Mitch Jones
Encyclopedia
Mitchell C. Jones is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
in Orem, Utah, and was drafted by the Texas Rangers
in and the Baltimore Orioles
in and . He opted instead to complete his college education. He set a school record at Utah Valley State College (now Utah Valley University) with 41 career homers in two years, then transferred to Arizona State University. His senior year at Arizona State University
he posted a .787 slugging percentage with 27 home run
s (a single-season ASU record) and 92 RBI
, while he struck out
46 times in 249 at-bats. He signed after college with the New York Yankees
after being drafted in the 7th round (218th overall) of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft
.
, where he batted
.268 with 27 home runs and 79 RBIs on that year. In April, he hit for the cycle, a feat that was not repeated by a Clipper until Jason Kipnis
did it in 2010. He won the 2005 Triple-A Home Run Derby, narrowly defeating Ian Kinsler
.
He was called up by the Yankees on May 20, , but was sent back to Columbus the next day without playing in a game. His power numbers were undeniable, but his alarmingly high strikeout rate slowed his progress. In 2006, he had the second-highest strikeout percentage in the International League
: 32.9%.http://www.fangraphs.com/minorleaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=2&qual=y&type=1&season=2006 On September 1, 2006, Jones was designated for assignment.
prior to the start of the season and spent several months playing for the Las Vegas 51s
in the Dodgers minor league system. In June 2007, he was sold by the Dodgers to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
of Japan
's Pacific League
. He returned to the Dodgers organization in and once more played for AAA Las Vegas.
He received a non-roster invitation to spring training by the Dodgers in 2009 but failed to make the roster and was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
to begin the season.
On June 16, the Dodgers purchased his contract and called him up to the Major League team. He made his major league debut that night, appearing as a pinch hitter in a game against the Oakland Athletics
. He struck out in his first at-bat. The next night he got his first major league hit off A's reliever Brad Ziegler
after 10 years in the minor leagues. Two nights later on June 19, he got his first major league start against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
as the designated hitter
.
Jones appeared in 8 games with the Dodgers, primarily as a pinch hitter. He went 4 for 13, finishing with a batting average of .308 before he was designated for assignment on July 1 and returned to the Isotopes on July 6.
In September 2009, Jones was named the winner of the Joe Bauman Home Run Award
, for the most home runs — 35 — in all of Minor League Baseball
.
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
Amateur career
Jones played ball in high school at Mountain View High SchoolMountain View High School (Utah)
Mountain View High School is a high school located in Orem, Utah and part of Utah County's Alpine School District. The school first opened its doors in the 1980-81 school year...
in Orem, Utah, and was drafted by the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in and the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in and . He opted instead to complete his college education. He set a school record at Utah Valley State College (now Utah Valley University) with 41 career homers in two years, then transferred to Arizona State University. His senior year at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
he posted a .787 slugging percentage with 27 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (a single-season ASU record) and 92 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, while he struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
46 times in 249 at-bats. He signed after college with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
after being drafted in the 7th round (218th overall) of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft
2000 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Compensation picks:- Background :The Florida Marlins made Adrian Gonzalez of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, CA the first overall selection in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft...
.
New York Yankees
He worked his way through the Yankees' minor league system, becoming a four-time All-Star. He started at the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus ClippersColumbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
, where he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.268 with 27 home runs and 79 RBIs on that year. In April, he hit for the cycle, a feat that was not repeated by a Clipper until Jason Kipnis
Jason Kipnis
Jason Michael Kipnis is an American baseball player who plays second base for the Cleveland Indians. He was called up from the minor leagues to the Indians on July 22, 2011....
did it in 2010. He won the 2005 Triple-A Home Run Derby, narrowly defeating Ian Kinsler
Ian Kinsler
Ian Michael Kinsler is a Major League Baseball All-Star second baseman for the Texas Rangers.Despite having been drafted in only the 17th round out of college, Kinsler has risen to become a two-time All Star, and a member of the Sporting News 2009 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball...
.
He was called up by the Yankees on May 20, , but was sent back to Columbus the next day without playing in a game. His power numbers were undeniable, but his alarmingly high strikeout rate slowed his progress. In 2006, he had the second-highest strikeout percentage in the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
: 32.9%.http://www.fangraphs.com/minorleaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=2&qual=y&type=1&season=2006 On September 1, 2006, Jones was designated for assignment.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Jones was signed to a minor league contract by the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
prior to the start of the season and spent several months playing for the Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
in the Dodgers minor league system. In June 2007, he was sold by the Dodgers to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at the Sapporo Dome. The Fighters also host a select number of regional home games in cities across Hokkaidō,...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
. He returned to the Dodgers organization in and once more played for AAA Las Vegas.
He received a non-roster invitation to spring training by the Dodgers in 2009 but failed to make the roster and was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
to begin the season.
On June 16, the Dodgers purchased his contract and called him up to the Major League team. He made his major league debut that night, appearing as a pinch hitter in a game against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. He struck out in his first at-bat. The next night he got his first major league hit off A's reliever Brad Ziegler
Brad Ziegler
Brad Gregory Ziegler is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks.-Minor leagues:...
after 10 years in the minor leagues. Two nights later on June 19, he got his first major league start against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
as the designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
.
Jones appeared in 8 games with the Dodgers, primarily as a pinch hitter. He went 4 for 13, finishing with a batting average of .308 before he was designated for assignment on July 1 and returned to the Isotopes on July 6.
In September 2009, Jones was named the winner of the Joe Bauman Home Run Award
Joe Bauman Home Run Award
The Joe Bauman Home Run Award is the award given to the minor league baseball player who hit the most regular season home runs that year. The award, first given in 2002, is named after Joe Bauman, who set a then-professional record with 72 home runs in 1954, while playing for the Roswell Rockets of...
, for the most home runs — 35 — in all of Minor League Baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
.
Atlanta Braves
On December 17, 2009, Jones signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.Pittsburgh Pirates
On July 30, 2010, Jones was acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations. He will report to the Pirates AAA team, the Indianapolis IndiansIndianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
.