Jones’ Career Takes a New Direction

A solid 1999 season is putting Ryan Jones back on track to fulfill his dream of playing major league baseball.

Jones, 24, signed out of Irvine High in 1993. He had enjoyed an excellent senior season, batting .466 with seven home runs and 33 runs batted in, and was a Times Orange County first-team selection. Toronto took him in the draft’s second round.

“The most dominant high school player I ever coached was Bobby Hamelin,” Irvine Coach Bob Flint said. “Just a click behind was Ryan.

“He was an arrogant hitter and I mean that in a positive way. When he was at the plate, if he struck out, you could see in his eyes: ‘OK pitcher, you enjoy that because I will be back and that won’t happen again.’ You could see the aggressiveness, the confidence.”

By 1997, Jones had reached the Blue Jays’ triple-A Syracuse (N.Y.) team, a step away from the majors. But he hit .138 in 41 games and was sent back to double-A Knoxville (Tenn.), where he also played last season.

It appeared his career had stalled, until last December, when the Detroit Tigers made him their Rule V pick--the draft by major league teams of minor leaguers left unprotected by their parent club.

The pickup has paid dividends this season. As a first baseman for the Tigers’ double-A Jacksonville (Fla.) team, Jones has 15 homers and 54 RBIs and is batting .273 in 89 games. His home run and RBI totals are second bests on the team.

“When the Tigers drafted me,” Jones said. “they called me into their spring training offices and said they felt I was one of Toronto’s better prospects. I’d had a couple of mediocre years, but they wanted to take a chance and give me that fresh start.

“So far, so good. I get to play every day at first base instead of just being a designated hitter. There is a danger of being typecast as a DH. I don’t want people thinking that’s all I can do.”

Four of Jones’ seven professional seasons have been spent in double-A. He said he understands he is reaching a point where he either gets a major league shot soon, or doesn’t get one at all. So naturally, every dry spell seems magnified.

After getting off to a good start, Jones said he went through “a bad month of June,” during which he struggled at the plate. Adding to his concern was the return of first baseman Alejandro Freire off the disabled list, which meant Jones’ playing time could diminish.

Jacksonville Manager Dave Anderson said Jones is “still on the upside” of his career.

“Ryan has always been a good offensive player,” Anderson said. “He struggled with Toronto’s triple-A team, so it was time to start somewhere new. We felt he was a player who could come in and help us.”

WHAT A RELIEF

A lack of quality pitchers at the major league level continues to plague teams.

That’s good news for Scott Henderson, who is trying to reach the majors as a reliever.

The former Villa Park High and USC standout, now in his third pro season, does not have a blazing fastball or unhittable curve. But he has gotten people out at each minor league level, the latest being the Marlins’ Portland (Maine) double-A team in the Eastern League.

In 32 appearances Henderson is 6-2 with two saves and a 3.38 earned-run average. More important, only four of the 26 baserunners Henderson has inherited have scored.

So far, it has been a satisfying year for Henderson, 23, who was one of the final players to make the Sea Dogs’ roster at the end of spring training.

“There was another pitcher that was slated to go to Calgary, but Calgary wanted another free agent starter with experience,” Henderson said. “So they told me and the other guy to sit tight. Eventually, Calgary did not sign the guy they wanted and took [the other guy]. I was taken by Portland.”

MANNING ON THE MOVE

Shortstop Pat Manning, the Times Orange County 1999 player of the year from Mater Dei High, is off to a strong professional start.

He began with the Braves’ Orlando, Fla., rookie team in the Gulf Coast League. But after batting .420 with four home runs and 17 RBIs in 22 games, Manning was moved this week to the Braves’ Macon (Ga.) Class-A team in the South Atlantic League.

“There was a rumor in Orlando I’d be moved, but it was usually to the more advanced rookie league in Danville [Va.] or Jamestown [N.Y.] in the New York Penn League,” said Manning, who had a single in his first game Tuesday after a six-hour drive to join his new team.

“I was surprised when I went to Macon,” he said, “but the more I see out here, the more I believe I can play at this level.”