Rico Noel

Jablonski Rico Noel (born January 11, 1989) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees in 2015.

Amateur career
Noel attended Lawton High School in Lawton, Oklahoma, where he started for the baseball, basketball, and American football teams. Deciding to pursue baseball over football, Noel enrolled at Coastal Carolina University to play college baseball for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. He began his college career as a second baseman, but became a center fielder in his sophomore year. In 2009, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres selected Noel in the fifth round of the 2010 MLB Draft. Noel signed with the Padres, receiving a $163,000 signing bonus. In 2012, while playing for the Lake Elsinore Storm of the Class A-Advanced California League, Noel recorded 90 stolen bases. Noel was named All-MiLB for May 2013. He began the 2015 season in Triple-A with the Padres, but asked for his release when he decided that to further his career, he needed to play for another organization.

New York Yankees
The Padres released Noel in July, and he signed with the Yankees. The Yankees assigned Noel to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of Triple-A International League.

The Yankees promoted Noel to the major leagues on September 1, 2015. He made his major league debut as a defensive replacement on September 2. After the Yankees clinched a berth in the MLB postseason, Noel received his first plate appearance on October 3, and hit a single off of Baltimore Orioles' pitcher Oliver Drake. Noel was included on the Yankees' 25-man roster for the 2015 American League Wild Card Game. Noel stole five bases for the Yankees. The Yankees removed Noel from their 40-man roster over the offseason.

Later career
Noel signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2015. He was given a non-roster invitation to Dodgers spring training. He played in 47 games with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, hitting .230.

Noel signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for the 2017 season. he was released on May 6, 2017. He resigned on May 23, 2017. On August 1, 2017, Noel signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros organization. He was assigned to the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Double–A Texas League. After 7 games for the Hooks, he was promoted to the Triple–A Fresno Grizzlies. In 18 games with Fresno, Noel batted .250/.292/.338 with 2 RBI and 2 stolen bases. Noel elected free agency following the season on November 6.

On March 12, 2018, Noel signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for the 2018 season. He became a free agent following the 2018 season. On May 9, 2019, Noel signed with the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League. He was released on June 8. On July 12, Noel signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He became a free agent following the season.

On April 18, 2022, Noel signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League. He was released on May 11, 2022. On May 14, Noel signed with El Águila de Veracruz of the Mexican League. He was released on July 13.

Personal life
Noel was born in Louisiana to Vincent and Mary Noel. His family moved to Oklahoma when he was in junior high school. Noel lives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, during the baseball offseason. Noel's younger brother, Orlandus, is seeking a heart transplant.