JAWS and the 2025 Hall of Fame Ballot: Adam Jones

The next article is a part of Jay Jaffe’s ongoing take a look at the candidates on the BBWAA 2025 Corridor of Fame poll. For an in depth introduction to this 12 months’s poll, and different candidates within the collection, use the software above; an introduction to JAWS might be discovered right here. For a tentative schedule, see right here. All WAR figures seek advice from the Baseball Reference model until in any other case indicated.

Adam Jones was Mr. Baltimore. Although he was born in San Diego and commenced his main league profession in Seattle, Jones took to Baltimore upon being traded to the Orioles in 2008. On the sector, he set an instance for youthful teammates throughout lean years, and his mixture of energy, velocity, and sleek protection ultimately helped the staff finish an epic streak of futility. He served as a starter on the Orioles’ first three playoff groups on this millennium, profitable 4 Gold Gloves and making 5 All-Star groups. Off the sector, Jones invested within the metropolis, yearly donating a big chunk of his wage to the native Boys & Ladies Membership and different charitable endeavors. He emerged as a civic icon, a Black athlete who may relate to the hardships skilled by the town’s Black inhabitants, and one who wasn’t afraid to talk out relating to the injustices he noticed each domestically and nationally.

Jones’ nationwide prominence reached its zenith in 2017 when he made a memorable, iconic catch to rob Manny Machado of a house run whereas taking part in middle discipline throughout the World Baseball Traditional — a key second in serving to Crew USA win the match for the one time up to now.

“Once I first received right here [2010], he was our greatest participant, however he additionally performed the sport the suitable method,” supervisor Buck Showalter advised ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian in 2015. “His phrases include plenty of weight. He walks the stroll. Nobody performs tougher than Adam Jones. 9 innings, 90 ft, nobody. That’s not one thing that everybody can do within the massive leagues, play exhausting each play, put up up every single day… He’ll inform the reality, and he’ll say it to your face. He likes to win, doesn’t wish to lose.”

…

Adam LaMarque Jones was born on August 1, 1985 in San Diego, California, the youngest of 5 youngsters raised by his mom Andrea Brown Bradley and stepfather Kenneth Bradley. Jones grew up in a southeast San Diego neighborhood rife with gangs, medication, and violence. He bought sweet door to door to earn cash to purchase lunch in school. As a toddler, he was excited about soccer and basketball, and it wasn’t till his stepfather took him to a Padres recreation when he was 12 that he took an curiosity within the baseball or picked up a bat.

Jones turned out to be a fast examine when it got here to baseball. He grew to become a Padres fan, idolized Tony Gwynn, and made buddies who helped present among the stability and materials items he wanted to remain out of bother and pursue journey baseball. The household of Jett Ruiz, his staff’s catcher, took Jones into their Lakeside residence for weekends throughout journey ball season, shopping for him a Mizuno glove and different gear. Future main leaguer Quintin Berry grew to become his closest buddy; as Berry would later be aware, each he and Jones confirmed sufficient promise on the diamond that native gangs elected to provide them a large berth.

At Samuel Morse Excessive College, Jones performed basketball and soccer in addition to baseball. Not missing for self-worth, he advised Morse’s coach Matt Cleek when he was a sophomore, “I’m gonna be your no. 1 pitcher… and your finest participant.” He starred as a pitcher and shortstop, capable of throw 96 mph together with his fastball; he additionally threw “breaking balls that sank in all places,” Ruiz advised the Baltimore Solar’s Mike Klingaman in 2012, and experimented with switch-hitting. After his junior 12 months he thought of transferring to Mission Bay Excessive College, the place he would have paired with 2004 high choose Matt Bush on the center infield, however Jones balked when he was advised that he must shift to second base as a substitute of Bush. As a senior, he hit .406, posted a 2.71 ERA, and helped Morse to the 2003 California State semifinals.

Forward of the 2003 draft, some groups had been excited about Jones the pitcher, others in Jones the shortstop. “Jones has restricted abilities past uncooked stuff, and little really feel for pitching,” wrote Baseball America in a pre-draft report. “He prefers to be an on a regular basis participant and is athletic [enough] to play nearly any place on the sector. He’s a possible five-tool expertise, although his bat is a bit suspect.” In a judgment that didn’t age properly, the publication added, “Make-up can also be a problem with Jones, who has had a tricky upbringing.” The report moreover in contrast him to Bush: “[S]couts say Jones is greater, quicker and has a greater arm, although Bush is extra refined.”

