Taylor Jones

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Taylor Jones

|image =

|position = First baseman / Outfielder

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|12|6}}

|birth_place = Kent, Washington, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = July 26

|debutyear = 2020

|debutteam = Houston Astros

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = August 1

|finalyear = 2022

|finalteam = Houston Astros

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .234

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 3

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 19

|teams =

Houston Astros ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2022}})

}}

Taylor Michael Jones (born December 6, 1993) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and outfielder. From Kent, Washington, Jones attended Gonzaga University and played college baseball for the Bulldogs. Selected by the Houston Astros in the 19th round of the 2016 MLB draft, he made his MLB debut in 2020.

High school

Jones attended Kentwood High School in Covington, Washington, where he played basketball as a forward and baseball as a pitcher and first baseman.{{Cite web|url=https://www.covingtonreporter.com/sports/conquerors-win-division-crown-boys-basketball/|title=Conquerors win division crown | Boys basketball|first=Kris|last=Hill|date=February 7, 2012|website=Covington-Maple Valley Reporter}}{{Cite web|url=https://gozags.com/sports/baseball/roster/taylor-jones/205|title=Taylor Jones - Baseball|website=Gonzaga University Athletics}} In 2012, his senior year, he led them to a 4A baseball state championship.{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=Kris |date=2012-05-30 |title=Kentwood baseball wins state championship in Pasco |url=https://www.covingtonreporter.com/sports/kentwood-baseball-wins-state-championship-in-pasco/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Covington-Maple Valley Reporter |language=en-US}} Undrafted in the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, he enrolled at Gonzaga University where he played college baseball.

College

In 2013, as a freshman at Gonzaga, Jones pitched to a 5.29 ERA over 17 innings while batting .233 in 30 at bats over 28 games. As a sophomore in 2014, he went 4-3 with a 4.71 ERA over 14 starts along with hitting .224 in 58 at bats with one home run in 29 games. In 2015, his junior year, he began focusing strictly on hitting and playing first base.{{Cite web |last=Kyle |first=Brad |date=April 26, 2018 |title=Astros' AA Prospect Taylor Jones: From Hoops To Mound To Slugger |url=https://therunnersports.com/astros-aa-prospect-taylor-jones-from-hoops-to-mound-to-slugger/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=The Runner Sports}} Over 44 games, he hit .358(second in the conference)/.415(tenth)/.545(seventh) with five home runs and 30 RBIs in 134 at bats and was named to the All-WCC First Team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gonzagabulletin.com/sports/taylor-jones-building-off-successful-gonzaga-career-with-astros-organization/article_8ea37d4e-6a5a-11e6-8dac-cfbeb68afe74.html|title=Taylor Jones building off successful Gonzaga career with Astros organization|first=Zack|last=Oates|website=The Gonzaga Bulletin|date=26 August 2016 }}{{Cite web|url=https://gozags.com/news/2015/5/20/Harris_Defensive_Player_of_the_Year_Two_Zags_First_Team_All_WCC.aspx|title=Harris Defensive Player of the Year; Two Zags First Team All-WCC|website=Gonzaga University Athletics|date=20 May 2015 }} After the season, he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 35th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not sign.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gonzagabulletin.com/sports/unfinished-business/article_3412c0ac-d5f3-11e5-819e-2bf72d5f255f.html|title=Unfinished business|first=Brian|last=Grob|website=The Gonzaga Bulletin|date=18 February 2016 }} That summer, he played summer collegiate baseball for the Anchorage Bucs of the Alaska Baseball League.{{cite web |title=Taylor Jones - Alaska Baseball League - player |url=https://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=737969&seasonid=29065 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Pointstreak Sports Technologies}} As a senior in 2016, he played in 56 games, leading the conference and second in the NCAA with 27 doubles and slashing .332(ninth)/.399/.509 in 232 at bats with two home runs, four triples (second), and 36 RBIs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?id=1dda153e&type=bat|title=2016 West Coast Conference Batting Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web |date=2016-05-24 |title=Gonzaga's Jeff Bohling the WCC player of the year; four Zags on first team |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/may/24/gonzagas-jeff-bohling-the-wcc-player-of-the-year-f/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=The Spokesman-Review}} He was named CoSIDA Academic All-American Third Team, Senior CLASS Award Second Team All-America and Finalist, All-West Region Second Team, All-WCC Second Team, CoSIDA Academic All-West Region, WCC All-Academic, and All-Fort Worth Regional Team.

