Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | HOU | 1B/3B/OF | 19 | 40 |
Grades Update: Jan 2021
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 40 | 45 | 55 | 40 | 60 | 30 |
Jan 2021 Report
Evaluator: Matt Pullman
Age: 27 yr
Height: 6-7
Weight: 230 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 Draft, Round 19
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster
Physical Description: He has a rare build for the baseball field. Standing 6-foot-7 with a high waist and a strong lower half highlighted by thick thighs. His upper body is fairly lean, without noticeable definition in his arms and room to add bulk in his torso. He possesses the frame of Aaron Judge without the supreme strength.
Hit: It's a fairly unorthodox pre-pitch setup -- he coils his shoulders, with his right arm tucked slightly behind his back, potentially as a mechanism for staying closed. He starts with his bat nearly parallel to the ground, and his bat path follows a similarly-flat trajectory. He's gone through a pretty drastic swing change as a pro, originally starting with his bat nearly vertical and a much steeper bat path. The new swing portends itself to more line drives, while potentially limiting the ability to tap into his raw power as frequently. Based on the performance, this tradeoff has been welcomed. His strikeout rates have been nearly unchanged, remaining at approximately league-average (impressive given his long levers), but his quality of contact has improved if we use BABIP as a proxy (especially considering the context of improved defense in the upper minors). Two of his three best stints as a pro have come in the upper levels, showing a positive trajectory for his hit tool in particular. He has a fairly patient approach as well, drawing walks at an above-average clip despite working with a much larger strike zone than the average hitter. Grade: 45
Power: As previously mentioned, he can pass for Aaron Judge if you're watching him from the outfield bleachers. He does not appear to possess the same prolific power Judge does, however. His 2020 MLB cup of coffee was not nearly enough of a sample to get a true look at his power, however in his 14 batted ball events, Jones posted a max exit velocity of 105.8 and an average of 91.9. These numbers lend some credence to his above-average, but not eye-popping, average flyball distances over his last two minor league campaigns. Jones will hit some home runs, but he has not given us reason to believe his mammoth frame will result in gaudy power numbers. Grade: 55
Field: He spent time at four positions in 2019, with the bulk coming at first base. The Astros experimented with him at third base as well, and Jones responded with just one error across 122 innings. It's unlikely he can handle the hot corner full-time at the highest level, but the added versatility should lend itself to more opportunities to establish his role on the big league roster. He also played 30 games in the outfield, where his below-average range limits his value. He's a first baseman, but he isn't just a first baseman. Grade: 40
Arm: Originally a two-way player at Gonzaga, he threw nearly 90 innings across his freshman and sophomore seasons. While the results were mixed, it's safe to say he has plus arm strength and an idea of where it's going. His arm won't be the limiting factor when his eventual defensive home is decided, allowing him to play third base or a corner outfield spot if his remaining defensive skills are up to par. Grade: 60
Run: His brief cup of coffee allowed us to see some objective data regarding his skillset. His sprint speed came in at 29th percentile across MLB last year, and at 27 years old, it's unlikely he will see much of an improvement in this area. Grade: 30
Overall: He will have to hit in order to carve out a big league role. He provides little to no value on the basepaths and, despite the ability to play four positions in some capacity, his defensive value is limited as well. There's a chance his bat is good enough to be an everyday first baseman, but without another gear of development, it seems unlikely as he enters his age-27 season. His most likely role is a bench-bat first baseman who can handle the other three corners in a reserve role.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench / Utility
Risk: Moderate