As the top coach at San Diego State, Gwynn recruited Jones, who signed a letter of intent to the college, however when the Mariners drafted him as a supplemental first-round choose, thirty seventh general, he selected to signal for a $925,000 bonus. He started his skilled profession taking part in shortstop for the Mariners’ Arizona Advanced League affiliate, hitting .284/.368/.349 in 30 video games and incomes a late-season promotion to Low-A Everett. “We’re nonetheless unsure what we’ve received,” Arizona supervisor Scott Steinmann advised Baseball America, “however he prefers to play within the discipline. It’s potential we received’t make a closing dedication on whether or not he’s a pitcher or shortstop till subsequent 12 months. He’s received plenty of upside both method.”

Jones remained on the place participant path, spending 2004 at A-level Wisconsin and splitting ’05 between Excessive-A Inland Empire and Double-A San Antonio, hitting a mixed .297/.370/.479 with 15 homers and 13 steals. He primarily performed shortstop in each seasons, however after a quick experiment in middle discipline at San Antonio, the Mariners moved him to the center pasture for the 2005 Arizona Fall League, believing that incumbent shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt (then simply 23) would turn into a star. Baseball America ranked Jones sixty fourth on its 2006 High 100 Prospects record, and in contrast him to former Mariners middle fielder Mike Cameron: “Each are premium athletes with plus velocity, stable energy and powerful arms.”

After a powerful half-season at Triple-A Tacoma, the 20-year-old Jones was known as up by the Mariners shortly after incumbent middle fielder Jeremy Reed broke his thumb, an damage that turned out to be season-ending. Jones debuted on July 14, 2006, going 0-for-3 with a stroll in opposition to the Blue Jays. He went 0-for-12 earlier than accumulating his first hit on July 18, a single off the Orioles’ Sidney Ponson; on August 10, he hit his first homer, off the Rangers’ Adam Eaton. Largely overmatched, he was despatched again to Tacoma in late August, and restricted to late-inning obligation when the Mariners recalled him in September. In all, he hit simply .216/.237/.311 (42 OPS+) with a 28.9% strikeout charge in 74 plate appearances, although he did play middle discipline properly.

Jones climbed to twenty eighth in BA’s High 100. The publication envisioned him as a possible Gold Glove winner, lauding his work ethic and skill to regulate, however expressed concern about his plate self-discipline and strikeout points. He spent the primary 4 months of the 2007 season at Tacoma, hitting .314/.382/.586 with 25 homers and eight steals, then was recalled in early August. With Ichiro Suzuki shifting over from proper discipline to play repeatedly in middle, Jones was primarily utilized in left and off the bench; taking simply 71 PA in 41 video games, he hit simply .246/.300/.400 (86 OPS+), highlighted by a game-tying pinch-homer off the A’s Alan Embree on September 12.

The 2007 Mariners received 88 video games, their finest displaying in 4 years. Believing they had been one frontline pitcher away from returning to the playoffs for the primary time since 2001, in February ’08 they traded Jones and 4 pitchers (Tony Butler, Kam Mickolio, George Sherrill, and Chris Tillman) to the Orioles for lefty Erik Bedard. With Sherrill and Tillman every making an All-Star staff and Jones making 5 whereas Bedard totaled simply 46 begins throughout two and a half seasons, the commerce turned out to be one of many worst in Mariners historical past. Not that the Orioles had been any good, as they’d already strung collectively 10 straight sub-.500 seasons, together with a 69-93 report in 2007. With the 22-year-old Jones changing Corey Patterson and Tike Redman, the O’s had been no higher in 2008 (68-93), however the newcomer hit .270/.311/.400 (87 OPS+) with 9 homers, 10 steals, and 6 DRS in middle discipline, good for two.0 WAR regardless of lacking 4 weeks after fracturing his left foot with a foul ball.

Jones broke out in 2009, making his first All-Star staff and profitable his first Gold Glove on the energy of a .277/.335/.457 (105 OPS+) season with 19 homers and 10 steals, although his 2 DRS suggests he was much less efficient than he appeared — a problem that might resurface. He didn’t play after September 1 as a result of a left ankle sprain, however his 2.6 WAR in 119 video games represented enchancment. Wholesome sufficient to play 300 video games in 2010–11, he posted slight enhancements in offense relative to the league however inconsistent protection. In 2011, the higher of these two seasons, he hit .280/.319/.466 with 25 homers, 12 steals, -1 DRS and three.3 WAR.

Showalter took over as supervisor for the fired Dave Tremblay and interim Juan Samuel late within the 2010 season, guiding the Orioles to a 34-23 report over the ultimate two months and alter. The Orioles couldn’t preserve that momentum in 2011, with one other 69-93 marketing campaign, their 14th straight under .500. Issues modified in 2012. Due to various components, together with breakouts by Tillman and DH Chris Davis, the arrivals of 26-year-old lefty Wei-Yin Chen and the 19-year-old Machado — in addition to a 29-9 report in one-run video games — the Orioles earned a Wild Card berth with a 93-69 report. Jones led the staff with 4.1 WAR whereas batting .287/.334/.505 (125 OPS+) with 32 homers and 16 steals, with all however the OBP representing profession bests to that time. He made his second All-Star staff and received his second Gold Glove regardless of a ghastly -13 DRS (and -6.0 UZR); notably, this was the final 12 months earlier than the SABR Defensive Index was launched.

