Mike Jones (minors04)

Michael Gary Jones

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 195 lb.
• School Cosumnes River College, Loyola Marymount University

• Born March 7, 1966 in Oklahoma City, OK USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Mike Jones was the fourth overall pick of the January 1986 amateur draft, which may sound impressive at first glance, but over the years, players taken in that draft, even top choices, had a poor record of reaching the majors. It was the final time the January draft was held, and he failed to come to an agreement with the San Francisco Giants, the team that selected him, continuing his studies. He was drafted again, this time by the Detroit Tigers, in the secondary phase of that June's draft, but went on to attend Loyola Marymount University. After graduation two years later, he was drafted a third time, again by the Tigers, this time in the 35th round of the 1988 amateur draft. He did sign this time, and had a brief professional career.

He pitched three seasons in the Tigers organization, from 1988 to 1990. He started off with the Bristol Tigers of the Appalachian League with a very good record of 7-4, 2.56 in 15 starts and 95 innings. The following season, 1989, he was with the Lakeland Tigers of the Florida State League where he was used as a swingman, going 9-6, 2.53 in 29 games, including 7 starts. He also saved 3 games, but his K/W ratio deteriorated badly: from 100/33 the year before, it fell to 66/39 in an almost equal number of innings (92 1/3). Still, it was a good year and it earned him a promotion to the AA London Tigers of the Eastern League in 1990, where he was a full-time starter once again, only making 4 of his 25 appearances out of the bullpen. It wasn't a bad season, as he finished at 7-9, 3.57 in 126 innings, but it was his last one as a professional player.