JaCoby Jones

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #6 prospect in 2017
  Jones was part of the same Mississippi prep class that produced Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe. The Astros drafted Jones out of high school, but he elected to attend Louisiana State. The Pirates called Jones' name three years later and signed the third-rounder for $612,000. The Tigers acquired Jones at midseason 2015 for closer Joakim Soria, though he served a 50-game suspension at the beginning of 2016. Jones was primarily a second baseman at LSU and played shortstop during his time with the Pirates. He moved to third base early with the Tigers but played mostly center field. He's a plus defender in center with a plus arm, and is a well above-average runner as well. Jones has the above-average power to profile as a regular but has a long swing-and-miss track record, owing to length in his swing, lack of plate discipline and below-average pitch recognition skills. Jones received six extra weeks of reps at the plate and in center field in the Arizona Fall League. He'll have a chance to earn a spot with the Tigers in 2017 if he hits enough, particularly after the trade of Cameron Maybin. If he doesn't win the center field job, his versatility will be an asset.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #5 prospect in 2016
  At Louisiana State, Jones mostly played second base, but he moved to shortstop when he joined the Pirates, staying there despite a knee injury that ended his pro debut and sidelined him for six months. He reached Double-A in late July, then a few days later was traded to the Tigers for Joakim Soria. He went to the Arizona Fall League, but he drew a 50-game suspension after a second positive test for what MLB called a "drug of abuse." Jones has a promising power-speed combination, though it remains questionable whether he will ever hit enough for the tools to translate. He has strong wrists and plus raw power. He rolls over too many groundballs, but when he gets the ball airborne, he uses the whole field and can go deep to any part of the park. Jones strikes out too much, a combination of a long swing and poor pitch recognition, as he chases too many pitches off the plate, especially breaking balls. With his plus speed, he's a 20-20 threat if he can become an average hitter. Jones isn't built like a prototypical wiry shortstop, but he's a good athlete with a strong arm who made impressive improvement in the field, making all the routine plays and improving his jumps off the bat. If Jones can tighten his plate discipline and put the barrel to the ball more frequently, he could be a dynamic shortstop, but it's a high-risk offensive profile. He will likely return to Double-A to start 2016.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #13 prospect in 2015
  After Jones played all over the field at Louisiana State, the Pirates drafted him as a center fielder in 2013. However, he played exclusively at shortstop at low Class A West Virginia in 2014. Jones is a tooled-up player who is a plus runner with power, as evidenced by his 23 home runs and 17 stolen bases last season. He become enamored of hitting the ball out of the park at the expense of making contract. His all-or-nothing approach leaves him susceptible to anything but fastballs. Jones has the range to play shortstop, but most scouts don't think he'll stick there because his hands are somewhat stiff and his arm is below-average. He is a solid center fielder, where he uses his speed to his advantage. The Pirates hope Jones can stay at shortstop for the long haul, and he will play there again at high Class A Bradenton in 2015. With his tools and versatility, he could carve out a long career as a super utility player.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #19 prospect in 2014
  Jones played all over the diamond at Louisiana State, including both middle-infield positions. The Pirates selected him as a center fielder in the third round of the 2013 draft, but he also saw five games at shortstop before suffering a season-ending knee injury at short-season Jamestown. Jones has all five tools but has yet to see his production match his raw talent. He hit .253 with a .672 OPS as an LSU sophomore in 2012 before improving to .283/.382/.417 in 187 at-bats for the Tigers in 2013. Jones won the Cape Cod League home run derby in 2012, yet hit just 13 bombs in 627 collegiate at-bats then went deep only once in first 67 pro plate appearances. Most scouts feel Jones eventually will settle in center to take advantage of his speed and range. Despite a shortened debut season, Jones figures to begin 2014 at high Class A Bradenton, though it remains to be seen if his knee gives him any long-term problems.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #75 prospect in 2013 draft
  The three top prep players out of Mississippi in 2010 were Ryan Bolden, Jones and Hunter Renfroe. The Angels took Bolden in the supplemental first-round (he hasn't reached full-season ball yet), while Jones and Renfroe headed to the Southeastern Conference. Jones came in with more fanfare and has been a three-year starter at LSU, though Renfroe has far surpassed him as a prospect. Jones ranks as the top athlete in the college class and does everything easily, from long batting-practice home runs to well above-average speed. Jones looks like a shortstop, plays second base and probably fits better in center field long-term. He doesn't have the instincts to stay in the dirt and is said to prefer the outfield. He doesn't have great pitch recognition and hasn't tapped into his above-average raw power, with just 13 career home runs. His low-energy approach and makeup, plus his modest improvement over three seasons, turn scouts off, so his tools have to get him into the third round.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Florida State League #20 prospect in 2015
  A Mississippi prep product, Jones played mostly second base in three years at Louisiana State but shifted to shortstop for the Pirates before they traded him to the Tigers for Joakim Soria in July. Detroit kept him at short after the trade, and he has impressed managers with his ability to make the routine play consistently. He has fringy range but above-average arm strength, good hands and enough body control for the middle infield. Jones could be an above-average offensive player at shortstop if he sticks there. He has quick hands and athleticism, turning in above-average run times despite his size. Jones has long levers and plus raw power that would play if he has to move down the defensive spectrum. The big question with Jones is how much contact he'll make. He chases breaking balls too often and still hasn't learned which ones to lay off. As one manager put it, "He chases the nasty ones and takes the hangers." At minimum, Jones has offensive upside similar to Ryan Raburn but with more defensive ability.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Jones was part of the same Mississippi prep class that produced Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe. The Astros drafted Jones out of high school, but he elected to attend Louisiana State. The Pirates called Jones' name three years later and signed the third-rounder for $612,000. The Tigers acquired Jones at midseason 2015 for closer Joakim Soria, though he served a 50-game suspension at the beginning of 2016. Scouting Report: Jones was primarily a second baseman at LSU and played shortstop during his time with the Pirates. He moved to third base early with the Tigers but played mostly center field. He's a plus defender in center with a plus arm, and is a well above-average runner as well. Jones has the above-average power to profile as a regular but has a long swing-and-miss track record, owing to length in his swing, lack of plate discipline and below-average pitch recognition skills.
  
  The Future: Jones received six extra weeks of reps at the plate and in center field in the Arizona Fall League. He'll have a chance to earn a spot with the Tigers in 2017 if he hits enough, and his versatility will be an asset.