Jacque Jones

Infobox MLB player

---

width = 200
caption = Jones with the Marlins in 2008
name = Jacque Jones
position = Outfielder
team = Free Agent
number = --
bats = Left
throws = Left
birthdate = birth date and age|1975|4|25
birthplace = city-state|San Diego|California
debutdate = June 9
debutyear = 1999
debutteam = Minnesota Twins
statyear = June 11, 2008
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .277
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 165
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 630
teams =
* Minnesota Twins (by|1999–by|2005)
* Chicago Cubs (by|2006–by|2007)
* Detroit Tigers (by|2008)
* Florida Marlins (by|2008)

Jacque Dewayne Jones (born April 25, 1975 in San Diego, California) is an American Major League Baseball outfielder who currently is a free agent.

Early life

He graduated from San Diego High School and the University of Southern California, where he had a stellar career. In by|1994, he was a first team all-American outfielder for the Trojans. In by|1996, he was a member of the US Olympic Baseball team.

Professional career

Minnesota Twins

Jacque was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the second round of the by|1996 amateur draft. He played three seasons in the minor leagues, and was brought up to the majors in by|1999. He started off in center field, but moved to left to accommodate Torii Hunter. Between by|2002-by|2003, he batted over .300, and went to the playoffs with the Twins. The Twins outfield was one of the fastest in baseball in by|2005, boasting Jones, Hunter and Shannon Stewart. With the acquisition of Stewart, Jones was moved to right field. Although Jacque was able to hit for power and averaged 20 home runs between by|2000-2005, he also averaged over 100 strikeouts and was never happy in right. Jones officially ended his relationship with the Twins by turning down arbitration on December 19, 2005. After considering a deal to play for St. Louis, he signed a three-year deal with the Chicago Cubs just a day later. [ESPN.com news services, [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2266855 Cubs agree to terms with outfielder Jacque Jones] , ESPN.com, Retrieved on July 28, 2007]

Chicago Cubs

On August 15, 2006, Jones [http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1.jsp?w_id=511781&w=2006/open/tp/archive08/081506_chnhou_jones_hr_tp_350.wmv hit a home run over the center field wall] against Roger Clemens at Minute Maid Park, well over 440 feet. He finished the by|2006 season with a .285 batting average, tied his career best with 27 home runs, but struck out 116 times. After the 2006 season, it appeared Jones' future with Chicago was uncertain. It was rumored that he had requested a trade and a deal was in the works, but on February 17, 2007, he asked to not be traded, and that he was hoping to have a comeback year. Jones remained with the Cubs to start the by|2007 season, though he was never really accepted by the fan base, partly due to his lack of production and partly due to questionable comments regarding the teams decision to fire Dusty Baker, whom Jones said he came to Chicago to play for. Baker was replaced by Lou Piniella in December 2006. Early in the 2007 season he became disgruntled with his playing time and the Cubs again sought to trade him. Trades with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers fell through in June 2007 because of new owner Sam Zell's unwillingess to transfer money to another team to cover Jones' remaining salaries. [Berardino, Mike, [http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/columnists/sfl-flspmikeb627nbjun27,0,6074527.column?coll=sfla-sports-col Crucial position must be Marlins' center of attention] , Sun-sentinel, Retrieved on July 28, 2007]

Detroit Tigers

On November 12, 2007, Jones was traded to the Detroit Tigers for infielder Omar Infante. After getting off to a poor start, batting just .165 in his first 24 games, he was designated for assignment by the Tigers on May 5, by|2008. As a Tiger, Jacque Jones's best game was against the Texas Rangers where he had his only home run in a Detroit uniform as well as a triple, which came in back to back at bats. However, on May 13, he was released by the Tigers.

Florida Marlins

On May 19, 2008, Jones signed a minor league deal with the Florida Marlins. [ [http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080519&content_id=2730505&vkey=news_fla&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla Marlins ink Jones to Minors deal] ] Jones first reported to extended spring training in Jupiter, Florida. On May 23, he was added to the major league roster and made his Marlin debut in center field on May 25. He was designated for assignment on June 12 and became a free agent on June 20 after rejecting his assignment to the minors.

ee also

* Top 500 home run hitters of all time

References

External links