Chipper Jones

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #1 prospect in 1995
  Jones tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during spring training last year after earning a platoon job in left field. It’s the only reason the first overall pick the 1990 draft is back in the top 10, rather than entering his second year in Atlanta. His dedication to rehab could have had Jones back on the field last September, but the extra time has enabled his knee to get even stronger. In his last showing, he earned 1993 rookie of the year honors in the Triple-A International League after leading a prospect-laden Richmond club in eight offensive categories. Jones always has wielded a potent bat. His tremendous bat control and discriminating eye result in high batting averages and excellent run production. A natural line-drive hitter, he always has had solid power output and should produce .300-20-80 numbers annually in the majors as he gains experience and maturity. Jones’ arm gained a reputation for being errant early in his career. While he has improved, he must continue to make the routine play as well as the spectacular. His size could force a move to third base, and he has a bit of outfield experience from last spring. If veteran shortstop Jeff Blauser isn’t re-signed, the starting job is Jones' to lose. Should Blauser return, Jones still will play most every day.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #1 prospect in 1994
  The youngest player in Triple-A in 1993, Jones continued to show why the Braves used the first overall pick in the 1990 draft to acquire his services. Handling another jump in classification for the third straight season, the immensely confident shortstop earned rookie of the year honors in the International League and led a talented Richmond club in eight offensive categories. Most young players’ defensive skills reach major league standards before their offense catches up. Jones is an exception, wielding a potent stick that scouts believe will produce consistent .300-20-80 seasons in the majors. A natural line-drive hitter with exceptional bat control, Jones could resurrect the days of slugging third basemen if he continues to grow. Jones has good hands and a strong arm, yet was plagued by errors again in 1993. Many of his 43 errors either occurred late in games or after he made an error earlier, both of which could be remedied with stronger concentration. He was tried at second base in instructional league, but feels more comfortable on the left side of the infield. Though he may begin the season back in Richmond, Jones will battle for a major league job in spring training and will play in Atlanta at some point in 1994.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #1 prospect in 1993
  Two months into last season, Jones was hitting just .277-4-31 in 264 at-bats for high Class A Durham. So what prompted the Braves to promote him to Double-A Greenville? The answer is he simply has talent bursting out of his doubleknits. His ability feeds on challenge, his confidence on success. So how did the experiment go? All Jones did for the rest of the season was set the Southern League afire, establishing a Greenville record for triples in his limited stay. The phenomenal performance, especially for a player so young, solidified his status as the top position prospect in baseball. Many onlookers believed he could have entered Atlanta's pennant race without missing a step. The No. 1 pick in the 1990 draft, Jones has the bat to become an offensive shortstop with a reputation between a Travis Fryman and a Cal Ripken. He could hit a consistent .300 with up to 25-30 home runs and can run enough to steal 20-25 bases. The fact that he's a switch-hitter with command of both swings only adds to the intrigue. Like Fryman and Ripken, Jones will end his minor league career with defensive numbers that don't testify to his true ability. He has coordination in his hands and wrists when it comes to fielding the ball, but they don't follow his every command when the time comes to throw the ball. Most of his 32 errors last season came on throws, but that was down from 56 in 1991. Talk of moving Jones to second or third base has been abandoned because his instincts are expected to help him grow out of any defensive shortcomings. Forget any more time in Double-A. The Braves don't care if he hits .220 at Richmond for three months--they know he'll learn and use those lessons to punish major league pitchers.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #1 prospect in 1992
