I know we have a "Seahawks in the Pros" thread that we use to track how our former Seahawks are doing in the minors and majors. But since Greg is our best bet to become a true MLB star some day, I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread devoted specifically to Greg tracking his progress through the Rays system. Hopefully in about 1.5-2 years he'll be playing for the Durham Bulls!


Greg made his debut for the Hudson Valley Renegades last night. They're a Low-A team in the New York-Penn League.

Greg served as the DH and went 2-4 with a double, an RBI and run scored. In the 8th, after his leadoff double, he stole 3rd with 1 out in the inning but his teammates couldn't bring him in.

All in all a great Minor League debut. Great job Greg!

That’s a heck of a way to start off his career!

Reminds me of Rickey Henderson.


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Jones followed up his debut with another solid performance on Wednesday. Once again starting as the DH, he went 2-4 with an RBI. He did not play in last night's game.

Greg's numbers have leveled off since his hot start in his first 2 games for Hudson Valley. After a 4-8 start at the plate, he went hitless for 4 straight games.

However, he's gotten back on track of late, and is riding a 5-game hitting streak. On Monday, he went 2-4 against the Brooklyn Cyclones, with a stolen base and a pair of runs scored.

Thru 11 games of action, Jones is now hitting .244 (10-41) with 3 XBH's, 5 RBI, 7 Runs Scored and 8 Walks. He's slugging .341 and has a solid OBP of .367.

Jones has DH'd all of his games to date due to an unknown injury he's been dealing with since his arrival, which cost him a chance to play in the first several games of the season for the Renegades.

Jones has had a solid 3-game stretch since Tuesday. Over the last 3 contests, he's 6-12 with a Double, 3 RBI, 1 SB and 4 Runs.

On the season with Hudson Valley, thru 19 games he's now batting .270 (20-84) with 5 XBH, 11 RBI, 6 SB and 12 R. His OBP is .357 and SLG is .351.

He's a major league guy for sure...book it.

Greg made his first start in the field on Tuesday night (Jul 23), at SS. He recorded 2 putouts and 2 assists with no errors. We'll see if they move him to CF at any point.

Meanwhile, at the plate, Jones has been on an absolute tear of late. Over his last 5 games since July 14, he's been hitting .565 (13-23) with 1 HR, 6 2B's, 5 RBI, 3 SB, 2 BB and 9 Runs. In this stretch he's Slugging .696 with a .600 OBP. The HR on Jul 21 was the first of his Minor League career.

This recent stretch ups his numbers significantly to .337 (34-101) with 1 HR, 16 RBI, 10 SB, 21 runs, .485 SLG and .407 OBP.

He's been drawing some nice media attention as a result of his play:


https://www.milb.com/milb/news/tampa-bay...-309278982

Quote:When Greg Jones batted with two on and first base open in the ninth inning Sunday, Renegades manager Blake Butera didn't expect him to get a pitch to hit. The 22nd overall pick in the June Draft was going to receive a free pass or chase pitches out of the zone.

But Butera was wrong and Jones battled through an eight-pitch at-bat to blast a go-ahead, three-run dinger that propelled Class A Short Season Hudson Valley to a 4-2 win over Lowell at Edward A. LeLacheur Park.

"I'm not a big-time home run hitter," Jones said, "but they're good to come around every once and awhile."

As Butera expected, Jackson's first offering missed outside and Jones let the ball sail by. Then the right-hander fired two changeups in the zone and Jones whiffed at both. The 21-year-old stepped out of the box. He told himself to settle down and wait for his pitch. There was no harm in spoiling anything he couldn't drive into the gap.

The fourth pitch missed low and after fouling off three straight pitches in a 2-2 count, Jones changed the game with his sixth swing of the at-bat, ripping his first professional long ball to right-center field.

"A home run in the ninth right there to take the lead is huge in itself, but credit to him," Butera said, "He fought off some really, really tough pitches and was able to finally get a mistake and he took advantage of it, which was pretty special to see."

The big fly was the latest highlight in a productive first pro month for the UNC Wilmington product. Jones made his debut with the Renegades on June 18. In 24 games since, he's hit .323/.398/.458. His batting average ranks sixth in the New York-Penn League and his on-base percentage -- boosted by 11 walks -- slots fourth.

https://www.draysbay.com/2019/7/24/20707...-fernandez

Quote:Greg Jones is now sixth in the New York-Penn League in average, fourth in on-base percentage, ninth in slugging percentage, and eighth in OPS. His .892 OPS is over 200 points higher than the league average. It’s hardly over 100 plate appearances, but he’s adjusting nicely to pro ball.

Towards the end at UNCW you just knew that he would deliver. There have been a few guys like that over the years and he was one of them. He had that electricity flowing through him. One of the better players at UNCW IMHO. And, of course, his upside is probably higher than any player that ever played here. He has all the tools to be not only a MLB player but a really, really good one.

