Baseball is all about confidence.

When he joined the Colorado Rockies for the 2023 season, Nolan Jones exuded confidence en route to a 20-20 season and a fourth-place finish in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. In over 100 games that season, he established himself as a versatile and productive player capable of blasting a ball over the fence, stealing a base, or firing a bullet from left field to get an out. It was everything the Rockies could have hoped for as they entered the 2024 season.

Unfortunately, Jones dealt with injury, self-imposed pressure, and off-field worries that severely damaged his confidence at the plate. Due to back and knee issues, he played in just 79 games last season, batting a paltry .227/.321/.320 with just three home runs. His approach at the plate suffered as did his play in the field where routine catches were now being misjudged and glancing off his glove. He began to resemble his old self down the stretch last season, but there was a lot left to do to prove he wasn’t just a one-trick pony.

Spring Training this year was a chance for Jones to reassert himself as the Rockies starting left fielder come opening day. Through his first 12 games of camp, Jones hadn’t exactly impressed, batting just .156/.206/.156, going 5-32 with eight strikeouts and two walks. Jones didn’t get his first hit until his sixth game and had yet to get an extra-base hit. The lack of success, despite making contact and striking out at a rate not uncommon for him, it has certainly left concerns about his future with the team. Confidence has certainly started to wane among the fan base and perhaps with the coaching staff, particularly due to the performance of Sean Bouchard and prospect Zac Veen.

With time running out in camp, Jones needed a game like the one he had on Wednesday against the San Diego Padres to start building confidence again. Batting eighth and playing left field, Jones delivered a four-hit game, including a double, and drove in three runs. A couple of the hits came on pitches down around the knees, something he has struggled with, while also staying in the zone and making contact.  He raised his average to .250 (9-for-36), a promising result at this point in camp.

“Players want hits. When you’re starting to get hits, it fuels some confidence,” said manager Bud Black. “That’s what Nolan needs right now. Any player, no matter the setting, wants hits. I’m glad he got four.”

Out of minor league options, the Rockies are hoping that Jones can rebound to his 2023 performance. Projections are certainly favoring a Jones rebound of sorts. The ZiPS projections (a system of player projections developed by FanGraph’s Dan Szymborski when he was at Baseball Think Factory) have Jones playing in 113 games with a .261 AVG, 14 home runs, and .787 OPS to be worth 1.8 fWAR. His strong tendency to draw walks projects an 11.7% while strikeouts will continue to come in close to 30%. Projected to hit lower in the lineup this season, Jones may be able to keep some of the pressure off of himself and contribute to drive in runs for the on-base hitters ahead of him.

The Rockies have now witnessed the highs and lows of Jones after just two seasons. If he stays healthy and finds a way to live up to those projections, it will be a step in the right direction in the hopes that he can at least find a happy medium between the two versions. His unique five-tool capabilities could make him a force for the Rockies, but confidence is a key aspect of his profile and more games like Wednesday will solidify his place come Opening Day.