The Baltimore Orioles may have avoided a major roster shake‑up, but an injury scare during spring training still created concern for a player trying to keep his major league hopes alive. First baseman and outfielder Jhonkensy Noel, nicknamed “Big Christmas,” exited a recent spring training game after taking a pitch off his right hand.
The incident occurred during an at‑bat when Noel was struck by a fastball, immediately drawing attention from the Orioles training staff. While the exact severity of the injury has not yet been determined, the moment quickly circulated among reporters covering the team.
Advertisement
About midway through the game, a report from Orioles insider Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports described the situation as it unfolded.
“Big Christmas just got drilled on the right hand and comes out of the game #orioles,” Kubatko wrote on X.
For Noel, the injury represents an unfortunate setback as he attempts to work his way back into major league relevance. The 23‑year‑old was not widely considered a serious candidate to make Baltimore’s Opening Day roster due to the Orioles deep and talented lineup. With several established hitters already competing for limited roster spots, Noel was expected to spend most, if not all, of the 2026 season developing in the minors.
Advertisement
The Orioles originally acquired Noel from the Cleveland Guardians during the winter after Cleveland designated him for assignment. Baltimore later designated him as well amid roster maneuvering, but Noel cleared waivers and ultimately chose to remain in the organization rather than pursue opportunities elsewhere.
Despite limited big‑league success so far, Noel is still remembered for one unforgettable postseason moment. During Game 3 of the 2024 American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees, he delivered a dramatic, game‑tying two‑run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, an iconic swing that briefly placed him in the national spotlight.
Outside of that moment, however, Noel has struggled to produce consistently at the major league level. Across 136 games with Cleveland during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, he posted a .193 batting average with a .242 on‑base percentage and a .643 OPS. While he did hit 19 home runs and drive in 41 runs, strikeouts were a major issue, totaling 115 during that span.
Once considered a promising prospect with tremendous raw power, Noel’s development has stalled due largely to swing‑and‑miss tendencies. The Orioles had hoped a fresh environment might help him rediscover some of the potential that once made him a highly regarded young hitter.
Advertisement
Now, with the severity of his hand injury still unknown, Noel faces another hurdle in an already challenging path back to the majors.
