Kennard Jones
| AB | 1679 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .263 |
| OBP | .354 |
| SLG | .326 |
| HR | 3 |
- Full name Kennard De'Airis Jones
- Born 09/08/1981 in Cleveland, OH
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Indiana
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Drafted in the 3rd round (85th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2002 (signed for $465,000).
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Jones went undrafted out of a Baltimore high school and Wallace State (Ala.) JC, then led the Big 10 in hitting with a .425 average this spring. A wiry athlete, Jones shows good first-step quickness and runs the 60 in 6.45 seconds. At the plate, he stays inside the ball and makes solid contact and good adjustments. He hits the ball to all fields and has a disciplined approach. He has the range to play well above-average defense in center field and an average arm. While he doesn't project to hit for power, he worked hard to develop upper-body strength and has been compared to Kenny Lofton.
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Ignored in the draft for three straight years in high school and junior college, Jones went in the third round after one season at Indiana. An all-star in the low Class A Midwest League in his first full year, he was promoted to high Class A but missed August after breaking his left hand in an off-field incident. Jones' trademark is his speed, just as it was for his cousin, basketball Hall of Famer Sam Jones. He should become an above-average center fielder and basestealer. He has a good offensive approach, with a short stroke designed for contact and an eye for walks. He has some strength and could develop power down the road. Jones plays out of control too often. He was caught stealing 21 times in 44 tries last year because he doesn't know how to read pitchers. He must improve his breaks and routes in center field. Jones is destined for a full season in high Class A. If he can develop better instincts, he'll challenge Freddy Guzman as the center fielder of the future. -
As if they weren't already stocked with athletic outfielders, the Padres signed Jones as a 2002 third-round pick. He wasn't drafted out of high school or Wallace State (Ala.) CC before sharing Big 10 Conference player of the year honors last spring. A cousin of basketball Hall of Famer Sam Jones, he's as lightning-quick as the former Celtics star was. Jones can get from home to first in 3.85 seconds and runs the 60-yard dash in 6.45 seconds. Compared to Kenny Lofton, he averaged nearly a walk per game after signing. He's disciplined and shortened his swing to enhance his chances of making contact. Jones isn't as weak as his .333 slugging percentage in his pro debut would indicate. That's more reflective of him focusing on putting the ball in play on the ground, because he has upper-body strength and some snap in his wrists. He needs to drive more balls into the gaps. Defensively, Jones has plus range and an average arm. He's still a bit raw in the outfield but soaks up instruction and should improve quickly. He'll begin 2003 in low Class A.
