How Jones has become one of the NL's best rookies 

PHOENIX -- The Rockies’ Nolan Jones smiled about the news on June 23, but he had no idea how good it could end up being.

Jones learned that his rookie status had been restored. Last year, the Guardians -- who ended up trading Jones to the Rockies on Nov. 15 -- optioned him to the Minors on the final day of his rookie eligibility. Before a review of his status, Jones was considered a second-year player.

Now, though, Jones is not just a rookie. He’s one of the National League’s best rookies.

The D-backs’ Corbin Carroll is considered the NL Rookie of the Year favorite, although he left his team’s 12-5 victory over the Rockies on Wednesday afternoon after sustaining a right wrist contusion when he was hit by a Gavin Hollowell pitch in the fourth inning.

Before that, though, Jones showed that he is gaining on Carroll, whose strong season -- in which he was a starter from the jump -- on a contending team will be hard for Baseball Writers' Association of America voters to ignore.

Jones smashed a two-run triple off the center-field wall in the first inning -- part of a four-run frame and the Rockies’ 5-1 start before the pitching fell apart. At game’s end, Jones’ .877 OPS was second among NL rookies with at least 83 games to Carroll’s .884. Jones, though, didn’t appear in the Majors until May 26.

The Rockies’ other rookie deserving of voter attention, Ezequiel Tovar, nearly extended the early lead. With loaded bases in the fourth, Tovar drove a pitch from laboring D-backs starter Zach Davies to right field -- only to have a leaping Carroll rob him of extra bases and, likely, Colorado of three runs.

The problem was that may not have been enough. Rockies starter Chris Felxen gave up six runs on four hits and two walks, and he hit Carroll in the third. Hollowell yielded three more runs on two walks, also hitting Carroll in the fourth.

The Rockies lost for the 13th time in 16 games, but the work of Jones -- and, for that matter, Tovar -- may be good enough not to be buried at the bottom of the “L” column.

“You don’t want to be in this position,” Jones said. “I felt we put some good at-bats together early. We battled. It got out of hand.”

Jones’ rookie year is a study in stopping a negative spin.

In July, Jones hit .193 and saw his batting average plummet from .315 to .273. But since, he has slashed .294/.380/.555 with five home runs, 24 RBIs, 10 doubles and three triples.

As July ended, Jones took in advice from hitting coach Hensley Meulens to be more aggressive early in counts. Pitchers noticed his strategy to see pitches early, so they challenged with fastballs inside. Those were already challenges to his swing, but not swinging made them automatic strikes.

Now early strikes are a risk. Jones is 8-for-13 (.813) on the first pitch. The other numbers justify putting the first strike in play -- 7-for-14 (.500) on 1-0 and 2-for-2 on 2-0. He has yet to jump on a 3-0 pitch.

“I looked at the numbers and I had a very low percentage on swings early in the count when I was behind,” Jones said. “It’s just really hard to get behind. Now I have a better plan. I’m not trying to be too aggressive but just being ready to hit.”

The difference between Wednesday’s game and many others of the Rockies’ struggle was the collapse happened before the late innings. But if the losing is inexorable, watching Jones and Colorado’s rookies can be invigorating.

Jones, a former infielder who has transitioned to mostly the corner outfield, tops the Statcast average arm strength leaderboard at 98.6 mph, while center fielder Brenton Doyle (who left with right groin tightness but could return to the lineup Friday at San Francisco) is sixth at 96.5. Jones is second in the Majors in outfield assists with 12, and Doyle has the six strongest throws from a center fielder.

The Rockies have joined the 2021 Rangers and the '23 Reds as the only teams since 1995 to have three rookies -- Doyle (17), Jones (12) and Tovar 10 -- in double figures in steals. Tovar’s 15 homers and Jones’ 14 make them the first pair of rookies in Rockies history with at least 14. Tovar, who has started since Opening Day, is all over the club rookie record books.

Manager Bud Black said Jones is still a developing defensive player, even with the throwing superlatives. The easy power on Wednesday’s triple demonstrated his offensive progress.

“He’s got a powerful swing,” Black said. “A lot of times with powerful swings, you’ve just got to put the bat on the ball. It was a really nice swing -- not a lot of effort to it -- and he drove it to the biggest part of the park.”