The Baltimore Orioles received an update on one of the team's reclamation projects.
The Baltimore Orioles have made a roster decision on outfielder Jhonkensy Noel, who has officially cleared outright waivers and been assigned to Triple‑A Norfolk.
The move keeps Noel in the organization but removes him from the 40‑man roster, giving Baltimore flexibility while still retaining a player with notable raw power.
The 24‑year‑old right‑handed slugger was claimed off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians earlier this month after being designated for assignment.
Baltimore has become one of the most aggressive clubs in the league when it comes to claiming players off waivers, often cycling them back through the process in hopes of keeping them in a non‑roster capacity.
In Noel’s case, the strategy worked, allowing the Orioles to stash him in the minors while continuing his development.
The best‑case scenario for Noel is to follow a path similar to Ryan O’Hearn, who was acquired by Baltimore from the Kansas City Royals in January 2023, passed through waivers and later hit his way back onto the roster. O’Hearn went on to spend more than two years as a productive member of the Orioles before being traded to the San Diego Padres at the 2025 deadline. Baltimore hopes Noel can provide a similar spark if he refines his game.
Noel’s career to this point has been defined by flashes of immense power but inconsistent overall production. In 351 plate appearances with Cleveland over the past two seasons, he launched 19 home runs but posted a .193/.242/.401 slash line. His plate discipline has been a major concern, with a 4.8 percent walk rate and a 32.8 percent strikeout rate, both well below league averages.
At the Triple‑A level, however, Noel has shown more encouraging results. Over the past two years, he logged 536 plate appearances with a .285/.349/.538 slash line. Those numbers suggest that while he has struggled to adjust to major league pitching, his bat still has the potential to impact games if he can translate his minor league approach to the big leagues.
Even with Noel remaining in the system, his path back to Baltimore is crowded. The Orioles’ outfield mix already includes Colton Cowser, Taylor Ward, Dylan Beavers, Tyler O’Neill, Jeremiah Jackson, Leody Taveras, Reed Trimble, Heston Kjerstad and Marco Luciano. For Noel, the challenge will be standing out in a deep group while proving he can harness his power into consistent production.
Noel’s assignment to Norfolk offers him both a chance to reset and an opportunity to prove that his raw power can evolve into consistent production.