Ryder Jones Explained

Ryder Jones
Team:Free agent
Position:Third baseman / Pitcher
Birth Date:7 June 1994
Birth Place:Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Bats:Left
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:June 24
Debutyear:2017
Debutteam:San Francisco Giants
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:2018 season
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.184
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:4
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:8
Teams:

Ryder McKinley Jones (born June 7, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants.

Career

San Francisco Giants

Jones attended Watauga High School in Boone, North Carolina and was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the second round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft.[1] [2]

He made his professional debut with the Arizona League Giants.[3] Jones played 2014 with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and Augusta GreenJackets, 2015 with the San Jose Giants and 2016 with the Richmond Flying Squirrels.[4] [5] After the 2016 season, he played in the Arizona Fall League.[6] Jones started the 2017 season with the Sacramento River Cats.[7]

On June 24, 2017, the Giants promoted Jones to the major leagues.[8] He made his debut later that night, starting at third base against the New York Mets. On June 30, 2017, Jones recorded his first career hit against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jones played in 53 games for the Giants in 2017 with 40 starts (27 at first base and 13 at third base).

On July 21, 2019, Jones was designated for assignment.[9] After not being claimed by another team, the Giants assigned Jones to their Double-A affiliate the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Jones elected free agency following the season on November 4.[10]

Boston Red Sox

On February 4, 2020, Jones signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox. He did not play in a game for the organization in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] Jones became a minor-league free agent on November 2.[12]

Sugar Land Skeeters

In August 2020, Jones signed on to play for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Constellation Energy League (a makeshift four-team independent league created as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic) for the 2020 season.[13] He was subsequently named to the league's all-star team.[14]

Arizona Diamondbacks

On February 6, 2021, Jones signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. In 2021, Jones appeared in 75 games split between the Rookie-Ball Arizona Complex League Diamondbacks, Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles, and Triple-A Reno Aces. He hit .288 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI. Jones became a free agent following the season.

Chicago White Sox

On January 14, 2022, Jones signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.[15] He was released on August 3, 2022.

Atlanta Braves

On January 7, 2023, Jones signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves while also announcing that he would be converting to a pitcher. [16] He appeared in 13 games for the High–A Rome Braves, but struggled to a 7.53 ERA with 20 strikeouts in innings pitched. On July 27, Jones was released by the Braves organization.[17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pleskoff. Bernie. First look: Giants 2013 Draft pick Ryder Jones. MLB.com. August 29, 2013. June 24, 2017.
  2. News: Hamilton: Ryder Jones is in a can't-lose position. Journal. Scott Hamilton/Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem Journal. 2017-08-29. en.
  3. Web site: WHS Standout Ryder Jones Debuts With San Francisco Giants. www.hcpress.com. 2 July 2013 . en-US. 2017-08-29.
  4. News: WHS grad Ryder Jones opens season as Flying Squirrel. By. Steve Behr. Watauga Democrat. 2017-08-29. en.
  5. News: Duct tape secured swing path of Squirrels' Ryder Jones. Times-Dispatch. JOHN O’CONNOR Richmond. Richmond Times-Dispatch. 2017-08-29. en.
  6. News: Giants prospect Jones finds power at perfect time in Arizona Fall League. 2016-10-31. NBCS Bay Area. 2017-08-29.
  7. News: Down on the Farm: Giants prospect Jones adds outfield to his arsenal. 2017-05-10. NBCS Bay Area. 2017-08-29.
  8. Web site: Haft. Chris. Giants promote Jones, designate Hill. MLB.com. June 24, 2017.
  9. News: Giants part ways with pitcher Derek Holland, infielder Ryder Jones. Henry Schulman. San Francisco Chronicle. July 21, 2019. July 21, 2019.
  10. Web site: Minor League Free Agents 2019. Matt Eddy. Baseball America. November 7, 2019. November 7, 2019.
  11. Web site: 2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled. July 29, 2023. mlb.com. en.
  12. News: Former Red Sox utilityman Tzu-Wei Lin is now a minor-league free agent . Brendan . Campbell . bloggingtheredsox.com . November 2, 2020 . November 3, 2020.
  13. News: Dunsmore . Ryan . Skeeters set rosters for summer league . August 29, 2020 . Fort Bend Herald . July 9, 2020.
  14. News: Constellation Energy League All-Star Team . Sugar Land Skeeters . September 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200921094907/https://www.sugarlandskeeters.com/news/constellation-energy-league-all-star-team . September 21, 2020 . Wayback Machine.
  15. Web site: Hicks. James. White Sox Re-Sign Kyle Crick, Sign Ryder Jones. MLB Trade Rumors. January 14, 2022. January 14, 2022.
  16. Web site: Ryder Jones Stats, Fantasy & News .
  17. Web site: Transactions .