In Might 2012, Jones parlayed his upgraded play right into a six-year, $85.5 million extension with the Orioles for the ’13–18 seasons, the biggest contract in staff historical past to that time. He earmarked $75,000 of his wage yearly for the native Boys & Ladies Golf equipment, together with $20,000 to school scholarships for needy college students. “I match right here on this metropolis. I match right here on this staff. I slot in Camden Yards,” Jones stated on the press convention to announce his extension. “I actually don’t see myself sporting one other white uniform that doesn’t have ‘Orioles’ throughout the chest.”

“The dude made the money register ring each time he hit a house run, didn’t he?” stated Dan Duquette, Baltimore’s govt vp of baseball operations.

Jones wasn’t a lot assist in the Orioles’ first postseason since 1997, going 2-for-26 within the Wild Card Sport in opposition to the Rangers and the Division Collection in opposition to the Yankees. He and the Orioles fell wanting returning after an 85-win marketing campaign in 2013, however for Jones it was arguably his finest season, as he set new profession highs in WAR (4.8), residence runs (33), and RBI (108) whereas hitting .285/.318/.493 (118 OPS+) and including 14 steals as properly. His protection rebounded to -1 run; once more he received a Gold Glove, and he started a string of three straight All-Star Sport begins.

Jones adopted up with one other 4.8-WAR season in 2014, with 29 homers and a 115 OPS+, that regardless of strolling simply 19 instances whereas putting out 133 instances. This time, the Orioles received 96 video games and their first AL East flag since 1997. Although he went simply 2-for-11, Jones scored 4 runs in three video games because the Orioles swept the Tigers within the Division Collection. He hit a two-run homer off Yordano Ventura in Sport 2 of the ALCS, however the Orioles had been swept by the Royals.

After taking part in 150 or extra video games in every of the earlier 4 seasons, Jones was restricted to 137 in 2015 by numerous aches and pains attributable to sacrificing his physique. He missed time in June as a result of proper shoulder soreness stemming from an try and make a diving catch on June 15 in opposition to the Phillies, and concussion-like signs after crashing right into a wall in Texas on August 27. He hit .269/.308/.474 (110 OPS+) with 27 homers and three.5 WAR; although his 5 DRS was his finest displaying in that class since 2008, his string of three straight Gold Gloves ended — as properly it ought to have given the off-the-charts 38 DRS of Kevin Kiermaier.

By 2015, Jones had already turn into a Baltimore establishment, however his voice took on elevated resonance as he publicly grappled with the civic unrest within the wake of the dying of Freddie Grey, a 25-year-old Black man who had been arrested for possession of a knife on April 12, 2015 and who sustained a deadly spinal twine damage whereas in police custody every week later, leading to prison expenses in opposition to six officers. Ongoing protests in opposition to the Baltimore Police Division turned violent, and fireplace and escalating civil dysfunction pressured the postponement of an Orioles-White Sox recreation, which was subsequently rescheduled to be performed in an empty Camden Yards. Earlier than the sport, Jones associated his personal experiences rising as much as these skilled by the town’s Black youth, and expressed empathy for them:

“There’s been plenty of good protesting, there have been lots of people standing up for the rights that they’ve… The youth are hurting… It could possibly appear like nobody’s preventing for you however there are folks like myself. I say to the youth, your frustration is warranted. It’s comprehensible, understood. The actions I don’t suppose are acceptable, however if you happen to come from the place they arrive from, you perceive… That is their cry… They want hugs. They want love. They want assist.

“I really feel the ache of those youngsters. Let’s bear in mind I grew up on related tracks as them… It’s simply not straightforward seeing a group [where] you are attempting to have an effect on change in, seeing these form of issues, but it surely’s comprehensible as a result of these youngsters are harm. And these youngsters have seen the ache of their mother and father’ eyes, the ache of their grandparents’ eyes over many years, and that is their method of talking on behalf of their mother and father and behalf of their grandparents and individuals who have been harm.”

Jones remained seen and outspoken. He continued to talk out on issues of race and sports activities, expressing assist for Colin Kaepernick and different NFL gamers kneeling throughout the nationwide anthem in 2016 as a protest in opposition to racial inequality. “I’ve seen Kaepernick known as the N-word,” Jones advised USA Right now’s Bob Nightengale, “simply because he’s being delicate to what has occurred to African People on this nation. It’s loopy how when folks of shade converse up, we’re all the time ridiculed. However when folks that aren’t of shade converse up, it’s their proper.”

