Ryder Jones will make his Major League debut on Saturday afternoon, but when he steps into the batter’s box for the first time, he’ll see a familiar face.
Even though Mets’ right-hander Jacob deGrom was busy winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award when Jones was spending his first full professional season in the Giants’ organization, Jones said he’s seen deGrom before.
“I’d want it to be a big name, I think it’s more exciting and it’ll help me lock in,” Jones said. “It’s going to be weird because I’ve only faced him or played with him on MLB The Show.”
When Jones found out he was headed to the big leagues on Friday night, he and roommate Christian Arroyo, who made his MLB debut earlier this season with the Giants, fired up the popular video game to give Jones a look at what deGrom will have to offer on Saturday.
With Arroyo controlling the Mets’ pitcher, Jones said he rapped out a base knock and a popout before heading to bed so he could catch a 27-minute flight in from Sacramento in the morning.
Hours after de-boarding his plane, Jones has arrived at AT&T Park, and the expectation from Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy is that Jones will start at third base for the foreseeable future.
“Pretty much every day and now when (Eduardo) Nunez comes back, he’ll still be our third baseman but until then, Ryder Jones will be playing third,” Bochy said.
The Giants placed Nunez on the disabled list on Friday with a hamstring strain, and called up Conor Gillaspie from AAA Sacramento to take his spot on the roster. But after an 0-for-4 night that featured two strikeouts for Gillaspie in an 11-4 Giants’ loss, Bochy made another call. It was time to see the kid.
“Unfortunately you know we’ve put ourselves in a position here where we’re going to take a look at some younger players,” Bochy said. “But the good thing is these guys are getting the chance to show what they can do, they’re going to get some experience up here and playing time can be valuable for them.”
With the Giants sitting 22 games under .500 entering the final week of June, Jones brings two qualities to the big leagues San Francisco just doesn’t have right now: Hope and potential.
The 23-year-old was the Giants’ second round draft pick in 2013, and has steadily climbed through the Minor Leagues thanks to his powerful left-handed bat and a sharp glove that fits in at third base, first base and both of the corner outfield spots.
After struggling during the first half of the 2016 season at AA Richmond, Jones said he made a concerted effort to become more patient at the plate, and that the change has triggered dramatic improvement.
“Patience at the plate was the biggest thing for me,” Jones said. “I think if you look at all my years in the Minor Leagues, every year just a little too aggressive a little too ansty. At the beginning of my career it was just trying not to strike out, but you learn as you get a little older. See some pitches, pick out pitches you can drive, that was the biggest thing for me. Picking a side of the plate and picking a pitch you want and wait until you get it.”
After hitting .247 with 15 home runs and 67 RBIs with AA Richmond last season, Jones’ average climbed dramatically with AAA Sacramento, and he’s now seeing the ball as well as he has in his professional career. With a .299 batting average, 10 home runs and 33 RBIs in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, Jones’ recent play and the Giants’ recent struggles led them to the point where it made sense for San Francisco to give the prospect a shot.
“Ryder Jones, he’s been doing a great job down there in Sacramento, was playing third base, and I look forward to watching him play,” Bochy said.
In the month of June, Jones hit .343 with five home runs, seven doubles and 11 walks, all while the big league club has won just five games.
While the Giants aren’t pinning their hopes of catching the first-place Dodgers on Jones’ shoulders (that ship sailed long ago), Jones said his former roommate at AAA, San Francisco left fielder Austin Slater, has stressed the importance of helping the team win more ballgames.
“I lived with Slater in Sacramento before I got called up, a lot, and I think once you get here I think you realize that the number one thing is winning,” Jones said. “So whatever I have to do, bunt hit and run, whatever I need to do to help the team do while I’m up here, that’s what I’m going to do.”
On Saturday, a Giants team that has lost 10 of its past 11 games and 19 of its last 24 will hit the field at AT&T Park with a new third baseman and a new sense of purpose. Like Jones, San Francisco grew tired imagining what one of its top prospects could do against Major League pitching, and now, both parties get to face the real Jacob deGrom.
Pregame notes
- To make room for Jones on the Giants’ 40-man roster, San Francisco designated veteran infielder Aaron Hill for assignment. Bochy said the decision was difficult, especially because he thought Hill was a great presence in the clubhouse, but also said he thinks he’ll be able to help a contending team. “He’s not a .120 hitter,” Bochy said. “Even though he’s hitting .120, every time he went up there I felt good. I felt like something was going to happen. I thought he got some good swings off, got some big hits there in Milwaukee for us, but where we’re at now, it’s time to give these young guys some experience up here and see what we have.”
- Jones said his parents have flown in from New Orleans to watch his MLB debut and that his brother and girlfriend will also be in attendance. Jones’ brother is playing in a summer league in North Carolina, but didn’t want to miss the chance to watch him start.
- Jones said the opportunity to play in the Arizona Fall League last year was pivotal in his development, and also said it’s the closest a prospect can get to facing Major League pitching before receiving the call to the show.