(07-25-2019 10:15 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote:  Towards the end at UNCW you just knew that he would deliver. There have been a few guys like that over the years and he was one of them. He had that electricity flowing through him. One of the better players at UNCW IMHO. And, of course, his upside is probably higher than any player that ever played here. He has all the tools to be not only a MLB player but a really, really good one.

Really good kid and great family.

Jones had another solid game on Saturday night. He went 2-4 with a Triple, 2 Stolen Bases and a Run. That was his 2nd Triple of the season and he now has 12 SB's on 17 attempts (70.6 %).

He's also been perfect in the field in his 3 games at SS. He's had 12 chances and recorded 6 Assists, 6 Putouts and 0 Errors.

(07-28-2019 02:45 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  Jones had another solid game on Saturday night. He went 2-4 with a Triple, 2 Stolen Bases and a Run. That was his 2nd Triple of the season and he now has 12 SB's on 17 attempts (70.6 %).

He's also been perfect in the field in his 3 games at SS. He's had 12 chances and recorded 6 Assists, 6 Putouts and 0 Errors.

You jinxed him on both his SB's and his errors.

Greg has gotten at least one hit in 15 of his last 16 games.

With July coming to a close he's now hitting .341 (42-123) with 1 HR, 3 Triples, 10 Doubles, 17 RBI, 13 SB on 20 attempts (.650) and 27 Runs in 31 games. He's Slugging .496 and has an OBP of .413.

Defensively, his Fielding % is .958 and he's also taken part in 3 Double Plays in 6 games at SS.

Greg has missed the last 4 games for Hudson Valley. He last played on July 31st, a game he exited after the 3rd inning with an injury that has so far been undisclosed. There has been no news regarding what kind of injury he suffered or if a stint on the IL will be necessary.

Greg's next chance to suit up will be tonight @ Brooklyn Cyclones.

A solid article was posted about Greg today by Dan Zielinskli III from baseballprospectjournal.com:



http://baseballprospectjournal.com/greg-...they-come/

Greg Jones taking things as they come
By Dan Zielinski III



BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Cape Cod League can have a profound impact on college baseball players aspiring to have a professional career. For Tampa Bay Rays prospect Greg Jones, his success last summer with the Chatham Anglers put him on the path to be an eventual first-round selection in June’s MLB draft.

Jones learned how to tap into his athletic ability and experience the nuances of playing in the professional game, such as swinging a wood bat in a competitive setting.

“Honestly, the Cape Cod League gives you a chance to mature more physically,” Jones explains. “The main reason being that you are away from your family, which is something that you are going to be doing in pro ball. It gets you ready for the next level. I faced a lot of draft picks in the Cape last summer. It also got me ready for the off-speed pitches and the velocity I face from pitchers in pro ball.”

One of the causes for many players to flourish after spending time in the Cape is due to the type of competition they faced throughout the season. One of Jones’s teammates with Chatham was Spencer Torkelson, a young, prodigious first baseman for Arizona State.

Torkelson broke Barry Bonds’s Arizona State home run record as a freshman and is a potential first overall pick in 2020 MLB draft. He batted in the top half of the order for Chatham and displayed the ability to barrel up the ball in each at-bat.

“Torkelson is a great player. A great guy to be around,” Jones said. “You have fun playing with him in that lineup all summer. He has some of the most unbelievable pop I have ever seen from a player. One of the things that really stands out him is the pure swing that he has at the plate. Mainly he was a great guy to play with at Chatham.”

A draft-eligible sophomore, Jones was able to bolster his stock with a strong all-around season at UNC Wilmington. In 61 games, Jones batted .343/.491/.551 with 33 runs batted in and a 1.042 OPS.

He also led the CAA Conference in five offensive categories and tied the school’s stolen base record to earn the CAA Player of the Year award.

Though known for being a fixture in the NCAA Basketball Tournament, UNC Wilmington is building a reputable baseball program with Jones becoming the highest selection in school history.

“UNC Wilmington has a great coaching staff. For me, they gave (me) the chance to play there and made me the player that I am today,” Jones said. “I’m very thankful for that. They are making great strides in becoming a top-five baseball program in North Carolina. They have top draft picks who are pitchers and position players in the conference. You cannot count them out.”

Like with most of their first-round picks, the Rays invited Jones to Tropicana Field after the draft to meet with team brass and familiarize himself with the franchise culture.

Jones officially signed his first pro contract in the ballpark and watched Rays outfielders Kevin Kiermaier and Austin Meadows take batting practice before a game against the Oakland Athletics.

The Tampa/St. Petersburg region is familiar with Jones. He attended games as a child at the New York Yankees spring training complex in Tampa and a few games in the dome when the team was still called the Devil Rays.

