Prospect Rankings
Player | Position | Team | Height / Weight | Bats | Throws | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | SS | Arizona Diamondbacks | MLB | 2024 | 22 | 6' 1" / 190 lbs | R | R | |
2 | OF | Arizona Diamondbacks | A | 2026 | 21 | 6' 4" / 180 lbs | R | R | |
3 | OF | Arizona Diamondbacks | ROK | 2028 | 18 | 5' 9" / 182 lbs | L | L | |
4 | OF | Arizona Diamondbacks | A | 2027 | 22 | 6' 2" / 205 lbs | R | R | |
5 | SS | Arizona Diamondbacks | A+ | 2026 | 22 | 5' 9" / 197 lbs | R | R |
- AGE21
- BATSR
- DOB11/28/2003
- THROWSR
- HT6' 4"
- DRAFTED2022, 1st (2) - ARI
- WT180
- ETA2026
- TWITTER
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 70 | Arm: 65 | Field: 70 | Overall: 55
As the son of former Braves star Andruw Jones, the younger Jones became one of the most closely followed talents in the 2022 Draft, and he impressed at nearly every stop with his multitool potential before going second overall to the Diamondbacks, who signed him to a franchise-record $8,189,400 bonus. Shortly after, Jones sustained a left shoulder injury during batting practice before he could debut in the Minors, and then he battled quad and hamstring injuries during his first full season last year. When he did get on the field, he slashed .252/.366/.351 with two homers in 29 games at Single-A Visalia.
Starting with the positives, which remain numerous, Jones is an easy plus-plus runner who tracks down balls with ease in center field, much like his father did on his way to winning 10 Gold Gloves. The teenager made that defense stand out in his first pro game when he made a Willie Mays-style over-the-shoulder grab in the deepest part of the ballpark. His arm strength will also give plenty for opposing runners to chew on, and if he only had the wheels and glove, he’d still be a solid prospect.
Listed at 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds, Jones has ample bat speed and generates solid exit velocities relative to his age and experience. The ingredients are there for at least above-average power. But his bat left something to be desired in the California League as he pushed the ball 48.1 percent of the time to the opposite field while also hitting it into the ground a rough 61.3 percent. Cleaning up the mechanics of his swing (e.g. keeping his front end from leaking out) as he gets farther from the health issues would help in his pursuit of reaching his immense ceiling.