D.J. Jones
| AB | 135 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .215 |
| OBP | .237 |
| SLG | .311 |
| HR | 1 |
- Full name David A. Jones
- Born 12/15/1987 in Birmingham, AL
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Gulf Shores
- Drafted in the 11th round (335th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2007 (signed for $335,000).
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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He may be the most raw prospect in the system, but Jones has a huge ceiling. The Rays always have loved athletes and couldn't help but sign him away from an Auburn commitment for a $335,000 bonus as an 11th-round pick in 2007. A star wide receiver and cornerback for his high school football team, Jones was a two-way player in baseball and tossed a no-hitter in the Alabama state playoffs. Jones has a good approach at the plate, though he has a ways to go with his discipline and pitch recognition. The biggest question about his offensive game is his bat speed, which is just fringe average. He uses a level swing to lace line drives to all fields, and he set an Alabama prep record for career triples thanks to his plus speed and his ability to drive the ball in the gaps. Jones is still learning how to put his quickness to use. He has to read pitchers better in order to become a consistent basestealing threat, and he must take better routes on balls in center field. He has an above-average arm that would fit in right field if needed. Jones is definitely a work in progress, but the Rays have a solid history of being able to mold toolsy outfielders into major league contributors. He'll open 2008 in extended spring training before making his pro debut at Rookie-level Princeton.
