Orioles Claim Jhonkensy Noel, DFA George Soriano

The Baltimore Orioles kept up their habit of aggressively shuffling roster depth by claiming outfielder Jhonkensy Noel off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians. This move turned some heads, considering the Orioles already have a crowded group at corner outfield and first base. To make room, they designated right-hander George Soriano for assignment, cutting his time with the team before he even got a chance to pitch.

Orioles Claim Jhonkensy Noel to Add Power Depth

Baltimore’s choice to grab Jhonkensy Noel fits with their strategy of hoarding controllable talent, whether or not there’s an obvious spot for him right now. Noel is just 24 and had spent his whole pro career with Cleveland, signing as an international amateur back in 2017.

Noel’s MLB Profile: Power Meets Plate Discipline Issues

Noel’s shown the one thing that keeps teams intrigued: power. In only 351 MLB plate appearances, he’s already hit 19 home runs, which is pretty impressive for someone with so little big-league experience.

But that pop comes with a lot of swing-and-miss. His career MLB line is .193/.242/.401, with a 4.8% walk rate and a hefty 32.8% strikeout rate. Those numbers pushed Cleveland to designate him for assignment on December 17, right after they picked up reliever Justin Bruihl. He’s out of minor-league options after 2025, so Cleveland was in a bit of a bind.

Triple-A Success Suggests Untapped Upside

Noel’s MLB stats might be rough, but his recent work at Triple-A tells a different story. Over the last two seasons, he’s been one of the more productive power hitters at that level.

Why the Orioles See Value in Noel

In 536 Triple-A plate appearances, Noel put up a strong .285/.349/.538 line, slugged 30 home runs, and showed better plate discipline with a 130 wRC+. His walk rate improved to 7.5%, and his strikeout rate dropped to 23.7%. That hints at some progress in his approach, even if it’s not a guarantee.

For the Orioles, Noel looks like a classic low-risk, medium-reward pickup. They’ve made a habit of grabbing guys off waivers, giving them a look, and deciding later if they want to keep them or try to sneak them through waivers again.

A Crowded Path to Playing Time in Baltimore

Noel’s real challenge is carving out playing time with the Orioles. The lineup is already packed with established bats and top prospects.

Baltimore’s Corner Infield and Outfield Logjam

The Orioles’ depth chart lists Pete Alonso, Ryan Mountcastle, Coby Mayo, Taylor Ward, and Tyler O’Neill covering first base, corner outfield, and DH. With that crowd, Noel’s got an uphill climb to regular at-bats unless injuries or more roster moves shake things up.

George Soriano DFA’d Without Appearing in Baltimore

To make room, the Orioles designated George Soriano for assignment, ending his stint before it really started.

Soriano’s Mixed Results Offer Some Upside Elsewhere

Soriano, 27, came over from the Miami Marlins in November but never got on the mound for Baltimore. Over the last three MLB seasons, he’s given up 5.95 ERA-equivalent runs per nine in 118 innings. That’s probably why he’s bounced around a bit.

His 2024 Triple-A numbers, though, were actually solid: a 2.32 ERA, a 28.8% strikeout rate, and a 55.7% ground-ball rate. Soriano’s still a cost-controlled arm with just about 1.1 years of service time, so maybe another team will take a shot.

Calculated Roster Gambling by the Orioles

This move really shows how Baltimore likes to shuffle through controllable players who have some upside. Noel and Soriano both fit that mold—low-cost depth guys who might turn into something valuable if things break right.

Noel gets a new opportunity here. The Orioles add another power bat to their crowded mix, and hey, maybe he surprises us.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Orioles Claim Jhonkensy Noel, Designate George Soriano For Assignment