Sawchik on Nolan Jones
"When the Indians drafted Nolan Jones in the second round of the 2016 draft, he was rated as one of the best pure prep hitters in the class. The question was about his power. As I wrote last week, teams ought to value hit tools over power tools when evaluating prospects in this era when launch angle and power have shown to be capable of being taught. Then-Indians director of amateur scouting Brad Grant was optimistic, saying after the 2016 draft he believed Jones would hit for power. Well, Jones has begun to do just that. A two-homer game last week pushed his total at Low-A Lake County to 16 and earned him a promotion to High A, where he promptly swatted a three-run homer.
He’s posted excellent walk rates to date in his minor-league career, 16 percent, in short-season ball last summer and 16 percent in Lake County. He’s improved from hitting 2.2 ground balls per fly ball in his first exposures to pro pitching in 2016 and 2017, to 1.6 this season. He’s getting the ball in the air more often, and his HR/FB ratio has spiked to 25 percent this year, an elite mark for a 20-year-old. His sweet left-handed swing is one to watch. It’s not a stretch to think he has the most offensive potential in the system."