Baltimore Orioles starter Grayson Rodriguez in the second inning Wednesday, Noel held off from the first pitch for ball 1. Then came a 97 mph fastball in the zone that Noel foul-tipped, losing his bat in the process — as in, it slipped out of his hands.
That fun moment got even better on the next pitch, when Noel clobbered another 97 mph fastball into the home bullpen at Camden Yards.
What a 1st career at-bat for Jhonkensy Noel.
First ever swing: Throws the bat 100 feet
Second ever swing: 400+ ft Home Run pic.twitter.com/AJ4na53Zm8— Ohio’s Tate (@BarstoolTate) June 26, 2024
Among those watching were the Guardians' Triple-A team in Columbus, which spent a rain delay watching their recent teammate open his MLB career with a homer.
A second video from the Columbus Clippers clubhouse during their rain delay tonight watching #Guardians (1B/OF) prospect Jhonkensy Noel homer in his 1st career AB.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/BYSFbVdupG
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) June 26, 2024
That's a first career hit and home run for Noel, who finished the day 1-for-4 with that homer and two strikeouts. The Orioles won 4-2, however, as Rodriguez recovered from the home run to throw seven innings with two earned runs allowed.
Noel is ranked as the No. 26 prospect in the Cleveland system by MLB Pipeline, with his power naturally rated as his best tool. Before his call-up, he was hitting .295/.359/.578 with 18 homers in 65 games for Columbus.
