Tyler Jones

TYLER JONES, RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: September 5, 1989
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 240
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 11th round, 2011 (Twins)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
College: Louisiana State University
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PLAYER PROFILE
Jones has pitched in the minors for the Twins, Braves and Yankees, and has moved up slowly.  He didn’t reach AAA until 2017, when he was 27.  As a reliever, his fastball regularly reaches 95-96 mph.  He also throws a slider.  Jones has generally been better against right-handed hitters, although he wasn’t in 2017, and he hasn’t generally been a groundball pitcher, but he was in 2017.  He’s always had very high K rates, but has gotten hit some just the same.  The Pirates signed him to a minor league contract for 2018.

2011
R+:  0-0-0, 12.86 ERA, 2.57 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 10.3 K/9

Jones debuted briefly in advanced rookie ball.

2012
A:  5-5-0, 4.67 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 86.2 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 10.6 K/9

Jones pitched mostly as a starter in low A and, despite a high K rate, got hit around some.  Baseball America ranked him 23rd in the Twins’ system after the season.

2013
A:  4-3-9, 1.93 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 37.1 IP, 3.9 BB/9, 10.6 K/9
A+:  1-3-4, 4.20 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 15.0 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 13.2 K/9

The Twins sent Jones to low A and moved him to the bullpen.  He was very effective there, with a high K rate.  He had an even higher K rate after a July promotion to high A.  BA ranked him 27th in the Twins’ system after the season.

2014
A+:  3-3-13, 3.73 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 50.2 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 9.4 K/9

Jones spent the season as a closer in high A.  He had some control issues and overall was only moderately effective.

2015
A+:  0-0-6, 0.00 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 10.0 IP, 1.8 BB/9, 14.4 K/9
AA:  0-1-16, 3.07 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 44.0 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 10.0 K/9

The Twins released Jones at the end of spring training and he signed with Atlanta.  The Braves sent him initially to high A, but moved him up to AA after he dominated through ten outings.  He continued to pitch well in AA.  Jones became a free agent after the season and signed with the Yankees.

2016
AA:  6-2-11, 2.17 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 45.2 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 13.2 K/9

Jones spent the entire season in AA, where he posted an extremely high K rate.

2017
AAA:  6-4-3, 4.38 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 63.2 IP, 2.8 BB/9, 10.7 K/9

Arizona selected Jones from the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft, but he didn’t make their roster and returned to New York.  The Yankees sent him to AAA for the season.  He pitched better than his ERA indicates, with a 2.81 xFIP.

Jones figures to provide relief depth at Indianapolis.
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2018: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $105,000
MiLB Debut: 2011
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2018
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: December 8, 2016 (since removed)
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 9, 2010: Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 21st round, 638th overall pick.
June 8, 2011: Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 11th round, 358th overall pick; signed on August 1.
March 28, 2015: Released by the Minnesota Twins.
March 30, 2015: Signed by the Atlanta Braves as a minor league free agent.
November 11, 2015: Became a free agent.
January 3, 2016: Signed by the New York Yankees as a minor league free agent.
December 8, 2016: Selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks from the New York Yankees in the Rule 5 draft.
March 24, 2017: Returned by the Arizona Diamondbacks to the New York Yankees.
November 6, 2017: Became a free agent.
January 5, 2018: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.