Explaining why baseball gamers weren’t protesting to the diploma that soccer gamers had been, Jones was pointedly vital of the trade, telling Nightengale:

“We have already got two strikes in opposition to us already… so that you may as properly not kick your self out of the sport. In soccer, you may’t kick them out. You want these gamers. In baseball, they don’t want us.

“Baseball is a white man’s sport.”

Nightengale famous that simply 8% of baseball gamers on Opening Day rosters had been African People, in comparison with 68% of gamers within the NFL and 74% within the NBA.

Whether or not it was linked to his outspokenness or just a very egregious instance of dangerous fan conduct, on Might 1, 2017, Jones grew to become the goal of abuse at Fenway Park. “A disrespectful fan threw a bag of peanuts at me,” Jones advised USA Right now, “I used to be known as the N-word a handful of instances tonight. Thanks. Fairly superior.” Crimson Sox officers issued an apology to Jones and confirmed the ejection of the fan and someplace round 30 others in attendance. Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker and Boston mayor Marty Walsh each condemned the followers’ conduct as properly.

As Jones later defined to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick:

“These are issues that athletes, notably of my shade, face typically all through their careers,” Jones stated. “They’re introduced with the selection to both let one thing go or to problem it and converse up on it. I selected the path to problem it and converse up on it. However with that, I need to educate myself on either side. I don’t need to simply converse brashly on one thing I don’t know something about, which lots of people do via the shops that we’ve got.

On the sector, although Jones remained an influence menace after 2015, with 29 homers in ’16 and 26 in ’17, his protection went right into a steep decline — to -7 DRS within the former 12 months, -13 within the latter — and he totaled simply 4.3 WAR for the 2 seasons. The Orioles received 89 video games and claimed a Wild Card spot in 2016; Jones went 1-for-5 in opposition to the Blue Jays, however the Orioles misplaced on Edwin Encarnación’s three-run homer off Ubaldo Jiménez as Zach Britton appeared on.

Regardless of Jones’ more and more subpar defensive metrics, he made what is perhaps essentially the most well-known defensive play in World Baseball Traditional historical past in 2017. In a recreation in opposition to the Dominican Republic that might decide which of the 2 groups superior from Pool F to the championship spherical, Crew USA — which had misplaced to the Dominican staff 7-5 within the first spherical — led 4-2 going into the underside of the seventh inning at Petco Park. Forward within the rely 2-1, Machado barreled an elevated Tyler Clippard fastball to middle discipline. The 106-mph drive appeared gone off the bat, however Jones ranged 100 ft to his left and timed his leap completely, snagging the ball a couple of ft above the suitable middle discipline fence to rob his Orioles teammate of a certain residence run. Machado doffed his helmet to salute the sensible play, and Jones returned the gesture, capping an iconic and serendipitous second for the San Diego native. Crew USA went on to win the sport 6-3, and, with victories over Japan within the semifinals and Puerto Rico within the finals, captured its solely match championship so far.

In distinction to the fortunes of Crew USA, the Orioles went south with growing velocity, shedding 87 video games in 2017 after which a jaw-dropping 115 in ’18. They traded Machado, Zack Britton, Kevin Gausman, Darren O’Day, Jonathan Schoop and others in July 2018 however not Jones, who had a no-trade clause however was a pending free agent. Whereas he hit a respectable-for-the-position .281/.313/.419 (101 OPS+), hip points price him vary, and he set a profession worst with -19 DRS whereas ending with simply 0.6 WAR.

As an alternative of discovering one other massive payday as hoped, Jones signed a one-year, $3 million-plus incentives take care of the Diamondbacks, and agreed to maneuver to proper discipline. Reportedly, the one different staff that confirmed curiosity was the Marlins. The transfer no less than allowed Jones to be nearer to his mom and stepfather, who lived within the Phoenix space. Sadly, Jones continued his decline, hitting for an 87 OPS+ with -0.8 WAR. Nonetheless simply 34 on the finish of the 2019 season, he determined to proceed his profession in Japan, signing a two-year, $8 million contract with the Orix Buffaloes. He hit .258/.331/.417 with 12 homers in 87 video games in 2020, then simply .234/.337/.335 with 4 homers in 72 video games the following 12 months, although he capped his taking part in profession with a pinch-homer in Sport 5 of the 2021 Japan Collection in opposition to the Yakult Swallows.

“After having performed for nearly 20 years in MLB, having the ability to study and examine and examine how one other nation does baseball was fascinating,” wrote Jones for a career-capping piece within the Gamers Tribune. On September 15, 2023, Jones signed a one-day contract with the Orioles and formally retired. “My closing time placing on a jersey will probably be right here, and I’m simply without end grateful for what Baltimore has taught me,” the 38-year-old Jones stated. “I’m simply glad that I’ll all the time be welcome on this metropolis. The folks right here actually appreciated the way in which I carried myself, performed the sport and gave again.”