Detroit Tigers: Can JaCoby Jones secure center field job for 2018?
Detroit Tigers center fielder JaCoby Jones has a lot of raw talent, but needs to hit more consistently at the big league level.
At the beginning of the 2017 season, JaCoby Jones was the Detroit Tigers‘ starting center fielder. Jones, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Joakim Soria deal back in the summer of 2015, first made his MLB debut for the Tigers during the 2016 campaign.
Jones started the 2017 season with a bang, hitting the first home run of his career on Opening Day against the Chicago White Sox. However, he struggled throughout most of the first month of the season. In late April, a scary moment occurred when Jones was hit in the face by a fastball from Minnesota Twins pitcher Justin Haley. He was later placed on the DL with a lacerated lip. At the time, he was batting only .150/.244/.300.
Although Jones later appeared with the Tigers in six games between May 27 and June 4, he spent the majority of the summer in Triple-A Toledo. During his time in Triple-A this year, Jones batted .245/.314/.387 with nine home runs and 44 RBI.
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September audition
Jones rejoined the Tigers once again on August 19 and had been with the club ever since. With the Tigers clearly in rebuilding mode, Jones has been getting an excellent chance to show what he can do in September. However, questions still remain about his ability to hit at the big league level.
On the season, Jones is still slashing only .159/.229/.265 with an extremely high 43.8 percent strikeout rate. He did, however, have a two-homer game for the Tigers back on September 5. Jones has also showed consistent power at the minor league level and hit 23 home runs in Single-A back in 2014.
Defensively, Jones has been quite impressive. In center field, Jones has been credited with six defensive runs saved and a 4.4 UZR/150. He has also shown speed on the basepaths, swiping five bases in seven attempts.
Other center field options
If the Tigers decide next spring that Jones still isn’t quite ready, there are other options. Mikie Mahtook, who is now out for the season with a groin strain, started 60 games in center field this season and proved to be very capable of handling the position. Mahtook also had a successful season with the bat, hitting .276/.330/.457 (106 OPS+) with 12 home runs and 38 RBI.
It could be challenging to convince a free agent to join a rebuilding team, and it appears that the Tigers’ big-spending days are behind them for the time being. That said, there should be relatively affordable, short-term options on the market, many of whom are already familiar with the organization. Former Tigers Cameron Maybin, Austin Jackson, Rajai Davis and Curtis Granderson (if he chooses not to retire) will each free agents and could present interesting options.
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With all of the raw talent the Jones possesses, though, one would have to believe that he will continue getting a nice long look from the Tigers and whomever their next manager may be. If he can find a way to start making more consistent contact, he will be a fun player to watch with his package of power, speed and defense.