Is JaCoby Jones Winning The Tigers Battle In Centerfield?
By: Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
Entering spring training, the Tigers looked to have a plan in centerfield.
Mikie Mahtook, Tyler Collins and Anthony Gose would compete for the starting job and JaCoby Jones would continue to iron out his game. The Tigers would wait for one of the former three to emerge or they'd settle on a platoon.
Either way, Jones, the promising 24-year-old, would start the season in Triple-A.
It was a nice plan. It was a smart plan.
But it wasn't Jones' plan.
That's become more evident as spring training has progressed and it was crystal clear on Thursday when Jones collected two more hits - including a home run - stole two bases and played great defense in centerfield in the Tigers 5-3 win over the Braves. His spring training average now sits at .346.
JaCoby Jones with power, speed and defense today. He's making this tough for the Tigers.
— anthony fenech (@anthonyfenech) March 16, 2017
JaCoby Jones -- that guy again -- with a very good AB and walk to start fifth. He's earning bonus points today.
— Lynn G. Henning (@Lynn_Henning) March 16, 2017
The Tigers' cautiousness with Jones rests largely on his bat. He whiffs too much, which means he strikes out too much. He struggles to stay within the strike zone, which means he struggles at times to get on base.
These flaws still exist, but Jones has seemed to smooth them out. He has four strikeouts over 27 plate appearances this spring, continuing the strides he made in the 2016 Arizona Fall League. Between the fall league and spring training, Jones has a strikeout rate of .17 over 92 plate appearances, compared to .29 over 413 plate appearances last season between Double-A, Triple-A and MLB.
But he hasn't made any stark changes to his approach at the plate. It simply may be that by staying aggressive and swinging early, he's avoiding two-strike counts.
JaCoby Jones talked this morning about wanting to improve OBP but stay aggressive. He jumped 1st pitch of 2nd inning for 2nd HR this spring.
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) March 16, 2017
When the count turned in the pitcher's favor on Thursday, Jones showed an ability to stay alive.
JaCoby Jones has worked out of 2-strike counts in 2 times up since HR. Lined 1-2 single in 4th, worked walk in 6th. Stole 2B both times.
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) March 16, 2017
It's unlikely that Jones will ever be a highly disciplined, walk-oriented hitter. The key for him is cutting down on the whiffs to the point that he's not giving away at-bats. Because when he makes contact, he can do things like this.
That was his first home run of the season. His second, which he smacked on Thursday, was another bomb.
JaCoby Jones with a 631-foot home run. He wants to make the Tigers.
— anthony fenech (@anthonyfenech) March 16, 2017
While Jones has thrived in spring training, his competitors for the centerfield job have struggled. Mahtook is 5/33 (.152) with nine strikeouts, Collins is 6/29 (.207) with seven strikeouts and Gose is 7/28 (.250) with 11 strikeouts. Alex Presley and Juan Perez have both been much better, but it's hard to see either of them filling more than a depth role for the Tigers.
Are we working with the best sample sizes? No. Should spring training numbers be taken with a grain of salt? Absolutely. Still, Jones is separating himself from the pack. He has the defensive tools the Tigers are looking for in centerfield and he's rounding into shape at the plate.
Though the Tigers would rather see Jones start the year in Toledo, Jones - and those around him - are giving the Tigers every reason to bring him back to Detroit.