Jones attended the High School of Telecommunications in Bay Ridge,Brooklyn,where he led them to a Brooklyn West Division Championship. He spent time as both a pitcher and a position player.[1]
In 2007,Jones began attending Long Island University where in his freshman season he played 50 games,including pitching in 12 of those games. For the season he hit .299 with 10 doubles,three triples,four home runs and 32 RBIs. He also had eight stolen bases.[1] He was primarily used as a pitcher and went 2−6 with a 7.25 ERA in 12 games,eight starts.
He started all 67 games in 2008,including 14 pitching appearances. Jones hit .309 with eight doubles,two triples,five home runs and 28 RBIs. His 41 runs and 19 stolen bases were team highs. He earned many honors including First Team All-Northeast Conference,he was named NEC Player of the Week on March 24,he was ranked 30th on Baseball America's Top 100 College Prospects List and was named top prospect in New York State by Perfect Game Crosschecker.[1]
Going into his junior year many felt Jones was better suited as a pitcher entering the draft.[2] His fastball was said to be up to 95mph (153km/h).[2] Jones continued to play as a pitcher and an outfielder throughout the rest of his junior season.[2] He was drafted by the Mariners at the end of the season as an outfielder rather than a pitcher.[3][2][4]
Professional career
Seattle Mariners
Jones began his professional career in 2009 with the Low-A Everett AquaSox of the Northwest League.[5] He played 33 games in right field,seven at first base,three at designated hitter and one in left field.[5] Jones finished the season hitting .311 with 12 doubles,two triples,three home runs and 24 RBIs.[5] In 2010,Baseball America listed Jones as the "Best Outfield Arm" in the Seattle Mariners organization.[6] To begin the 2010 season,Jones was assigned to the Single-A Clinton LumberKings. On the season,Jones batted .269 with 87 runs scored,132 hits,24 doubles,10 triples,12 home runs,64 RBIs,and 24 stolen bases.[5]
The Mariners added Jones to their 40-man roster on November 20,2013.[7] He was called up to the Mariners on April 16,2014 and had his MLB debut on April 18,2014 against the Miami Marlins. In his first at bat he beat out a ground ball to the second baseman for his first MLB hit.[8] Following the game he was optioned back to Triple-A Tacoma.[citation needed] On May 5,2014 he was recalled to the Mariners.[citation needed]
On May 18,2014,Jones joined Edgar Martínez as the only players in Mariners history to hit safely in each of their first ten MLB starts.[9] He registered a hit in each of his first 13 MLB starts.[citation needed]
Jones re-signed with the Rangers on a minor league contract on February 14, 2019.[12] Jones split the 2019 season between Frisco and the Triple-A Nashville Sounds,.[14] going a combined 3–2 with a 3.52 ERA with 71 strikeouts over 64 innings.[5] Jones was the Texas Rangers 2019 Minor League True Ranger Award winner.[15] He elected free agency following the season on November 4.[16] Jones re-signed with the Rangers on another minor league contract on January 9, 2020.[citation needed] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[17]
Jones split the 2022 campaign between Round Rock, Frisco, and the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Rangers. In 22 appearances split between the three affiliates, he compiled a 4-0 record and 3.86 ERA with 36 strikeouts across 21 innings pitched. Jones elected free agency following the season on November 10, 2022.[18]
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