Attended Watauga High School (Boone, North Carolina). Was named the Gatorade North Carolina High School Player of the Year during his senior season in 2013... batted .461 with 11 home runs and 43 RBI...also owned a 4-3 record and a 1.23 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 40.1 innings as a pitcher. Was an honorable mention All-State selection as a junior in 2012 at Stillwater (OK) High School. Had committed to play college baseball at Stanford University before signing with the Giants. Has a brother two years younger named Utah... the boys were given unusual names because their parents felt they needed something distinctive to go with their common last name. Dad, Billy Jones, has coached college baseball for all of Ryder's life, moving the family from Green River to Oregon State, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, North Carolina State to Appalachian State...Mother, Tiffani, grew up in the Bay Area. A natural righty, Ryder's father believed he'd be better off hitting left-handed...Ryder didn't take immediately to the new grip...during a practice one day, Billy ducttaped his son's hands to the big red whiffle-ball bat to allow him to get accustomed to the feel of the new grip. Soon Ryder was batting left-handed. Considers Stillwater home because his father spent eight years at Oklahoma State beginning when Ryder was in fifth grade...his school bus would drop him off after school at the college's baseball facility... he would do homework and then get involved in practices...Ryder credits his time playing with the Oklahoma State players as the biggest influence in his development as a player.
2017
Appeared in 53 games with SF, batting .173 (26-for-150) with nine extra-base hits...Had his contract purchased from triple-A Sacramento on June 24 and made his MLB debut that day vs. New York-NL...Recorded his big league hit on June 30 at Pittsburgh, a single off LHP Wade LeBlanc...Went hitless in the first 17 at-bats of his career...since the Giants moved to SF only one other player (non-pitchers) began their MLB career 0-for-17 or worse (Edwards Guzman 0-for-21 in 1999)...Was HBP on his left wrist on July 1 at Pittsburgh and was placed on the DL on July 7 with a wrist contusion...Was activated from the DL on July 17 and was optioned to triple-A Sacramento...was recalled from Sacramento on Aug. 3...Hit his first Major League home run on Aug. 7 vs. Chicago-NL off RHP Jake Arrieta...Hit .312 with 13 homers and 44 RBI in 64 games with triple-A Sacramento.
2016
Named a mid-season All-Star, Jones hit .247 with 26 doubles, 15 home runs and 67 RBI in his first season at the double-A level...Spent the entire year with Richmond and was the Opening Day starting third baseman...led the Flying Squirrels in homers and RBI.
2015
Played the entire season with Class A Advanced San Jose, batting .268 with 29 doubles, six home runs and 47 RBI in 105 games.
2014
Had modest success while playing for Class A Augusta during the first half of the season before a prolonged slump in June and July resulted in a demotion to short-season Salem-Keizer...in 118 games between the two teams, he hit only .225 with 10 home runs and 67 RBI...Entered the season ranked as the #15 prospect in the Giants' organization according to Baseball America
2013
Was named to the postseason Arizona Rookie League All-Star team...ranked ninth in the league in batting average.