Todd Jones (baseball player)

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Todd Jones

Detroit Tigers — No. 59
Closing Pitcher
Bats: Left Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 7, 1993 for the Houston Astros
Selected MLB statistics (through 2006)
Win-loss     53-58
Strikeouts     821
Earned run average     3.91
Saves     263
Teams

Houston Astros (1995-1996)
Detroit Tigers (1997-2001)
Minnesota Twins (2001)
Colorado Rockies (2002)
Boston Red Sox (2003)
Colorado Rockies (2003)
Cincinnati Reds (2004)
Philadelphia Phillies (2004)
Florida Marlins (2005)
Detroit Tigers (2006-)

Todd Barton Givin Jones (born April 24, 1968 in Marietta, Georgia) is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays with the Detroit Tigers. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed. He has been an effective middle reliever for a variety of teams, and he has had an up-and-down career as a closer. In 2002 Jones started writing a weekly column, "The Closer," for The Sporting News.

Jones graduated from Osborne High School in Marietta, Georgia and attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama. He was drafted by the Houston Astros in the first round of 1989 MLB draft and made his major league debut during the 1993 season.

Initially used mainly as a setup man, Jones soon became a closer for the Houston Astros. His best years came with the Detroit Tigers from 1997-2001, when he logged 142 saves.

Jones signed a one-year contract with the Florida Marlins during the 2004 offseason. After an injury to incumbent closer Guillermo Mota, Jones took on the role for the first time since being traded to the Minnesota Twins in 2001. He finished the 2005 season with a 2.10 ERA and 40 saves. On December 8, 2005, Jones signed a two-year contract to return to the Tigers. In 2006, he also participated in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in March 2006.

Jones is a power pitcher and shows good durability. In every year since the strike-shortened 1994 season, he has pitched in at least 51 games. On May 21, 2006, he became the Detroit Tigers' all-time leader in saves, passing Mike Henneman.

While playing for the Colorado Rockies in April 2003, Jones made some public anti-gay comments[1]. A few days later, he issued an apology[2], but did not retract his comments.

Jones is a distant relative of Hamilton Mitchell, a noteworthy 20th century author, statesman, actor and musician. They are both well-known for their love of elegantly groomed moustaches.

Jones is also a devout Christian, and is known for using Contemporary Christian music when entering from the bullpen. His current entrance theme is "Last One Standing" by MercyMe.

[edit] Awards and accomplishments

[edit] Trivia

  • Threw the last MLB pitch at historic Tiger Stadium on September 27, 1999

[edit] External links

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