Jake Noll

Position: 3B
Level: Double-A
Affiliate: Harrisburg Senators
League: Carolina League
Born: 03/08/1994 (Age: 30)
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 195
B/T: Right / Right
Acquired: 7th Rd., 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft (WSH)

Prospect Spotlight

Noll was the Nats’ 7th round pick in 2016 on the strength of a well-built frame and offensive upside, despite lacking a true defensive position. That still could be said today, as Noll—now 24-years-old—continues to have success against minor league pitching while struggling with the glove. He broke out last year in Hagerstown, slashing .270/.312/.448 in 2017. This year, Noll turned it up another level, slashing .302/.350/.460 in the first half with High-A Potomac before playing in the Carolina League All-Star Game before a recent promotion to Double-A.

While his production has been solid to this point, Noll is a good example of an older player having success in A-Ball. He has a good approach at the plate and a polished swing, but it isn’t particularly fast nor explosive, and the offensive profile runs the risk of blending in a bit more in the high-minors. His fringy raw power plays more to the pullside, and Noll projects more as a doubles hitter with occasional power than a true masher with enough bat to play everyday on a corner. The Nationals tried him at second base last season Hagerstown—an experiment that didn’t last more than a season—and while he’s a better physical fit for the hot corner at 6’2’’ and 195-pounds, Noll’s hands and actions are well below average. At the big league level, there isn’t much keeping him away from being a first baseman.

A right-handed corner bat without tons of raw power, Noll will have to continue producing and proving it at every level to earn his shot at the majors. The best-case ceiling is a FV 40 bench bat who faces mostly lefties, though the lack of a carry tool could wind up profiling as a 4A type if there isn’t enough to carve out a regular reserve role.