Johnny Jones (minors05)

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Johnny Keith Jones

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 200 lb.
• School Middle Tennessee State University
• High School Loretto High School

• Born June 16, 1949 in Florence, AL USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Catcher Johnny Jones was drafted by the Washington Senators in the first round, fifth overall, of the 1967 amateur draft. He was taken after Ron Blomberg, Terry Hughes, Mike Garman and Jon Matlack and right ahead of John Mayberry. He played four seasons in the minor leagues, never reaching above Single-A.

Jones began his career in 1967 with the Geneva Senators. He hit .163 with two doubles and 21 strikeouts in 43 at-bats, walking six times. He had six passed balls in 14 games at catcher. In 1968, again with Geneva, Jones hit .167 in 90 at-bats, with five of his 15 hits going for doubles. He did draw 18 walks. In 24 games behind the plate, he had 11 passed balls. He wasn't even the team's starting catcher in his first full year in pro ball, backing up Rick Stelmaszek.

Jones was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the Supplemental Expansion phase of the 1968 Rule V Draft. Two weeks later, on December 16, 1968, he was flipped to the Houston Astros for Buck Martinez and minor leagues Mickey Sinnerud and Tommy Smith. He played for the Cocoa Astros in 1969, hitting .105/.250/.121. in 124 at-bats, striking out 72 times. In 42 games as a backstop, he had 24 passed balls and 12 errors. He only scored four runs and drove in four. In 1970, again with Cocoa, he hit .172/.304/.225 with 32 walks and 60 strikeouts in 169 at-bats. Despite playing only 58 games defensively, he nearly led Florida State League catchers in passed balls, as his 24 were two shy of leader Terry McDermott (who appeared in 34 more contests).

Overall, Jones played 157 games, hitting .150 and slugging .192 in 426 at-bats. He struck out a whopping 191 times, 44.8% of his at-bats. He nearly had more passed balls (65) than runs (41) and RBI (27) combined.