Terry Francona wants top prospect Nolan Jones to ‘soak up’ first big league spring training stay and 3 more notes on the Cleveland Indians

Nolan Jones

Indians No. 1 prospect Nolan Jones bats in the All-Star Futures game at Progressive Field. Jones was extended an invitation to major league spring training camp on Monday.Dan Mendlik / Cleveland Indians

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Word of Cleveland Indians top prospect Nolan Jones receiving an invite Monday to major league spring training camp came as a bit of a surprise, given Jones was still recovering from thumb surgery in the offseason that cut his stay in the Arizona Fall League short back in October.

It came as a surprise to Jones, who in turn surprised manager Terry Francona by not knowing the invite was on the table.

“It’s funny because I thought he’d already been told he was coming to camp,” Francona said. “That was just pure pleasure. Just to see his eyes light up. You need to take a second to enjoy it because you don’t have enough of those.”

Francona said he was familiar with Jones after seeing him occasionally come up from the minor league fields during exhibition games the last two seasons to potentially fill out spots in Cactus League games.

Jones, from Langhorne, Pa., grew up a few towns over from where Francona lived when he was managing the Phillies and the Tribe skipper has heard good things about the 21 year old from folks within the organization. But with Jones’ recent rise in the prospect rankings, Francona said this time the conversation welcoming him to big league camp went a little different.

Johnny Mac (Indians field coordinator John McDonald) has been telling him every year ‘You’re not ready for the major leagues,’ but this is the one time I’m going to sit here and say now that you’re where you are … maybe major leagues is the next step,” Francona said. “That gets pretty exciting.”

Francona said he does not know how many at-bats Jones will get while he’s in big league camp, but he expects the 2016 second-round draft pick to learn as much as possible.

“We just want him to be a sponge and watch how guys do things,” Francona said. “I think he’ll take advantage of his time here.”

Nolan Jones

Indians No. 1 prospect Nolan Jones bats in the All-Star Futures game at Progressive Field. Jones was extended an invitation to major league spring training camp on Monday.Dan Mendlik / Cleveland Indians

Timing it up: Normally in spring training, regular players such as Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez and Carlos Santana find their timing at the plate a little later than the younger players in camp because they may only get 1-2 at-bats in the first week of exhibition games. Francona said that might not be the case this year, as the compressed schedule and Saturday’s rainout will make it necessary to play some of the starters in back-to-back games earlier than usual.

“That will help with their timing, and we’ll keep an eye on their innings,” Francona said. “But it will be good for their hitting.

Cleveland Indians Spring Training day 4, February 20, 2020

Cleveland Indians Carlos Santana laughs before taking the plate for live batting practice during spring training in Goodyear, Arizona. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

Bumps and bruises: Reliever Emmanuel Clase experienced tightness in his lat during a recent workout and Francona said the club will take it slow with the 21 year old in the next few days. Francona did not seem too concerned about the issue.

“If it was the season, he’d pitch,” Francona said. “We’re just trying to make sure we do this right. Again being new, a kid that went from Class A ball to the major leagues we’re just going to slow it down a little bit.”

Francona said Aaron Civale felt something in his groin during pitcher fielding practice, but after a couple of days rest, he was scheduled to throw a simulated game on Monday.

“He’s doing fine,” Francona said. “It’s just he’s backed up a few days.”

Outfielder Daniel Johnson sprained an ankle about two weeks ago, and then told trainers recently that he felt about 75%. “He was more than willing to play,” Francona said. “I just don’t think that’s fair to a player. We’ll slow him down a little bit.”

Cleveland Indians pitchers Aaron Civale and Hunter Wood chat

Cleveland Indians pitchers Aaron Civale and Hunter Wood chat during spring training in Goodyear, Arizona. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

Right on right: The Indians want outfielder Jordan Luplow to face right-handed pitching this spring in order to determine whether or not the 26-year-old who crushed left-handed pitching last year can play every day.

Trouble is, matchups are notoriously difficult to dictate in spring training games.

The first few weeks guys are going 2-3 innings, so you’re getting one at-bat,” Francona said. “After that, you don’t know who they’re bringing in. Its impossible to match up if you have a lefty in the bullpen because by the fifth or sixth inning there’s a lot of high numbers (young players) that are playing.

Luplow hit .320 with a 1.182 OPS and 14 home runs in 128 at-bats against left-handed pitching in 2019 and hit just .216 with a .573 OPS and one home run in 97 at-bats against righties.

Francona said he hopes to find an opportunity to let Luplow show if he’s made any strides against righties in the next few weeks. “But I actually care more in spring training about guys playing on a schedule than about who we’re matching up against.”

Cleveland Indians Jordan Luplow and Oscar Mercado talk positions

Cleveland Indians Jordan Luplow and Oscar Mercado talk positions during spring training in Goodyear, Arizona. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

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