Tyler Jones
| IP | 332 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.877 |
| WHIP | 1.349 |
| BB/9 | 3.47 |
| SO/9 | 10.437 |
- Full name Tyler Matthew Jones
- Born 09/05/1989 in Milwaukee, WI
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 240 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Louisiana State
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Drafted in the 11th round (358th overall) by the Minnesota Twins in 2011 (signed for $105,000).
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Louisiana State's problems this season started on the mound, where the team wound up with an all-freshman rotation. That was due in part to a rough season by junior righty Tyler Jones, who had the best arm among LSU's veterans. He pushes his fastball up to 95-96 mph out of the bullpen, and he maintains a plus fastball when he starts. Command of both his heater and his pedestrian secondary stuff is the issue.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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Jones distinguished himself in 2013 by making the full-time move to the bullpen. Splitting his year between two Class A levels, the big-bodied righty showed a renewed commitment to fitness and saw the quality of his repertoire improve considerably. Signed for $105,000, Jones' stock may have dropped after a misdemeanor shoplifting charge cost him a rotation spot in his lone season at Louisiana State. The former Madison (Wis.) JC standout saw his fastball jump from 88-91 mph during a frigid April to 93-95 by August, with cut and sink that rates a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He was touching 97 mph by season's end. Jones' hard, heavy slider has good downward action in the upper 80s and approaches plus status at times. He also throws a curve and changeup. The change, which he uses rarely out of the bullpen, has some late drop and has become his third pitch. Jones missed most of May with a right elbow strain, but he threw well upon his return, earning a promotion to high Class A Fort Myers. The Twins see his frame and repertoire as suitable for starting, though his stabbing arm action hinders his command and breaking ball consistency. -
Jones led his Madison (Wis.) JC team to the Division II Junior College World Series and was drafted in the 21st round by the White Sox in 2010 but headed to Louisiana State rather than turning pro. He missed a season-opening series as punishment for a misdemeanor shoplifting charge and never earned consistent rotation time, going 4-0, 5.21. The Twins still drafted him in the 11th round and paid him $105,000 because he had flashed a 95-96 mph fastball as a reliever. Jones continues to throw hard, working at 90-94 mph and touching 95 with his fastball, which has average life with cut and sink. It helped him lead Minnesota's minor league starters with 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings in his first full pro season. His slider gives him another swing-and-miss pitch with depth at times; at others it's more of a hard cutter in the upper 80s. His curveball and changeup are just show-me pitches. His arm action has a stab in it that makes it hard for Jones to repeat his release point, and his lack of command leads to too many hitter's counts. He's headed for the Fort Myers rotation in 2013 but could move to the bullpen sooner rather than later.
