Indians invite top prospect Nolan Jones to big-league camp

Cover Image
Photo credit Ben Fontana - 92.3 The Fan
CLEVELAND, OH — Indians top prospect Nolan Jones was invited to big-league camp as a non-roster invite on Monday. 
The 21-year-old underwent offseason surgery on his right thumb, but he avoided setbacks and recovered ahead of schedule. This is his first big-league camp. 

"That was just pure pleasure," manager Terry Francona said when asked about telling Jones the good news. "He's a great kid to boot. Just to see his eyes light up. I think you need to take a second to enjoy it."

Jones posted a .253 average with eight home runs and 22 RBI for Double-A Akron last season. He was a participant in the All-Star Future's Game last season at Progressive Field. 
"It was a dream come true for sure," Jones said last July. "I really can't put it into words it was indescribable. I was shaking the whole time. I was out there, I had chills. I was thinking about how this could be my future home and I think that's the real part of it that makes me want it even more everyday."

Jones spent most of last season in High-A Lynchburg. He led the Carolina League with an .860 OPS and has a .286/.435/.425 slash line with seven homers and 41 RBI in 77 games.

Jones suffered his thumb injury in the Arizona Fall League. He's the No. 37 prospect in all of baseball according to MLB Pipeline. The Indians picked him in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft. 

The Indians have multiple top prospects in their big-league camp, including Triston McKenzie, Bobby Bradley and Logan Allen.