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Connor Jones (baseball)

Connor Jones
Jones with the State College Spikes in 2016
Pitcher
Born: (1994-10-10) October 10, 1994 (age 30)
Hartford, Connecticut
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Connor Wesley Jones (born October 10, 1994) is an American former professional baseball pitcher.

Amateur career

Jones attended Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia.[1] During his high school career he went 22–3 with a 1.68 earned run average (ERA).[2][3] Jones was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 21st round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign and attended the University of Virginia to play college baseball for the Virginia Cavaliers.[4]

Jones spent his freshman year at Virginia mostly pitching out of the bullpen.[5] He appeared in 25 games with one start and went 4–1 with a 3.13 ERA, 40 strikeouts and one save.[6] As a sophomore in 2015, Jones became a starter and eventually became Virginia's ace after an injury to Nathan Kirby.[7] He started the first game of the 2015 College World Series against Vanderbilt and took the loss after giving up four runs in 6+1⁄3 innings.[8] Overall, he started 18 games, going 7–3 with a 3.19 ERA and 113 strikeouts.[9] After the season, he played for the United States collegiate national team.[10] Jones returned as Virginia's number one starter his junior year in 2016.[11] In 15 starts, he was 11-1 with a 2.34 ERA and 1.19 WHIP.

Professional career

St. Louis Cardinals

Jones was selected in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft in the second round by the St. Louis Cardinals. He signed for $1.1 million, was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Cardinals, and was later promoted to the State College Spikes.[12] He finished 2016 with a combined 3.68 ERA over 14+2⁄3 innings pitched with both teams. Jones spent a majority of the 2017 season with the Palm Beach Cardinals, starting 21 games and going 8-5 with a 3.97 ERA and 76 strikeouts over 113+1⁄3 innings.[13] He pitched it one game for the Springfield Cardinals at the end of the season.

Jones began 2018 with Springfield. He was placed on the disabled list retroactive to April 16 and he was activated on May 6. He spent a majority of the year with Springfield, going 5-5 with a 3.80 ERA over 22 games (17 starts). He also started four games for the Memphis Redbirds, compiling a 6.46 ERA over 15+1⁄3 innings.[14] After the season, the Cardinals assigned Jones to the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League (AFL).[15] In 2019, he spent a majority of the year back with Springfield, going 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA and 49 strikeouts over 48+1⁄3 innings pitched in relief.[16] he returned to Memphis for a brief point at the season's end. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] Jones spent the 2021 season with Memphis with whom he went 5-6 with a 5.91 ERA and fifty strikeouts over 56+1⁄3 innings. Jones was released by the Cardinals on March 28, 2022.

Seattle Mariners

On March 31, 2022, Jones signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners organization.[18] Jones spent the year with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers, starting 17 games but struggling to a 4-8 record and 7.02 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 74.1 innings pitched. On August 4, 2022, Jones underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the remainder of the season.[19] He became a free agent following the 2022 season.

Coaching career

On May 8, 2024, Jones was announced as a head coach and the president of the Canes Tampa baseball club.[20]

References

  1. ^ Frankenberry, Jami (April 28, 2013). "Great Bridge's Jones wows scouts". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  2. ^ Wood, Norm (February 12, 2014). "Virginia's Connor Jones works on mental approach entering freshman season". Daily Press. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  3. ^ Ramspacher, Andrew (March 14, 2014). "Jones as good as advertised for UVa baseball team". The Daily Progress- Cavalier Insider. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  4. ^ Robinson, Tom (February 13, 2014). "G. Bridge grad happy choosing U.Va. over pro baseball". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  5. ^ Ratcliffe, Jerry (April 19, 2014). "Ratcliffe: Freshman pitcher Jones thriving in first year at UVa". The Daily Progress- Cavalier Insider. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  6. ^ Rampascher, Andrew (May 27, 2015). "University of Virginia's ace Connor Jones recovers from freshman struggles". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  7. ^ Khurshudyan, Isabelle (June 4, 2015). "Connor Jones steps up in time to carry Virginia in NCAA baseball tournament". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  8. ^ Herndon, Mike (June 22, 2015). "College World Series 2015: Carson Fulmer is lights-out in a 5-1 Vanderbilt win". Alabama. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  9. ^ Wood, Norm (February 24, 2016). "U.Va.'s Jones sets aside distractions of MLB future, focuses on ace role". Daily Press. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  10. ^ "UVA ace Connor Jones named to U.S. Collegiate National Team". Augusta Free Press. June 3, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  11. ^ Jones takes command in Cavaliers' rotation
  12. ^ "Cards, 2nd-rounder Jones agree to deal". MLB.com.
  13. ^ "System Sundays: Luke Weaver, and Connor Jones". 22 April 2018.
  14. ^ "Connor Jones Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  15. ^ "St. Louis Breaking News, Today's News | NewsRadio 1120 KMOX".
  16. ^ "Who Might the Cardinals lose in the Rule 5 Draft?". 8 December 2019.
  17. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Canceled". 30 June 2020.
  18. ^ "Chesapeake product Connor Jones signs with Seattle Mariners". April 2022.
  19. ^ https://twitter.com/connorjones33/status/1555236184976244747?s=46&t=UN5XGiNzRq3-vt33N7zCTw [bare URL]
  20. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/C6twhSrgGsa/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== [bare URL]
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