Cleveland, OH

“Big Christmas” In Summer: Noel Delivers For Cleveland Guardians

Published

2 years ago

August 15, 2024

“Big Christmas” In Summer: Noel Delivers For Cleveland Guardians

CLEVELAND, OHIO – AUGUST 12: Jhonkensy Noel #43 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates as he rounds … [+] the bases on a three-run homer during the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field on August 12, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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They call him “Big Christmas.”

Someone, somewhere, at some time, started calling Cleveland Guardians slugger, Jhonkensy Noel, “Big Christmas.”

Noel, 6-3, 250 pounds, has immense power from the right side of the plate.

Promoted by the Guardians in late June, Noel, 23, has already had a tremendous impact on the outcome of Guardians games.

Maybe Noel’s nickname should be “Big Santa.” He has delivered plenty of gifts to Cleveland, in the way of timely home runs and very, very good defense in right field, and first base.

Noel has hit nine home runs in 94 plate appearances.

Noel hit two crucial home runs August 12 against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Noel’s first homer in that Cleveland victory gave his team the lead. His second home run gave them a bit of breathing room. As it turns out, they won the game by a score of 9-8.

Noel hit another homer August 13. It put his team ahead of the Cubs in the 6th inning. That shot went 430 feet.

It turned out Noel’s home run won the game for Cleveland.

Noel is what the Guardians need right now.

He is in the right place.

He is producing at the right time.

CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 07: Cleveland Guardians right fielder Jhonkensy Noel (43) singles during the … [+] ninth inning of game 2 of the the Major League Baseball Interleague game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Guardians on August 7, 2024, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Flashing Several Tools:

Noel has responded to Cleveland’s need for a booming bat in the lineup.

In the last five years, the team has tried to find power from the bats of Bobby Bradley, Oscar Gonzalez, Franmil Reyes, Estevan Florial, and Josh Bell.

None contributed much to a Cleveland offense that has needed power for years.

The most potent bat among them currently belongs to Josh Bell, who the Guardians signed as a free agent in 2022.

Bell was traded by Cleveland to Miami, and has since been traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he is flourishing.

Maybe Cleveland pulled the plug too soon on Bell. But to this old scout, clearly not on Bradley, Gonzalez, Reyes, or Florial.

Noel may stick around for a while.

To be sure, some swing and miss remains in Noel’s game. But he’s young, and still learning to hit big league pitching.

Noel seems susceptible to breaking balls down and away from right-handed pitchers.

Noel also has a tendency to chase high fastballs in his eyes.

But time and hard work can correct those holes in his swing.

This old scout has seen Noel scorch pitches thrown down in the zone.

He still needs more patience at the plate. He needs to recognize pitches out of the hand more quickly.

To his credit, Noel works very hard to improve his game. He is out on the field early, working on his defense.

For a big man, Noel is lithe, and nimble in the field.

Noel is much quicker on his feet than one might expect. His coordination and mobility have been on display, as he has made game-changing plays that required a complete combination of skills and confidence.

Noel is getting great “reads” on balls, and his routes have led to some outstanding defensive plays, saving runs for his team.

DETROIT, MI – JULY 9: Jhonkensy Noel #43 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts after a called third … [+] strike during the sixth inning of a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 9, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

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Playing Time:

For this old scout, Noel should be playing every day, regardless of who is on the mound.

To date, Guardians manager Steven Vogt has mainly platooned Noel, choosing to play him against left-handed pitchers.

Things may be changing.

Noel started all three games against the Cubs, facing a left-handed starter in game one, and then two right-handers.

The Guards won all three games.

To this writer, Noel is one of the few loud bats in the Cleveland lineup capable of changing the outcome of a game with one swing of the bat.

A lineup with Jose Ramirez, Josh Naylor, and Jhonkensy Noel will add more pressure to the opposing pitcher.

There is a concern that pitchers will pitch around him, and not give him anything to drive. However, if he hits higher in the order, that scenario is less likely.

Noel probably has to fill some holes in his swing to earn a higher slot in the batting order.

Here is what Steven Vogt told MLB.com about Noel after the first Cubs victory: “For Big Christmas to go two times and for us to keep adding on was huge.”

Cleveland baseball fans can be thankful “Big Christmas” has arrived in Cleveland this summer.

