JaCoby Jones

JaCoby Jones
Detroit Tigers – No. 40
Infielder / Outfielder
Born: (1992-05-10) May 10, 1992
Chickasha, Oklahoma
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 30, 2016, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through April 21, 2017)
Batting average .179
Hits 12
Home runs 1
Runs batted in 6
Teams

JaCoby Mylon Jones (born May 10, 1992) is an American professional baseball third baseman and outfielder for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Prior to playing professionally, Jones attended Louisiana State University (LSU) and played college baseball for the LSU Tigers. Jones was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third round of the 2013 MLB draft, and traded to the Tigers in 2015.

Amateur career

Jones grew up in Richton, Mississippi. He attended Richton High School, where he starred for his school's baseball team.[1] In 2009, he was an Aflac All American and an Under Armor All American. During his senior year in 2010, he was named Mississippi High School Player of the Year. He was also named the Louisville Slugger Mississippi Player of the Year. Jones was also a 2nd Team All American in 2010. Jones is the all-time career hit leader in the state of Mississippi. Jones was a four time All-state selection in high school and was also a 1st Team All-District. He was a Wendy’s High School Heisman in Mississippi recipient. Jones was then drafted in the 19th round of the 2010 MLB draft straight out of high school, but chose to go to LSU. He then enrolled at Louisiana State University (LSU), and played college baseball for the LSU Tigers baseball team as a second baseman.[2] As a freshman with the Tigers, Jones had a .338 batting average, four home runs and 32 runs batted in. He was named to the All-Southeastern Conference (SEC)'s freshman team and a freshman All-American.[1][3][4]

As a sophomore, the Tigers tried to play Jones in center field, but moved him back to second base. He batted .252 on the season.[3] In the summer of 2012, he competed in the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he was champion of the Home Run Derby. As a junior, Jones batted .294 with six home runs in 59 games, and was named to the All-SEC second team.[2]

Professional career

The Pirates selected Jones in the third round of the 2013 MLB draft as an outfielder. He signed with Pittsburgh and reported to the Jamestown Jammers of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League.[2] After playing 15 games for Jamestown, he suffered a knee injury that ended his season.[1] He began the 2014 season with the West Virginia Power of the Class A South Atlantic League as a shortstop.[5] He hit 23 home runs for West Virginia. He began the 2015 season with the Bradenton Marauders of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League.[6] The Pirates promoted him to the Altoona Curve of the Class AA Eastern League in July.[7]

On July 30, 2015, the Pirates traded Jones to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Joakim Soria.[8] He was assigned to the Erie SeaWolves of the Eastern League. In his third game with the SeaWolves, Jones went three-for-four with three home runs and five RBIs. He finished with a .250 average, six home runs and 20 RBIs in 37 games for the SeaWolves.[9]

Following the 2015 season, Jones went on to play for the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League (AFL). Jones was named the AFL Co-Player of the Week for the week ending October 20,[10] and was named to the AFL's Fall Stars Game.[11] On November 5, 2015, while playing in the AFL, Jones was suspended 50 games for his second violation of MLB's joint drug prevention and treatment program.[12]

Jones began the 2016 season with the Toledo Mud Hens of the Class AAA International League. The Tigers promoted Jones to the major leagues on August 30, 2016.[13] In his first two games, he hit 4 for 8, including three doubles. His first major league hit on August 30 was an RBI double against the Chicago White Sox, and on August 31, he scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning on a shallow sacrifice fly.[14]

Jones again participated in the Arizona Fall League in 2016, playing mostly center field for the Scottsdale Scorpions in hopes of becoming the Tigers everyday center fielder in 2017.[15] During a Spring Training broadcast on March 26, 2017, Tiger great Al Kaline described Jones as "the best outfielder we have...(as a) runner, thrower, getting a jump on the ball."[16] On March 31, Jones was named as the Tigers opening day center fielder by manager Brad Ausmus.[17]

Jones hit his first career Major League home run in his first at-bat of the season on April 4, 2017, a three-run shot against José Quintana of the Chicago White Sox. Jones became the first Tigers rookie to hit a home run on opening day since Kirk Gibson in 1980, and the first Tiger to record his first Major League home run on opening day since John Sullivan in 1965.[18]

On April 22, 2017, Jones was hit in the face by a pitch from Justin Haley. With blood coming from Jones' lips, he left the game. Later tests revealed no structural damage to his jaw or teeth, but he did receive stitches on the outside and inside of his lower lip.[19][20] Jones was placed on the 10-day disabled list the next day.[21]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Vernon, Mike (July 29, 2013). "Pirates prospect Jones begins long road to majors". Post-gazette.com. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Pirates ink third-round Draft pick JaCoby Jones". MLB.com. January 7, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "It's about more than baseball for LSU's Jacoby Jones and Ty Ross | LSU". Theadvocate.com. June 19, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  4. ↑ "LSU Second Baseman JaCoby Jones Named Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-American". Sportsnola.com. June 8, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  5. ↑ "WV Power loaded with highly rated prospects". coalvalleynews.com. January 31, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  6. ↑ http://www.bradenton.com/welcome_page/?shf=/2015/04/07/5733743_bradenton-marauders-top-prospects.html
  7. ↑ Randy Rosetta (July 27, 2015). "LSU products Alex Bregman, Sean McMullen and JaCoby Jones all earn promotions". Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  8. ↑ Paul, Tony (July 30, 2015). "Tigers trade Soria to Pirates for SS Jones". The Detroit News. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  9. ↑ Beck, Jason (August 2, 2015). "Prospects begin arriving to Tigers system". MLB.com. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  10. ↑ Fincher, Cody (October 20, 2015). "Tigers' Jones named AFL Co-Player of the Week". MLB.com. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  11. ↑ Beck, Jason (November 3, 2015). "Jones, Ravenelle named to AFL Fall Stars Game". MLB.com. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Tigers prospect JaCoby Jones suspended by MLB". Detroit Free Press. November 6, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  13. ↑ Woodbery, Evan (August 30, 2016). "JaCoby Jones joining Tigers; Casey McGehee optioned to Toledo". MLive.com. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  14. ↑ Sweep! Walkoff! JaCoby Jones scores winner for Detroit Tigers, 3-2, George Sipple, Detroit Free Press, 31 August 2016
  15. ↑ Bentley, Kristen. "Detroit Tigers: Are You Ready for JaCoby Jones in Center Field?". motorcitybengals.com. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Video clip of Detroit-Toronto Spring Training game, March 26, 2017". mlb.mlb.com. March 26, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  17. ↑ Woodbery, Evan (March 31, 2017). "JaCoby Jones named Tigers' center fielder, but he'll share job". MLive.com. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  18. ↑ Beck, Jason; Merkin, Scott (April 4, 2017). "Tigers open with a flourish behind Verlander". MLB.com. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  19. ↑ Beck, Jason. "JaCoby Jones leaves game after taking pitch to face". MLB. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  20. ↑ Beck, Jason. "JaCoby Jones feeling fortunate after getting hit in face". MLB. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  21. ↑ McCosky, Crhis (April 23, 2017). "Injuries force Tigers into patch-up mode; V-Mart struggling". The Detroit News. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
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