“Tropicana Field was unbelievable. It is a great facility,” Jones recalls. “I got to go down to the locker room and speak with some of the players at the major league level. I got to talk with (2018 AL Cy Young Award winner) Blake Snell and some of the other guys that are in the organization. They basically told me the same thing I heard from everybody else, which is to have fun. I’m at a great place in my life, and you just take the moments as they come. Going there gave me a goal to set for myself.”

Jones began his professional career in the New York-Penn League with Hudson Valley Renegades. He sports a .413 on-base percentage in his first 31 games with a .909 OPS and 13 stolen bases.

Jones is a crucial contributor for manager Blake Butera out of the leadoff spot to spark the Renegades. Butera, 27, is one of the youngest skippers in Minor League Baseball. Being close in age helps him relate more easily to his players, which enables Jones to thrive within the team dynamic.

“I think it’s incredible, honestly. Butera is a smart guy that knows a lot about the game,” Jones said. “Since he is young, he can show us what to do on the field instead of telling us what to do. You feel you can learn a lot from him. The coaching staff is great. We kind of just bond with a great group of guys and seeing how far we can go as a unit.”

Profiling with an athletic build, Jones displays some of the characteristics seen in a five-tool player. His speed on the base paths and quick jumps lead to stolen bases while putting pressure on opponents.

At the plate, he is a switch hitter whose swing produces consistent line drives with room to develop power. Some of his growth in the batter’s box stems from improved plate selectivity and a contact-oriented approach. Defensively, Jones has a strong arm in the hole and range up the middle but will look to improve his consistency at shortstop. The possibility also remains for Jones to play center field eventually because of his natural speed.

“I have definitely become a more aggressive hitter,” Jones explains. “The umpires are different here (in professional baseball), so if you don’t swing at that one hittable pitch, you will fall behind in the count. Earlier in the season, I wasn’t being aggressive enough on those pitches.”

According to many experts, the Tampa Bay Rays have one of the deepest farm systems in baseball. Shortstop Wander Franco is the top prospect in the game according to Baseball America, while pitchers Matthew Liberatore and Brendan McKay sit atop the organizational pitching pipeline.

Being a perennial small-market franchise, the Rays rely heavily on their scouting and player development to sustain a competitive product. Their reputation for producing budding talent means they hold each player to a high standard where they can achieve their full potential.

“My focus (being in the Rays organization) is coming out on the field and knowing how to play the game the way I always try to do and letting the results happen,” Jones said. “I always try to hold myself to the highest standards whenever I play, since I know I can be a great baseball player. I feel like I can fit in wherever I go, and I’m just out here playing the game.”

(07-12-2019 11:05 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote:  He's a major league guy for sure...book it.

Sure hope so but we have all seen the can't miss guy more than a few times in baseball.

(08-06-2019 10:33 PM)jumpinmullet Wrote:  

(07-12-2019 11:05 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote:  He's a major league guy for sure...book it.

Sure hope so but we have all seen the can't miss guy more than a few times in baseball.

Absolutely, but hitters are "safer bets" than pitchers. If you can hit in college you can likely hit in the minors. And if you can hit well in the minors it can translate to the Pros. Add to that his speed and glove and it makes him a safer bet than most to make it.

In addition, the Rays are a great organization (at least when it comes to developing young players) and will take the time to invest in him properly. It won't be like a Mets-Brad Holt situation.

(08-07-2019 08:34 AM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(08-06-2019 10:33 PM)jumpinmullet Wrote:  

(07-12-2019 11:05 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote:  He's a major league guy for sure...book it.

Sure hope so but we have all seen the can't miss guy more than a few times in baseball.

Absolutely, but hitters are "safer bets" than pitchers. If you can hit in college you can likely hit in the minors. And if you can hit well in the minors it can translate to the Pros. Add to that his speed and glove and it makes him a safer bet than most to make it.

In addition, the Rays are a great organization (at least when it comes to developing young players) and will take the time to invest in him properly. It won't be like a Mets-Brad Holt situation.

Interesting comment on the Mets, one thing they have done well the last 10 years is develop pitchers.(opposite of the Yanks!)

(08-07-2019 08:41 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  Interesting comment on the Mets, one thing they have done well the last 10 years is develop pitchers.(opposite of the Yanks!)

Only when Sandy Alderson arrived. Holt was during the Omar Minaya era.

(08-07-2019 08:56 AM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(08-07-2019 08:41 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  Interesting comment on the Mets, one thing they have done well the last 10 years is develop pitchers.(opposite of the Yanks!)

Only when Sandy Alderson arrived. Holt was during the Omar Minaya era.

Fair point. I do agree about the Rays too. Hopefully, we'll get to see him in Durham

Holt deserved part of the blame for his lack of development though. He never truly worked to develop a secondary pitch whether coaches told him to or not. I got bashed for that pretty badly when I mentioned it here during his rough sophomore season at UNCW, but it was an issue that indeed followed him to the next level.