Tuesday, June 8, 2010

With the 19th Round pick (573rd overall)

The Astros select 6'3" 190lb shortstop Jacoby Jones, out of Richton HS (MS).

Jones hit .438 with eight homers, eleven doubles, and 40RBI in 2010.

MLB.com Draft Tracker:
The Mississippi prep product could have a special bat, with plus power. He has all the tools to stay at shortstop, with good hands and excellent range. Even if he outgrew short, it looks like he might have enough bat to handle a corner position.

The Astros will have to pay a pretty penny to pry him away from LSU, where he has committed to play baseball. Oh yeah. And he's advised by Scott Boras.
“I really want to go to LSU. I just like the atmosphere there and the chance to play in the SEC.”

Richton Coach Brandon Davis:
“I don’t think you can sum it up in words, really. You’ve got to see him play. He’s got this God-given ability, but his instincts for the game are unbelievable. I’m kind of staying out of the business side of it. They know where he’s rated, and it’s possible he’ll go in the first round. Right now, I’d say the Astros, Red Sox, Royals and the Pirates are the four teams that would be willing to pay to get him. It’ll be interesting to see where he ends up.”

The Clarion Ledger (which opens up with a conversation outside the death chamber. Not kidding.):
They once made a movie called The Natural. It could have been about Jones. He played on a T-ball team of 5- and 6-year-olds when he was 3. He started on his high school team as a 12-year-old. He hit .415 that spring, .575 last year as a junior. He just turned 18 last week, and it's not hard to imagine him adding 20 to 30 pounds of muscle to his lanky frame.

One Major League Baseball scout, speaking on the condition of anonymity, called Jones' upside "huge." There has been some concern about a slight labrum tear in Jones' right shoulder that kept him off the mound for most of this spring.


Jones, on his shoulder:
"Doesn't bother me at all."