Detroit Tigers Could have Bargain in JaCoby Jones
By David Hill
At the major league trade deadline, perhaps the biggest piece of currency a team can have is relief pitching. Virtually every contending team needs help in the bullpen, hoping that getting that last arm will pay off down the stretch and on into the postseason.
Naturally, with teams bidding against one another for the same arms, teams may well find themselves overpaying for those relief assets. How often do we see a player who, within a couple of years, begins to blossom into a solid major league player, yet was traded for that rental reliever? The Detroit Tigers may have done exactly that with their acquisition of JaCoby Jones.
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Sent over by the Pittsburgh Pirates in their trade for Joakim Soria, Jones possesses and interesting blend of power and speed at the shortstop position. In his three minor league seasons, Jones has put together a solid .277/.336/.455 batting line, hitting 34 home runs and stealing 35 bases. That type of production alone would be enough to make him an intriguing prospect, but having that production from a shortstop makes him all the more interesting.
That is not to say that Jones is the perfect prospect; in fact, he may be far from it. Jones has been a bit old for each level he has played at, and only has three games of experience at the AA level, despite being 23 years old. Likewise, his production has taken a step back this season, as he has followed up a breakout 2014 campaign with a .253/.313/.396 batting line for the Bradenton Marauders of the Florida State League. He has hit ten home runs and stolen 14 bases, showing the power and speed combination is still there, but has struck out in 27.1% of his at bats.
When Jones has been able to make contact, he has typically hit the ball hard. His 17.5% line drive rate is two points higher than league average, and Jones uses his speed well on ground balls. Jones has also displayed a better than average batting eye, posting an 8.3% walk rate. Yet, it may be that patience that is causing his numbers to drop.
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In breaking down JaCoby Jones’ strikeout percentage, he has an 18.1% rate of striking out swinging. While this is above the Florida State League average of 14.5%, it is not that far outside the norm. However, Jones has struck out in 7.3% of his at bats by watching the third strike pass by, far above the league average of 4.5%. This number falls in line with his career strikeout looking percentage of 7.2%.
In order for Jones to become the player he well could be, and that player that the Tigers are hoping for, a change in approach may be in order. While Jones’ patience is certainly a virtue, it could be affecting his performance. Perhaps a more aggressive approach, where Jones attacks the zone more often, would lead to his being able to replicate that breakthrough 2014 season.
The Detroit Tigers could have quite the player in JaCoby Jones. It is just a matter of unlocking that potential.