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Jahmai Fitzgerald Jones (born August 4, 1997) is an American professional baseball outfielder and second baseman for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Angels in 2020 and has also played for the Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers.

Amateur career

Jones attended the Wesleyan School in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. He played football during his freshman and sophomore seasons, totaling 1,137 yards on 76 pass receptions and 12 touchdowns in those years. He then focused on baseball.[1] As a senior, he hit .464 with eight home runs, 21 runs batted in (RBIs), and 40 stolen bases and was named the Gwinnett Daily Post Baseball Player of the Year.[2] He was selected by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the second round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.[3]

Professional career

Los Angeles Angels

Jones made his professional debut with the Arizona League Angels and spent all of 2015 there, posting a .244 batting average with two home runs, 20 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. In 2016, Jones started the season with the Orem Owlz and was promoted to the Burlington Bees during the season.[4] He finished 2016 batting .302 with four home runs, 30 RBIs and twenty stolen bases in 64 games between both clubs.

In 2017, Jones played for both Burlington and the Inland Empire 66ers, posting a combined .282 batting average with 14 home runs, 47 RBIs, 27 stolen bases and a .794 OPS in 127 games. In 2018, Jones played with Inland and the Mobile BayBears, slashing .239/.337/.380 with 10 home runs, 55 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases in 123 games.[5] In 2019, Jones spent the season with the Mobile BayBears,[6] batting .234/.308/.324 with five home runs, fifty RBIs, and nine stolen bases over 130 games. Following the season, he was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Mesa Solar Sox,[7] and also, he was added to the Angels 40-man roster.[8]

On August 31, 2020, Jones made his MLB debut as a pinch runner.[9] On September 26, 2020, Jones got his first career hit off of Tony Gonsolin of the Los Angeles Dodgers.[10]

Baltimore Orioles

On February 2, 2021, Jones was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for pitcher Alex Cobb.[11] He was assigned to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides to begin the season.[12] He underwent Tommy John surgery on May 27, 2022, and was designated for assignment on May 28.[13] He was released on June 3.[14] In 67 official at-bats with Baltimore in 2021, he batted .149 with 3 RBIs, 4 walks and 5 runs.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Jones signed a two-year minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 23, 2022.[15] In 62 games for the Triple–A Oklahoma City Dodgers in 2023, he had a .293 batting average with nine home runs and 34 RBI. On July 1, 2023, he opted out of his minor league contract and became a free agent.[16][17]

Milwaukee Brewers

On July 3, 2023, Jones signed a major league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers and was added to their active roster.[18] The very same day, Jones recorded his first hit as a Brewer - a game tying, three RBI double.[19][20] In seven total games for Milwaukee, he went 2–for–10 (.200) with three RBI and one stolen base. Jones was designated for assignment on February 21, 2024, following the re–signing of Brandon Woodruff.[21][22]

New York Yankees

On February 28, 2024, Jones was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees.[23] He made the Yankees' Opening Day roster.[24] Jones hit his first major league home run on May 12.[25] In 33 games for the Yankees, he batted .238/.304/.381 with one home run, four RBI, and one stolen base. Jones was designated for assignment by New York on July 29.[26]

Personal life

His father, Andre Jones, played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions.[27] He died in 2011 due to a brain aneurysm.[28] His brother, T. J. Jones, was an NFL wide receiver.[29] His other brother, Malachi Jones, plays in the National Arena League (NAL) for the Albany Empire.[30]

References

  1. ^ Gilberto, Gerard (November 22, 2017). "Jones finds baseball lessons in football roots". MILB.com. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  2. ^ Friedlander, David. "Baseball Player of the Year: Move to lead-off gives Wesleyan speedster Jones room to run". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  3. ^ "Angels draft high school outfielder Jahmai Jones". MLB.com. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  4. ^ "Toolshed: Los Angeles Angels prospect Jahmai Jones spreading wings - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  5. ^ "Jahmai Jones Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  6. ^ Jessica DeLine@abaseballchick April 4, 2019, 12:00pm PDT (April 4, 2019). "Still Mobile: 2019 Mobile BayBears (AA) Preview". Halos Heaven. Retrieved February 1, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Norris, Josh. "2019 Arizona Fall League Rosters Announced". www.baseballamerica.com.
  8. ^ Jeff Fletcher (November 20, 2019). "Angels add Jahmai Jones, Hector Yan to 40-man roster". Orange County Register. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  9. ^ "Mariners vs. Angels - Game Recap - August 31, 2020 - ESPN". ESPN.com.
  10. ^ Bollinger, Rhett (September 27, 2020). "First MLB hits? Cool. Back to back? Wow!". MLB.com. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  11. ^ Meoli, Jon (February 2, 2021). "Orioles finalize Alex Cobb trade to Angels for infielder Jahmai Jones". Baltimore Sun.
  12. ^ "Wesleyan grad Jahmai Jones, playing well for Triple-A Norfolk, pushes toward MLB level".
  13. ^ Powtak, Ken (May 28, 2022). "Nathan Eovaldi gets 1st career complete game; Red Sox beat Orioles 5-3". Boston.com. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  14. ^ "Orioles release former heralded prospect Jahmai Jones". June 3, 2022.
  15. ^ "Jahmai Jones Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  16. ^ "Jahmai Jones: Opts out of deal". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  17. ^ "Transactions". MiLB.com.
  18. ^ "Brewers add Jahmai Jones as Brian Anderson goes on paternity list". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  19. ^ Kertscher, Tom (July 3, 2023). "Jahmai Jones delivers 3-run double in 1st big league appearance since '21 in Brewers' win over Cubs". Associated Press. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  20. ^ Stebbins, Tim (July 3, 2023). "In 1st MLB at-bat in 2 years, Jones lifts Crew to dramatic comeback". MLB.com. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  21. ^ "Brewers sign free agent catcher Gary Sanchez to 1-year contract". ESPN.com. February 21, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  22. ^ "Brewers re-sign right-handed pitcher Brandon Woodruff". MLB.com. February 21, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  23. ^ "Press release: Yankees Claim INF Jahmai Jones". MLB.com. February 28, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  24. ^ Phillips, Gary (March 27, 2024). "Jahmai Jones ready for anything as bench bat awaits Yankees' official roster".
  25. ^ "Yanks' Jones delivers Mother's Day gift with first MLB HR". MLB.com.
  26. ^ Castillo, Jorge (July 29, 2024). "New York Yankees activate Giancarlo Stanton from IL". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  27. ^ Friedlander, David. "Wesleyan's Jones ready for prime time as big baseball future awaits". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  28. ^ "Former Notre Dame player Andre Jones dies at 42". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  29. ^ "USABaseball.com: News: Sibling revelry: Jones succeeds despite tragedy". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  30. ^ "Angels prospect Jahmai Jones saw baseball as a way to forge his own identity". March 4, 2018.
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