The Orioles claimed outfielder Jhonkensy Noel off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians on Monday. Noel, who hit a home run in his first major league at-bat at Oriole Park on June 28th, 2024, hit .162 with six home runs and 13 RBIs in 69 games for Cleveland in 2025.
New Orioles manager Craig Albernaz is familiar with Noel. Albernaz was a coach for the Guardians during Noel’s two major league seasons.
Known as “Big Christmas,” the 24-year-old is listed as 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, and hit 13 homers and drove in 28 runs in 67 games in 2024.
A right-handed hitter, Noel has a .471 slugging percentage and .713 OPS against left-handed pitching in his career.
Noel is 2-for-24 (.083) with a home run in 10 postseason games over the past two years.
To make room for Noel on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated pitcher George Soriano for assignment. Soriano was claimed off waivers from Miami on November 5th.
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