  It wasn’t any secret that the Braves’ primary interest with the No. 1 pick in the 1990 draft was Texas schoolboy pitcher Todd Van Poppel. After several discussions with the Van Poppel family, though, general manager Bobby Cox and then-scouting director Paul Snyder became convinced he wouldn’t sign if drafted by the Braves, no matter how much the offer. No big deal. The one thing the Braves were heavy on was strong-armed pitching prospects. So they turned their attention to Jones, the player they had keyed in on the hardest from the start. Jones struggled in his debut season, but whatever questions might have cropped up in 1990 were erased with Jones’ strong showing last year. With the broken hand he had sustained before the 1990 draft fully healed, Jones was everything the Braves could have wanted. He won Atlanta’s minor league triple crown, hitting .323-15-98. He also displayed good basestealing speed, swiping 40 bases. His defense at shortstop is a little ragged, but time should smooth that out. Jones has range, soft hands and arm strength but needs to get all those areas under control to substantially cut down on the 56 errors he committed last year at low Class A Macon. Thirty-three came in his first 68 games, mostly on throws. Even if the errors continue and Jones may be moved to second or third base, it won’t be a great concern because he has plenty of offense to make him a legitimate big leaguer at any position.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #2 prospect in 1991
  If being the No. 1 player selected overall last June wasn’t pressure enough, Jones had added attention created by the Todd Van Poppel situation. The mental drain took its toll on Jones. The Braves got a kid intent on playing baseball; a potential switch-hitter with speed and pop, and a strong-armed, smooth-gloved shortstop. In other words, a total package. Jones was allowed to bat righthanded most of his debut season, but the idea of switch-hitting isn’t foreign, and became a full-time endeavor in instructional league. Though his high school coach made him hit righthanded all the time, he did swing from both sides in American Legion ball for two summers.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #2 prospect in 1993
  A debate has started to surface with Jones: shortstop or third baseman? Jones has good hands, decent range and a strong arm. He also made 42 errors, giving him 140 in three seasons. The Braves believe he has a chance to be an offensive shortstop. “I feel like Chipper needs to be a third baseman,” Pawtucket manager Buddy Bailey said. “He’s a great hitter. He hits for enough power and average to be a third baseman. He makes some foolish errors at short.” Other managers said Jones will improve with experience. Meanwhile, at the plate the switch-hitter led prospect-laden Richmond in eight offensive categories. “You can’t be a major league shortstop and make that many errors, I don’t care what you hit,” Ottawa manager Mike Quade said. “But I wouldn’t give up on him as a shortstop. He’ll hit wherever he plays.”
• 
  Ranked Carolina League #1 prospect in 1992
  Last season, Jones made believers out of skeptics. The No. 1 overall pick in the 1990 draft used a strong second half at low Class A Macon to lead all Braves farmhands in the triple crown categories. After almost making Double-A Greenville out of spring training, Jones spent the first half of the season in Durham. And while his .273-4-31 numbers weren’t spectacular on their own, Jones proved he could do a little bit of everything at what many consider the toughest position on the field. “You don’t look at the immediate numbers,” Prince William manager Mike Hart said. “You just wonder how fast he’s going to make it. He’s one of those kids who comes around maybe once in a lifetime. A blue chipper.”
• 
  Ranked Southern League #1 prospect in 1992
  Jones, a multi-talented switch-hitter, didn’t join Greenville until the middle of the season from high Class A Durham, but he made a big and lasting impression with his bat. He also was named the No. 1 prospect in the Carolina League. “He gets better every year,” Carolina manager Don Werner said. “I hear a lot of people question his ability to play short in the big leagues, but I’ve seen him in Macon and in Greenville, and he’s really improved. And he continues to hit the ball as he goes up.” Greenville manager Grady Little said Jones is something special: “I think the Braves are fortunate to have him in their organization. He’s a person a lot of people will get enjoyment from, and it has nothing to do with what he does on the field. He’s got a lot of charisma.”
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #2 prospect in 1991
  Larry Wayne Jones smothered a shaky 1990 Rookie-level Gulf Coast League debut (.229-1-18) with a rousing romp through the South Atlantic League (.323-15-98). What's more, he switch-hit for the first full year of his life for Macon. Erratic at times on defense, Jones, 19 and the No. 1 pick in the 1990 draft, is projected by some as a third baseman. There’s no doubt about his arm strength, and he has good range. “You can see he is a big leaguer biding his time in the minors,” a Southern Division manager said. “He got much better in the second half.”

