Bobby Jones (left-handed pitcher)

Infobox MLB retired
name=Bobby Jones


width=150
position=Pitcher
bats=Right
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1972|4|11
Orange, New Jersey
deathdate=
debutdate=May 18
debutyear=by|1997
debutteam=Colorado Rockies
finaldate=April 11
finalyear=by|2004
finalteam=Boston Red Sox
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=14-21
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=5.77
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=229
teams=
* Colorado Rockies (by|1997-by|1999)
* New York Mets (by|2000, by|2002)
* San Diego Padres (by|2002)
* Boston Red Sox (by|2004)
highlights=

Robert Mitchell Jones (born April 11, 1972 in Orange, New Jersey), is a former professional baseball player who pitched in Major League Baseball from mlby|1997-mlby|2004. He made his MLB debut on May 18, 1997, for the Colorado Rockies.

Jones moved to Rutherford, New Jersey in 1981 and played in Rutherford Little League from 1982-1984. In by|1991, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 44th round as a draft-and follow. He signed prior to the by|1992 draft and was assigned to Helena in the Pioneer League (Rookie), where he went 5-4.

He previously owned his own baseball academy named Bobby Jones Sports in Montville, New Jersey until it closed down. He now works with the Academy of Pro Players located in Hawthorne, New Jersey as a pitching instructor. Bobby also helped out by coaching Don Bosco Prep varsity baseball. He now is the pitching coach on the Montclair Mounties.

Minor league career

Jones rose through the Brewers' organization, playing at Beloit (Midwest League, Low A) in by|1993 and Stockton (California League, High A) in by|1994. Following the 1994 season, the Colorado Rockies chose Jones in the minor league phase of the Rule V Draft.

In by|1995, Jones spent most of the season with the New Haven Ravens (Eastern League, Double-A), who lost the league championship series to Reading. Around the All-Star break, he spent a month with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Pacific Coast League, Triple-A). He was back with the Sky Sox in by|1996 and by|1997, and he was 5-1 when the Rockies called him up to replace the injured Bill Swift on the roster.

Major league career

Jones made his major league debut at Shea Stadium against his boyhood team, the New York Mets. He got a no-decision in that game, won by the Mets, but earned the victory in his next start, at Coors Field against the Houston Astros.

Jones spent all of mlby|1998 and most of mlby|1999 with the Colorado club, splitting his time between the starting rotation and the bullpen. In early mlby|2000, the Rockies traded Jones to the Mets, meaning he and Bobby J. Jones were now on the same roster. The two had faced each other in a 1998 game, with the Rockies' pitcher earning the victory.

Jones spent the mlby|2001 season on the disabled list, but came back to the Mets in mlby|2002 before being traded to the San Diego Padres, coincidentally becoming reunited there with Bobby J. Jones. He spent by|2003 in Triple-A, starting with the Richmond Braves and finishing with the Omaha Royals. He was a non-roster invitee in mlby|2004 Boston Red Sox spring training and made the big club from there, but then went into rehabilitation. After a brief stint with the independent Newark Bears of the Atlantic League in by|2005, the Chicago White Sox picked him up and assigned him to Triple-A Charlotte. In by|2006, Jones was signed by the Detroit Tigers, pitching for Double-A Erie.

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/j/jonesbo04.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=5737267 Two former baseball coaches sue over alleged wrongful firing]