Sooner than Druw Jones had so unparalleled as performed a talented sport, there were noteworthy expectations that he would present exemplary protection in heart field, largely attributable to the 17 years that his father, Andruw, spent patrolling enormous league outfields.
And whereas Thursday night time used to be merely Sport 1 within the youthful Jones’ baseball odyssey, one take for Single-A Visalia is one nice scheme to initiate.
Going assist on a ball within the underside of the fifth against the Padres’ Single-A Lake Elsinore affiliate, Jones needed to originate on a tiring drag in direction of heart field. As he reached top bustle, his hat came flying off and he caught out his glove, managing to corral the ball within the deepest crevices of the outfield ahead of crashing into the wall.
If the high-fives and assist slaps from teammates weren’t enough of a signal that Jones had correct made an exemplary take, Storm batter Griffin Doersching raised his helmet within the route of MLB Pipeline’s No. 13 total prospect to congratulate him.
Being tagged as one in all correct 5 players within the route of the Minors with a 70-grade field tool (on the 20-80 scouting scale) ahead of having performed so unparalleled as one expert inning used to be as correct a hallmark as any of the skill that many believed Jones possesses.
Arizona chosen Jones with the second total make a selection within the 2022 Draft, handing him the third-perfect signing bonus in historical previous ($8,189,400). But ahead of he would possibly per chance dash from high faculty phenom to expert wunderkind, he sustained a torn posterior labrum in his left shoulder for the duration of a batting apply session, which necessitated surgical treatment and ended his summer season early.
Relief healthy, Jones – now the D-backs’ No. 2 prospect – finds himself entrenched at the tip of the command for the Rawhide after getting a taste of enormous league action for the duration of the spring at correct 19 years outdated. He even swatted his first (unofficial) hit at Stride Subject, a capability precursor of things to strategy.