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #3 prospect in 1995
• Ranked Baseball America's #2 prospect in 1994
• Ranked Baseball America's #1 prospect in 1993
• Ranked Baseball America's #4 prospect in 1992
• Ranked Baseball America's #49 prospect in 1991

• December, 1994 Scouting Report
  Jones tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during spring training last year after earning a platoon job in left field. It’s the only reason the first overall pick the 1990 draft is back in the top 10, rather than entering his second year in Atlanta. His dedication to rehab could have had Jones back on the field last September, but the extra time has enabled his knee to get even stronger. In his last showing, he earned 1993 rookie of the year honors in the Triple-A International League after leading a prospect-laden Richmond club in eight offensive categories. Jones always has wielded a potent bat. His tremendous bat control and discriminating eye result in high batting averages and excellent run production. A natural line-drive hitter, he always has had solid power output and should produce .300-20-80 numbers annually in the majors as he gains experience and maturity. Jones’ arm gained a reputation for being errant early in his career. While he has improved, he must continue to make the routine play as well as the spectacular. His size could force a move to third base, and he has a bit of outfield experience from last spring. If veteran shortstop Jeff Blauser isn’t re-signed, the starting job is Jones' to lose. Should Blauser return, Jones still will play most every day.
• December, 1993 Scouting Report
  The youngest player in Triple-A in 1993, Jones continued to show why the Braves used the first overall pick in the 1990 draft to acquire his services. Handling another jump in classification for the third straight season, the immensely confident shortstop earned rookie of the year honors in the International League and led a talented Richmond club in eight offensive categories. Most young players’ defensive skills reach major league standards before their offense catches up. Jones is an exception, wielding a potent stick that scouts believe will produce consistent .300-20-80 seasons in the majors. A natural line-drive hitter with exceptional bat control, Jones could resurrect the days of slugging third basemen if he continues to grow. Jones has good hands and a strong arm, yet was plagued by errors again in 1993. Many of his 43 errors either occurred late in games or after he made an error earlier, both of which could be remedied with stronger concentration. He was tried at second base in instructional league, but feels more comfortable on the left side of the infield. Though he may begin the season back in Richmond, Jones will battle for a major league job in spring training and will play in Atlanta at some point in 1994.
• December, 1992 Scouting Report
  Two months into last season, Jones was hitting just .277-4-31 in 264 at-bats for high Class A Durham. So what prompted the Braves to promote him to Double-A Greenville? The answer is he simply has talent bursting out of his doubleknits. His ability feeds on challenge, his confidence on success. So how did the experiment go? All Jones did for the rest of the season was set the Southern League afire, establishing a Greenville record for triples in his limited stay. The phenomenal performance, especially for a player so young, solidified his status as the top position prospect in baseball. Many onlookers believed he could have entered Atlanta's pennant race without missing a step. The No. 1 pick in the 1990 draft, Jones has the bat to become an offensive shortstop with a reputation between a Travis Fryman and a Cal Ripken. He could hit a consistent .300 with up to 25-30 home runs and can run enough to steal 20-25 bases. The fact that he's a switch-hitter with command of both swings only adds to the intrigue. Like Fryman and Ripken, Jones will end his minor league career with defensive numbers that don't testify to his true ability. He has coordination in his hands and wrists when it comes to fielding the ball, but they don't follow his every command when the time comes to throw the ball. Most of his 32 errors last season came on throws, but that was down from 56 in 1991. Talk of moving Jones to second or third base has been abandoned because his instincts are expected to help him grow out of any defensive shortcomings. Forget any more time in Double-A. The Braves don't care if he hits .220 at Richmond for three months--they know he'll learn and use those lessons to punish major league pitchers.
• December, 1992 Scouting Report
  A debate has started to surface with Jones: shortstop or third baseman? Jones has good hands, decent range and a strong arm. He also made 42 errors, giving him 140 in three seasons. The Braves believe he has a chance to be an offensive shortstop. “I feel like Chipper needs to be a third baseman,” Pawtucket manager Buddy Bailey said. “He’s a great hitter. He hits for enough power and average to be a third baseman. He makes some foolish errors at short.” Other managers said Jones will improve with experience. Meanwhile, at the plate the switch-hitter led prospect-laden Richmond in eight offensive categories. “You can’t be a major league shortstop and make that many errors, I don’t care what you hit,” Ottawa manager Mike Quade said. “But I wouldn’t give up on him as a shortstop. He’ll hit wherever he plays.”