Professional career

=Houston Astros=

Jones was selected by the Houston Astros in the 19th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. He signed with Houston and made his professional debut with the Tri-City ValleyCats, hitting .252/.354/.413 with eight home runs and 38 RBIs over 70 games while earning New York-Penn League Mid-Season All-Star honors.{{Cite web|url=https://upstatecourier.com/south-defeats-north-in-new-york-penn-all-star-game/|title=South Defeats North In New York-Penn All-Star Game}} In 2017, Jones split time between the Quad Cities River Bandits and the Buies Creek Astros, batting .222/.314/.321 with seven home runs and 45 RBIs over 105 games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=jones-000tay|title=Taylor Jones College & Minor Leagues Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/self-starter-kyle-tucker-shines-at-triple-a/|title=Self-Starter Kyle Tucker Shines At Triple-A|first=Chandler|last=Rome|website=www.baseballamerica.com|date=20 June 2018 }}

In 2018, Jones began the season with the Corpus Christi Hooks, earning Texas League Mid-Season All-Star honors, before he was promoted to the Fresno Grizzlies.{{Cite web|title=First things first for Hooks' All-Star Jones|url=https://www.milb.com/news/first-things-first-for-corpus-christi-hooks-all-star-taylor-jones-283046520|access-date=2020-06-13|website=MiLB.com|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-prospects-Hooks-Texas-League-All-Star-Game-12991931.php|title=Seven Astros prospects tabbed for Texas League All-Star Game|first=Chandler|last=Rome|date=June 13, 2018|newspaper=Houston Chronicle}}{{Cite web |last=Hadorn |first=Christopher |date=2018-06-27 |title=South's Jones wins All-Star swing-off |url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/souths-jones-wins-all-star-swing-off/c-283116578 |access-date=2020-06-13 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hillcountrynews.com/stories/express-first-baseman-taylor-jones-rising-through-the-minor-league-ranks,80553|title=Express first baseman Taylor Jones rising through the minor-league ranks|website=Hill Country News}} Over 123 games between the two clubs, he slashed .281/.374/.480 with 18 home runs and 80 RBIs.http://wap.mlb.com/hou/news/article/20190122302990572/?locale=es_CO {{Dead link|date=June 2020}} Jones spent the 2019 season with the Round Rock Express, batting .291/.388/.501 with 22 home runs, 84 RBIs, and eight sacrifice flies (eight in the Pacific Coast League) over 125 games. He was named an MiLB 2019 Organization All Star.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/taylor-jones-622100|title=Taylor Jones Stats, Fantasy & News|website=MiLB.com}} Following the 2019 season, Jones was added to the Astros' 40 man roster.{{cite web |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-add-prospects-roster-Rule-5-draft-14849628.php |title=Astros to add prospects to 40-man roster ahead of Rule 5 draft|author=Chandler Rome|website=Houston Chronicle|date=November 20, 2019|access-date=November 20, 2019}}

