Andruw Jones

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #1 prospect in 1997
  No one in baseball was on a faster track than Andruw Jones in 1996. He concluded his rise from high Class A to the majors by becoming only the second player in history to hit home runs in his first two World Series at-bats. He also won his second straight Minor League Player of the Year award. The quintessential five-tool talent, Jones could become a 40-40 threat. He owns amazing speed and power, and has the strongest outfield arms in the system. Jones will become a better baserunner as he learns how to use his speed. He still falls prey to breaking balls when out of rhythm at the plate. The Braves are trying to clear the way for Jones to start in left field. At worst he'll platoon in left and right.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #1 prospect in 1996
  Baseball America’s 1995 Minor League Player of the Year, Jones was 17 when he started the 1995 season--young even by South Atlantic League standards. But he still dominated the loop and earned recognition from managers as the top prospect. The Curacao native also was named the league's best batting prospect, best power prospect, best baserunner and best defensive outfielder. He led the minors with 71 extra-base hits, led the SAL in runs and stolen bases and ranked among the top four in doubles, home runs and RBIs. Jones is the quintessential five-tool talent. One of the most physically mature 18-year-olds scouts have seen, Jones doesn’t seem awed or overwhelmed by any aspect of the game. He makes adjustments between pitches and can hit practically any fastball sent his way. He also has a plus arm and goes into the gaps aggressively, thinking little of his safety will making diving or leaping catches. His all-out style and impressive array of talents have drawn comparisons to a young Cesar Cedeno, one of the best teenage players of the last 30 years. Despite what his 56 stolen bases might indicate, Jones’ running ability rates as average. His tremendous quickness makes up for a lack of world-class speed. Jones needs to become more patient at the plate and can’t allow his rapid success to go to his head. The Braves believe those matters will improve naturally as he continues to play every day against better competition. Jones is the type of player who can explode through an organization. Several scouts believe he could have succeeded with few problems at Double-A Greenville in 1995. Nevertheless, the Braves want to make sure Jones receives the proper maturing at every step before promoting him. High Class A Durham and/or Greenville await in 1996, with the majors an outside possibility for late 1997.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #2 prospect in 1995
  In his first year of pro ball, Jones was rated among the Top 10 Prospects in two Rookie leagues. He was named the No. 2 prospect in the Appalachian League after making the jump from the Gulf Coast League, where he was ranked No. 3. Jones is one of the most gifted athletes in the minor leagues. A true five-tool player, he’s a burner who uses his speed and instincts in the outfield and on the bases. His arm is among the best in the organization. Jones simply needs to play. His lack of professional experience is the only thing keeping him from being an impact player at higher levels. Jones should start 1995 at low Class A Macon. No one in Atlanta would be surprised if he rises through the organization rapidly. They quietly compare him to Roberto Clemente.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Carolina League #1 prospect in 1996
  Jones, who won Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year award the last two years, didn’t stay in Durham long enough to win any of the Carolina League's postseason awards. But nobody came close to keeping up with this Jones. Physically, there’s little Jones can’t do, though his unparalleled offensive skills tend to overshadow his defense. The Braves knew it was only a matter of time before Jones’ talent forced them to call him up to Atlanta, though it’s unlikely they thought he would start the year in high Class A Durham and reach the majors by August. “It’s kind of hard just picking one thing with him,” Jones' Durham manager Randy Ingle said. “He does everything well above-average. I guess the thing I liked was his patience. With his reputation, he didn’t get a lot of pitches to hit, but he was able to lay off. That’s very impressive for a 19-year-old.”
• 
  Ranked Southern League #1 prospect in 1996
  Just 19 years old, Jones was spectacular at the plate and in the field. He played center field for Greenville, but was switched to right field at Triple-A Richmond to get him ready for the outfield vacancy in Atlanta. Jones impressed everyone with his all-around game. He showed he could hit for a high average, flashed his power, displayed his speed and got to anything in his vicinity in the outfield. “What’s not to like?” Orlando manager Bruce Kimm said. “The kid has shown everything.” “He’s one of the best prospects I’ve ever seen in the minor leagues,” Greenville manager Jeff Cox said. “He’s just so multi-talented. He is all-star caliber in every facet of the game.”
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #1 prospect in 1995
  Jones was just 17 in April when he took the South Atlantic League lead in home runs. At 18, the kid from Curacao pulled off a rare quadruple when he was named best batting prospect, best power prospect, best baserunner and best defensive outfielder in the SAL in a survey of league managers. He was also named the league’s most exciting player. Some managers and a few of Jones’ Macon teammates questioned his approach, which at times seems casual. But Jones was coachable and durable. He led the SAL in runs because of his aggressive baserunning, stolen bases because of his excellent first step and extra-base hits because of his power. He also ranked among the top four in doubles, home runs and RBIs. “What’s not to like?” Albany manager Doug Sisson said. “He can go as far as his desire will take him.”
• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #3 prospect in 1994
  Jones hit .221 and left for the Rookie-level Appalachian League after only 27 games, but the 17-year-old Curacao product’s tools--hitting, power, speed, outfield play and arm--were above-average across the board. “He can do everything,” Gulf Coast League Braves manager Jim Saul said. “He will go quickly to the big leagues.”