• December, 1991 Scouting Report
  It wasn’t any secret that the Braves’ primary interest with the No. 1 pick in the 1990 draft was Texas schoolboy pitcher Todd Van Poppel. After several discussions with the Van Poppel family, though, general manager Bobby Cox and then-scouting director Paul Snyder became convinced he wouldn’t sign if drafted by the Braves, no matter how much the offer. No big deal. The one thing the Braves were heavy on was strong-armed pitching prospects. So they turned their attention to Jones, the player they had keyed in on the hardest from the start. Jones struggled in his debut season, but whatever questions might have cropped up in 1990 were erased with Jones’ strong showing last year. With the broken hand he had sustained before the 1990 draft fully healed, Jones was everything the Braves could have wanted. He won Atlanta’s minor league triple crown, hitting .323-15-98. He also displayed good basestealing speed, swiping 40 bases. His defense at shortstop is a little ragged, but time should smooth that out. Jones has range, soft hands and arm strength but needs to get all those areas under control to substantially cut down on the 56 errors he committed last year at low Class A Macon. Thirty-three came in his first 68 games, mostly on throws. Even if the errors continue and Jones may be moved to second or third base, it won’t be a great concern because he has plenty of offense to make him a legitimate big leaguer at any position.
• December, 1991 Scouting Report
  Jones, a multi-talented switch-hitter, didn’t join Greenville until the middle of the season from high Class A Durham, but he made a big and lasting impression with his bat. He also was named the No. 1 prospect in the Carolina League. “He gets better every year,” Carolina manager Don Werner said. “I hear a lot of people question his ability to play short in the big leagues, but I’ve seen him in Macon and in Greenville, and he’s really improved. And he continues to hit the ball as he goes up.” Greenville manager Grady Little said Jones is something special: “I think the Braves are fortunate to have him in their organization. He’s a person a lot of people will get enjoyment from, and it has nothing to do with what he does on the field. He’s got a lot of charisma.”
• December, 1991 Scouting Report
  Last season, Jones made believers out of skeptics. The No. 1 overall pick in the 1990 draft used a strong second half at low Class A Macon to lead all Braves farmhands in the triple crown categories. After almost making Double-A Greenville out of spring training, Jones spent the first half of the season in Durham. And while his .273-4-31 numbers weren’t spectacular on their own, Jones proved he could do a little bit of everything at what many consider the toughest position on the field. “You don’t look at the immediate numbers,” Prince William manager Mike Hart said. “You just wonder how fast he’s going to make it. He’s one of those kids who comes around maybe once in a lifetime. A blue chipper.”
• December, 1990 Scouting Report
  If being the No. 1 player selected overall last June wasn’t pressure enough, Jones had added attention created by the Todd Van Poppel situation. The mental drain took its toll on Jones. The Braves got a kid intent on playing baseball; a potential switch-hitter with speed and pop, and a strong-armed, smooth-gloved shortstop. In other words, a total package. Jones was allowed to bat righthanded most of his debut season, but the idea of switch-hitting isn’t foreign, and became a full-time endeavor in instructional league. Though his high school coach made him hit righthanded all the time, he did swing from both sides in American Legion ball for two summers.
• December, 1990 Scouting Report
  Larry Wayne Jones smothered a shaky 1990 Rookie-level Gulf Coast League debut (.229-1-18) with a rousing romp through the South Atlantic League (.323-15-98). What's more, he switch-hit for the first full year of his life for Macon. Erratic at times on defense, Jones, 19 and the No. 1 pick in the 1990 draft, is projected by some as a third baseman. There’s no doubt about his arm strength, and he has good range. “You can see he is a big leaguer biding his time in the minors,” a Southern Division manager said. “He got much better in the second half.”