Kiki Jones

Keith Tyrone Jones

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 175 lb.
• School Rollins College
• High School Hillsborough High School (Tampa)

• Born June 8, 1970 in Tampa, FL USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

The 15th overall pick in the 1989 amateur draft, Kiki Jones was the first of three first-round selections that year by the Los Angeles Dodgers and would be the only one never to make the majors. The 5th pitcher taken, Jones had gone 8-3 in his final year in high school, striking out 100 while walking only 14 in 61 innings and posting a 1.14 ERA. Jones continued to dazzle in the Pioneer League that season, winning all eight of his decisions for the Great Falls Dodgers. He made the PL All-Star team and only teammate Tom Goodwin received more votes from league managers in selecting the top prospect in the loop. Jones struck out 63 in 63 innings, allowed just 40 hits and had a 1.58 ERA, second in the Pioneer League and best of any starting pitcher.

Kiki was promoted to the Bakersfield Dodgers and went 3-3 with a 3.48 ERA, allowing only 33 hits in 44 innings. His limited pitching time probably indicates that he was injured much of the year, which also could possibly explain his sudden decline after that. It would not be unexpected for a young pitcher.

Jones was demoted to the Vero Beach Dodgers in 1991 and went 3-1 with a 4.10 ERA in 9 starts; he also made an appearance with the GCL Dodgers, striking out 10, walking one and allowing four hits and no runs in 5 innings in one game (presumably a rehab appearance). Kiki didn't leave Vero Beach again during his Dodgers tenure. He was 0-3 with a 5.51 ERA for them in 1992, lasting just 16 innings in five starts and then in 1993 went 4-7 with a 5.32 ERA. Between the two years, he was picked in the minor league portion of the 1992 Rule V Draft by the Seattle Mariners but returned to LA due shoulder problems. In '93, he lasted 69 innings, his most yet as a professional, but averaged under five innings per start (15 starts), walked more than he fanned (45-44) and allowed almost a hit per inning (63 hits). No longer a hot prospect, Kiki was released from the LA system.

In 1998 Jones was back, now with the St. Petersburg Devil Rays. He was 1-0 with a 9.00 ERA in 6 relief appearances. Kiki went to the independent Bridgeport Bluefish in 1999 and was 4-4 with a 4.50 ERA, striking out 51 in 58 innings and being around average on the staff in terms of ERA.

In 2001 Kiki wrapped up his professional career with the Charlotte Rangers, relieving three times and allowing 9 hits and 4 walks in 4 innings. He had a 18.69 ERA and lost his only decision. He finished his pro career with a 23-20 record, but was just 15-20 after his first dazzling season, going down simply as yet another high school pitching star drafted in the first round but ruining his arm and never making the majors.

Sources: 1990-2002 Baseball Almanacs, 1991 and 1995 Baseball Guides