• 
  Ranked National League #2 prospect in 1994
  Another 17-year-old making his pro debut, Jones jumped from the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League at midseason. He’s a five-tool player whose best weapon is his speed, stealing bases and covering a lot of ground in center field. He also has a strong, accurate arm. Jones showed some ability to turn on fastballs with Danville and should hit for average with a bit of power. He can lay down a bunt when necessary.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #1 prospect in 1997
• Ranked Baseball America's #1 prospect in 1996
• Ranked Baseball America's #21 prospect in 1995

• December, 1996 Scouting Report
  No one in baseball was on a faster track than Andruw Jones in 1996. He concluded his rise from high Class A to the majors by becoming only the second player in history to hit home runs in his first two World Series at-bats. He also won his second straight Minor League Player of the Year award. The quintessential five-tool talent, Jones could become a 40-40 threat. He owns amazing speed and power, and has the strongest outfield arms in the system. Jones will become a better baserunner as he learns how to use his speed. He still falls prey to breaking balls when out of rhythm at the plate. The Braves are trying to clear the way for Jones to start in left field. At worst he'll platoon in left and right.
• December, 1995 Scouting Report
  Baseball America’s 1995 Minor League Player of the Year, Jones was 17 when he started the 1995 season--young even by South Atlantic League standards. But he still dominated the loop and earned recognition from managers as the top prospect. The Curacao native also was named the league's best batting prospect, best power prospect, best baserunner and best defensive outfielder. He led the minors with 71 extra-base hits, led the SAL in runs and stolen bases and ranked among the top four in doubles, home runs and RBIs. Jones is the quintessential five-tool talent. One of the most physically mature 18-year-olds scouts have seen, Jones doesn’t seem awed or overwhelmed by any aspect of the game. He makes adjustments between pitches and can hit practically any fastball sent his way. He also has a plus arm and goes into the gaps aggressively, thinking little of his safety will making diving or leaping catches. His all-out style and impressive array of talents have drawn comparisons to a young Cesar Cedeno, one of the best teenage players of the last 30 years. Despite what his 56 stolen bases might indicate, Jones’ running ability rates as average. His tremendous quickness makes up for a lack of world-class speed. Jones needs to become more patient at the plate and can’t allow his rapid success to go to his head. The Braves believe those matters will improve naturally as he continues to play every day against better competition. Jones is the type of player who can explode through an organization. Several scouts believe he could have succeeded with few problems at Double-A Greenville in 1995. Nevertheless, the Braves want to make sure Jones receives the proper maturing at every step before promoting him. High Class A Durham and/or Greenville await in 1996, with the majors an outside possibility for late 1997.
• December, 1995 Scouting Report
  Just 19 years old, Jones was spectacular at the plate and in the field. He played center field for Greenville, but was switched to right field at Triple-A Richmond to get him ready for the outfield vacancy in Atlanta. Jones impressed everyone with his all-around game. He showed he could hit for a high average, flashed his power, displayed his speed and got to anything in his vicinity in the outfield. “What’s not to like?” Orlando manager Bruce Kimm said. “The kid has shown everything.” “He’s one of the best prospects I’ve ever seen in the minor leagues,” Greenville manager Jeff Cox said. “He’s just so multi-talented. He is all-star caliber in every facet of the game.”
• December, 1995 Scouting Report
  Jones, who won Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year award the last two years, didn’t stay in Durham long enough to win any of the Carolina League's postseason awards. But nobody came close to keeping up with this Jones. Physically, there’s little Jones can’t do, though his unparalleled offensive skills tend to overshadow his defense. The Braves knew it was only a matter of time before Jones’ talent forced them to call him up to Atlanta, though it’s unlikely they thought he would start the year in high Class A Durham and reach the majors by August. “It’s kind of hard just picking one thing with him,” Jones' Durham manager Randy Ingle said. “He does everything well above-average. I guess the thing I liked was his patience. With his reputation, he didn’t get a lot of pitches to hit, but he was able to lay off. That’s very impressive for a 19-year-old.”
• December, 1994 Scouting Report
  In his first year of pro ball, Jones was rated among the Top 10 Prospects in two Rookie leagues. He was named the No. 2 prospect in the Appalachian League after making the jump from the Gulf Coast League, where he was ranked No. 3. Jones is one of the most gifted athletes in the minor leagues. A true five-tool player, he’s a burner who uses his speed and instincts in the outfield and on the bases. His arm is among the best in the organization. Jones simply needs to play. His lack of professional experience is the only thing keeping him from being an impact player at higher levels. Jones should start 1995 at low Class A Macon. No one in Atlanta would be surprised if he rises through the organization rapidly. They quietly compare him to Roberto Clemente.
• December, 1994 Scouting Report
  Jones was just 17 in April when he took the South Atlantic League lead in home runs. At 18, the kid from Curacao pulled off a rare quadruple when he was named best batting prospect, best power prospect, best baserunner and best defensive outfielder in the SAL in a survey of league managers. He was also named the league’s most exciting player. Some managers and a few of Jones’ Macon teammates questioned his approach, which at times seems casual. But Jones was coachable and durable. He led the SAL in runs because of his aggressive baserunning, stolen bases because of his excellent first step and extra-base hits because of his power. He also ranked among the top four in doubles, home runs and RBIs. “What’s not to like?” Albany manager Doug Sisson said. “He can go as far as his desire will take him.”
• December, 1993 Scouting Report
  Another 17-year-old making his pro debut, Jones jumped from the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League at midseason. He’s a five-tool player whose best weapon is his speed, stealing bases and covering a lot of ground in center field. He also has a strong, accurate arm. Jones showed some ability to turn on fastballs with Danville and should hit for average with a bit of power. He can lay down a bunt when necessary.
• December, 1993 Scouting Report
  Jones hit .221 and left for the Rookie-level Appalachian League after only 27 games, but the 17-year-old Curacao product’s tools--hitting, power, speed, outfield play and arm--were above-average across the board. “He can do everything,” Gulf Coast League Braves manager Jim Saul said. “He will go quickly to the big leagues.”