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Cleveland, OH

Medical examiner releases new details about bodies of 2 young girls found in suitcases near Cleveland school

Published

11 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Medical examiner releases new details about bodies of 2 young girls found in suitcases near Cleveland school

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner released new information about the bodies of two young girls found in suitcases in Cleveland’s South Collinwood neighborhood.

On Wednesday morning, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner confirmed through DNA that the two girls are half-siblings.

At this time, they have not been positively identified, and no further information is available while the investigation is ongoing.

In a news conference on Tuesday, Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd confirmed the bodies of two young girls were found in suitcases on the city’s East Side on Monday evening.

Cleveland police were called just after 6 p.m. to a field in the area of East 163rd and Midland Avenue for a suspected dead body.

According to police sources, a man was walking his dog in the area, for the first time in a while, due to the snow, and the dog hit on the scent.

The man immediately called 911.

“The officers responded out and located a deceased individual that was in a shallow grave inside of a suitcase,” said Chief Todd.

When officers and homicide detectives got to the scene, Todd said they found the second body nearby.

According to the chief, both suitcases were partially buried in shallow graves. She said the victims had been there quite some time.

“It is traumatic for everyone. It is traumatic for those who live in the area to know that this was right there at their doorstep,” said Todd.

Authorities said one victim is believed to be 8-and-a-half to 13 years old and the other is believed to be 10-and-a-half to 14 years old.

“Locally, we have no reports of missing children to match these identifications. We are checking statewide as well. We have assistance from our state, federal and local partners,” said Todd.

Detectives are checking with state and federal partners as well.

This crime scene is located near Ginn Academy in the city’s South Collinwood neighborhood.

Police said the investigation remains in its very early stages and there is no indication of an ongoing threat to public safety.

If anyone has any information, they are asked to call the Cleveland Police Homicide Unit at 216-623-5464.

Tips can remain anonymous.

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Cleveland, OH

Bodies of 2 young girls found in suitcases in Cleveland’s South Collinwood neighborhood

Published

23 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd on Tuesday confirmed the bodies of two young girls were found in suitcases on the city’s East Side Monday evening.

Cleveland police were called just after 6 p.m. to a field in the area of East 163rd and Midland Avenue for a suspected dead body.

According to police sources, a man was walking his dog in the area, for the first time in awhile due to the snow, and the dog hit on the scent.

The man immediately called 911.

“The officers responded out and located a deceased individual that was in a shallow grave inside of a suitcase,” said Chief Todd.

When officers and homicide detectives got to the scene, Todd said they found the second body nearby.

According to the chief, both suitcases were partially buried in shallow graves. She said the victims had been there quite some time.

“It is traumatic for everyone. It is traumatic for those who live in the area to know that this was right there at their door step,” said Todd.

Authorities said one victim is believed to be 8-and-a-half to 13 years old and the other is believed to be 10-and-a-half to 14 years old.

There is no indication at this time on their identities, according to police.

“locally we have no reports of missing children to match these identifications. We are checking statewide as well. We have assistance from our state federal and local partners,” said Todd.

Detectives are checking with state and federal partners as well.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has taken custody of the bodies and will conduct further examination to determine the cause of death.

This crime scene is located near Ginn Academy in the city’s South Collinwood neighborhood.

Police said the investigation remains in its very early stages and there is no indication of an ongoing threat to public safety.

If anyone has any information, they are asked to call the Cleveland Police Homicide Unit at 216-623-5464.

Tips can remain anonymous.

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Cleveland, OH

More than 30K FirstEnergy customers without power in Cuyahoga County

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

More than 30K FirstEnergy customers without power in Cuyahoga County

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Thousands of FirstEnergy customers are without power in Cuyahoga County this Tuesday.

The total number reached 31,785 reported outages in Cuyahoga County at noon.

That number decreased to 16,486 as of 1:10 p.m.

There were just 2,751 still without power less than an hour later at 2 p.m.

FirstEnergy estimates power to be restored to most impacted customers between 2-4 p.m. Tuesday.

FirstEnergy spokesperson Brooke Conlan said this is due to small fires on poles.

According to Conlan, the misty rain combined with salt on the road can cause contamination on utility poles, which causes electricity to travel across the the pole and cause the fire.

Conlan added their crews are working as quickly as possible to restore power.

Due to the outages, the Parma Justice Center is closed, and all court proceedings are suspended for the remainder of Tuesday.

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