What are realistic expectations for Jhonkensy Noel after a HUGE HR in his Cleveland Guardians debut?

Jhonkensy Noel made an incredible impression with his first at-bat with the Cleveland Guardians, but can he become a key cog in the team's everyday lineup?

First, Jhonkensy Noel couldn’t keep the bat in his hands. Then, he couldn’t keep the ball in the yard.

In his Major League debut, Noel, the Guardians’ No. 26 prospect, made sure to show off his home run power in dramatic fashion, sending his first big league hit 413 feet into center field with an exit velocity of 106.5 mph in the second inning of the Guardians' 4-2 loss to the Orioles on Wednesday night at Camden Yards.

“I was happy,” the 22-year-old said in Spanish. “ ... Makes me very grateful and proud of all of the work the team has done to get me here and the work I have put in as well.”

Coming in with two outs in the second inning, Noel took a ball as the first offering from Orioles starter Grayson Rodriguez. The San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic native then readied to swing. Noel saw Rodriguez’s second fastball as an opportunity to connect, and he did, sending the ball into foul territory -- along with his bat -- down the third-base line, where Guardians third-base coach Rouglas Odor was standing. He said the bat flew because he couldn’t get enough of a grip on it.


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