On July 26, 2020, Jones made his MLB debut for the Astros, going hitless in two at-bats.{{ cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/taylor-jones-makes-mlb-debut-for-astros | title=Jones, Bailey are latest Astros to debut | work=MLB.com | author=Brian McTaggart | date=July 26, 2020 | access-date=August 5, 2020 }} On August 22, Jones hit his first career home run off of Zach Davies of the San Diego Padres.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/astros-taylor-jones-hits-first-big-league-homer/|title=Astros' Taylor Jones: Hits first big-league homer|website=CBSSports.com|date=23 August 2020 }} For the 2020 season, Jones hit .191/.227/.381 with one home run and three RBIs over 21 at-bats.{{Cite web |last=Kunkel |first=Matthew |date=17 November 2020 |title=Houston Astros: Taylor Jones could be primed for a 2021 splash |url=https://climbingtalshill.com/2020/11/17/taylor-jones-could-be-primed-for-a-2021-splash/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=climbingtalshill.com}} In 2021 with the Astros, Jones appeared in 35 games in which he slashed .245/.269/.402 with two home runs and 16 RBIs over 102 at-bats, playing 14 games at first base and 10 games in left field.{{Cite web |last=Shoot |first=Jason |date=20 October 2021 |title=Major contributions: From homegrown talent Andrew Kittredge and Drew Rasmussen to ex-college stars, Northwest players delivered in 2021 |url=https://www.khq.com/sports/spokane_indians/major-contributions-from-homegrown-talent-andrew-kittredge-and-drew-rasmussen-to-ex-college-stars-northwest/article_5f6e1b82-6491-5958-9464-f6ed9cd572ca.html |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=khq.com}} In 2021 with Triple-A Sugar Land he batted .332/.425/.584 in 178 at bats, playing 22 games at first base, 16 games at third base, and 11 games in left field.

In 2022, Jones suffered with lower-back discomfort late in Spring Training, and was later placed on the 60-day injured list on April 20, 2022.{{Cite web|title=Astros' Taylor Jones: Sent to 60-day IL|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/astros-taylor-jones-sent-to-60-day-il/|access-date=2023-01-15|website=cbssports.com|date=20 April 2022 |language=en}} He was activated on June 23, and optioned to the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys.{{Cite web|title=Astros' Taylor Jones: Activated, sent to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/astros-taylor-jones-activated-sent-to-triple-a/amp/|access-date=2023-03-23|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} Jones was called up and made his 2022 debut with the Astros on August 1, going 0-for-1, his only at bat in the majors for the season with Houston.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=401355758 |title=Jarren Duran's HR, 3 RBIs power Red Sox past Astros 3–2 |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |date=August 1, 2022 |access-date=August 2, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401355758 |title=Boston Red Sox 3—Houston Astros 2 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |date=August 1, 2022 |access-date=August 2, 2022}} In 2022 with Triple-A Sugar Land he batted .263/.370/.456 in 274 at bats, playing 36 games at first base, 23 games at third base, ten games in left field, and six games at DH. He was designated for assignment on September 13, 2022.

=San Francisco Giants=

On September 16, 2022, Jones was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants. On November 9, Jones was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats.{{Cite web|title=Giants outright players, lose players, add Dom Núñez|url=https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/platform/amp/2022/11/9/23450378/giants-transactions-dom-nunez-isan-diaz|access-date=June 30, 2023|website=mccoveychronicles.com|date=9 November 2022 |language=en}} He elected free agency the following day.{{Cite web|title=2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-23-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=June 30, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|date=13 November 2022 |language=en}}

=Los Angeles Angels=

On January 13, 2023, Jones signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. In 49 games for the Triple–A Salt Lake Bees, he hit .229/.333/.440 with eight home runs, 29 RBI, and five stolen bases. Jones elected free agency following the season on November 6.{{Cite web|title=2023 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-milb-free-agents/|access-date=May 13, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=8 November 2023 |language=en}}

Coaching career

On January 29, 2024, the Houston Astros hired Jones to serve as the hitting coach for their rookie–level affiliate, the Florida Complex League Astros.{{Cite web|title=Astros announce 2024 Minor League staff|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-astros-announce-2024-minor-league-staff#:~:text=The%20Astros%20minor%20league%20coordinators,Assistant%20Hitting%20Coordinator)%2C%20Thomas%20Whitsett|access-date=May 11, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}}