Jones being smart with recovery: 'I want to be involved'

DENVER -- Nolan Jones, happy in a dirty uniform, was a sight the Rockies had been missing -- until Wednesday evening at Coors Field.

Jones was the only player on the field -- this time, not by choice, since he was testing his recently injured left knee as well as his back, which has been healthy for a while by all reports and appearances. Head athletic trainer Keith Dugger acted out pickoff moves from the mound while Jones dove to the bag to test his considerable fast-twitch reactions.

The next step is for Jones, the team’s star rookie left fielder last season, to report to Triple-A Albuquerque for an injury rehab assignment beginning on Thursday. The hope is that Jones will be the same hard-working, productive player of last season (he hit .297 with 20 home runs, 20 stolen bases and 62 RBIs in 106 games after being called up from Albuquerque) when he returns to a club that has won 12 of its past 19 games.

Jones, 26, struggled for a .170 batting average through 26 games before going to the injured list with a back injury on April 30. He sustained a left knee injury on May 17 during a rehab assignment. There’s no doubt Jones will get himself dirty working his way back.

Regularly in April, Jones would speak with extreme disappointment after struggling during a game. But the next day he would hit the field early, since that was when he could take the most swings and ask the most questions. Then, he would sit at his locker looking at video on his phone, believing the whole time his work would pay off.

“Every day is a new day,” Jones said. “If I go out there and I’m hitting .140, I’m going to start my season from there. Obviously, I’m a little behind, but I look forward to helping this team.”

The Rockies have seen Jones emerge from bad stretches before. He pressed last spring and found himself beginning the season at Albuquerque. While the rousing latter half of the year led to a fourth-place finish in National League Rookie of the Year voting, Jones endured a .193 July along the way.

The Rockies know Jones’ prolific work capacity makes him tick, but there is concern that it can be overkill.

By no means is Jones injury prone, but a combination of lower back and ankle injuries delayed his 2022 season, when he made his Major League debut with the Guardians. There was a small back flareup with the Rockies this spring, and it’s something Jones has to watch. And while no one wants to change him, the belief is that relaxing could be part of his strategy.

“Before he was actually put on the IL, I had a long conversation with him, and that was mentioned many times,” Rockies hitting coach Hensley Meulens said. “It was mentioned many times that less is more, especially if you’re hurting -- and it’s not working anyways. So let’s use reverse psychology and see if that will keep you fresh.”

Jones has mentioned looking up to veteran Kris Bryant, who also had a back injury this season. Personality-wise, Bryant is more amenable to the idea of backing off the effort.

“I was the same way when I was younger, [believing] that taking more reps or whatever it may be was the answer,” Bryant said. “But sometimes the answer is to get away from it.

“It’s a fine, fine line. You can’t fault [Jones], but sometimes I’m like, ‘Let’s go do something other than this right now.’”

Jones hears it all. His lesson is not to let swing work overtake “everyday maintenance” for his back. But there will still be a lot of hitting.

Jones loves the search for his swing. After Sunday’s win over the Phillies, he found a spot in the clubhouse where players happened to be away from their lockers, and he took some form swings.

“As a hitter, we need to hit to get better,” Jones said. “It’s how I feel. If I feel good, I go. If I don’t, I dial it back. But it’s not, ‘Hey, there’s early hitting and I’m not out there, so that means I’m hurting.’ I’m going to pick my spots. But I was down at Albuquerque hitting on the field every day [during the first rehab assignment] when I was rehabbing my back.

“I want to put numbers up obviously, but more importantly I want to be a part of the good vibes here -- winning series, hanging out with the guys. I want to be involved in that.”