Ryder Jones returned to the big league club on Thursday night and immediately made an impact, going 2-for-5 with an RBI in the Giants’ 11-2 victory over the Oakland A’s. Jones had twice as many hits in that game as he had in his entire stint when he was first called up in late June, when he struggled mightily, going 1-for-21 before getting sent back to AAA.
The 23-year-old did not seem comfortable during his first call up, something that showed in the Giants’ clubhouse according to broadcaster Mike Krukow. Krukow told PCon and Mac on Friday morning that the Giants coaches told Jones he needed to be more of his outgoing self if he wanted to succeed in the Major Leagues, and that he was overwhelmed by the moment his first time around.
“Ryder Jones’ first time up in the big leagues he went 1-for-21 and he got a little overwhelmed by the big leagues,” Krukow said. “He got sent down and when you get sent down the guys who are going to pump you back up your coaches, your traveling instructors, they’re gonna pump you up but they’re also going to be very critical of why you got overwhelmed. One of the things that was said to Ryder Jones is ‘you were not yourself in the clubhouse. You were kind’ve a church mouse. You need to be what you are.’ Ryder Jones said ‘well it’s kind’ve hard to walk into a big league clubhouse and do that’ and it is, but that’s exactly what you have to do. You gotta come up to the big league level and you gotta feel like you belong here.
Krukow said he noticed a difference in Jones last night.
“If you’re loud and you have fun early before a game, and you have a presence in the clubhouse that’s loose, You’ve got to be that guy,” Krukow continued. “He vowed if he got back to the big leagues he was gonna be different, and last night he was a different guy and it showed on the field. He had two really good hits, and I think that’s where you get your energy from. I think as an organization you have to be able to bring people up and when you can bring up a prospect that the other guys feel is going to be a contributor and a major league player that brings big time energy to a clubhouse. Now if the guy has personality to him and makes things fun, all the better, and that’s what you’re gonna get from Ryder Jones.”
Listen to the full interview below. To hear Krukow’s comments on Jones, skip to the 7:00 minute mark.