Andruw Jones

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Andruw Jones

Atlanta Braves — No. 25
Center Field
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
August 15, 1996 for the Atlanta Braves
Selected MLB statistics (through 2006 season)
Batting average	.267
Home runs	342
Runs batted in	1,023

Andruw Rudolf Jones [pronounced An-drew] (born April 23, 1977, in Willemstad, Curaçao, in the Netherlands Antilles) is an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves. He has collected nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards, a Silver Slugger Award, and a Hank Aaron Award. Several observers have pronounced Jones the best all-around defensive center fielder since San Francisco's Willie Mays.

Contents 1 Golden Prospect 2 Early career 3 Breakout in 2005 4 2006 and Beyond 5 Personal life 6 Career Stats 7 Awards and Accomplishments 8 Trivia 9 See also 10 External links

[edit] Golden Prospect

Andruw Jones signed with the Atlanta Braves organization as a free agent in 1993 at the age of 16. By 1996, he was being hailed as 'the next Griffey." The Braves brought Jones up to Atlanta on August 15, 1996 when he was just 19 years-old. He spent his early time in the majors playing in right field because established center fielders Marquis Grissom and Kenny Lofton were already entrenched in the position.

In Game 1 of the 1996 World Series on October 20, 1996, Jones was able to demonstrate his talents on the national stage. He connected for two home runs to left field on his first two at-bats as the Braves routed the New York Yankees 12-1. Jones became the youngest player ever to homer in the World Series (breaking the late Mickey Mantle's record - on Mantle's birthday.)

[edit] Early career

Jones became the Braves' everyday right fielder in 1997, but he posted a disappointing .231 average. In 1998, Andruw moved to center field and had a much more encouraging season. His average improved to .271, he hit 31 homers, and stole 27 bases. He also won his first of nine straight Gold Glove Awards.

Whether he was in the batter's box or gliding under a fly ball to make a casual basket catch, Jones played the game in a very relaxed manner. This temporarily earned him the ire of manager Bobby Cox in June 1998 in an oft-forgotten incident when Cox pulled Jones out of a game because he felt Andruw had lazily allowed a single to drop in center field.

Still only 22 years-old, Jones had similar numbers in 1999, and though he was a dependable (he played all 162 games that season) and good player, many began to wonder if or when he would live up to the potential that they believed he possessed. He had a mini-breakout season in 2000 with career highs in average (.303), homers (36), and RBI (104). He also earned his first All-Star appearance.

However, in 2001 his average fell and his strikeouts went up. By now, Jones had gained nearly 30 pounds since reaching the majors, greatly diminishing his speed on the basepaths (he would not steal more than 11 bases after 2001). He maintained similar numbers in 2002, but was still playing superb defense. In 2003, with power-hitting Gary Sheffield in the lineup, Jones set a new career high in RBI (116). Unfortunately, he took a step backward in 2004 when he hit less than 30 homers and struck out a whopping 147 times.

[edit] Breakout in 2005

Although Andruw had developed into an outstanding center fielder and a solid offensive player, the general feeling shared by many fans and critics was that Jones had not lived up to the superstar expectations that had been pinned on him ten years before.

Prior to the 2005 season, Jones increased his workout regimen and, following advice given by Hall of Famer Willie Mays, widened his batting stance. The result was Andruw's most productive offensive season ever. Jones hit a major league leading 51 home runs, surpassing Hank Aaron's and Eddie Mathews' single-season club record. He also led the National League with a career-high 128 RBI. He finished just behind St. Louis Cardinals' first baseman Albert Pujols in the 2005 NL MVP vote.

[edit] 2006 and Beyond

Jones continued to dominate opposing pitchers in 2006, finishing the season with 41 home runs and 129 RBI. Jones also became more selective at the plate (82 walks, as compared to 64 the prior season), which helped him score 107 runs during 2006, an increase of 12 over the prior year and his most in a single season since 2000. Jones remained the premier defensive center fielder in the National League, winning his ninth consecutive Gold Glove award. Many people feel that Jones will easily become a 500 home-run hitter.

[edit] Personal life

Jones met his wife Nicole in an Atlanta mall in 1998. The couple married in 2002, and they have a daughter, Madison, and a son, Druw. Andruw and his family currently live in Duluth, Georgia.

Jones current car collection, as showcased on MTV Cribs, is:

• Mercedes McLaren SLR
• Aston Martin Vanquish - his favorite car
• Range Rover

[edit] Career Stats

(Through 2006 Season)

Games - 1,607

Runs - 962

Hits - 1,556

Doubles - 303

Triples - 32

Homeruns - 342

RBI - 1,023

Walks - 647

Stolen Bases - 133

Batting Average - .267

Slugging Percentage - .505

Fielding Percentage - .990

[edit] Awards and Accomplishments

• Won Minor League Player of the Year Award in 1995 and 1996
• Jones was the youngest player in the National League in 1996
• 9-Time NL Gold Glove Award Winner (1998-2006)
• 5-Time All-Star (2000, 2002-03, 2005-06)
• Led the Majors with 51 home runs in 2005
• Holds Braves record for most home runs in a season (2005, with 51)
• Led the National League with 656 at bats in 2000
• Led the National League with 128 RBIs in 2005
• NL Silver Slugger Award for CF in 2005
• NL Hank Aaron Award as the best offensive player in 2005
• NL Player of the Month for June and August 2005.
• Major League Player of the Year for 2005

[edit] Trivia

• Homered in his first at-bat in Game 1 of the 1996 World Series against the New York Yankees, becoming the youngest player in Major League Baseball history to hit a home run in the postseason, passing Mickey Mantle who was two weeks shy of his 21st birthday when he homered in the 1952 World Series. Jones became just the fourth rookie (after Charlie Keller, Tony Kubek and Willie McGee) to homer twice in one World Series game and the second person to homer in his first two World Series at-bats.

• Is one of only five center fielders to record 400 putouts in a season six times. The others are Willie Mays, Richie Ashburn, Kirby Puckett, and Max Carey.

• Jones played for the Netherlands in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, going 0-6 with two walks in 8 plate appearances.

• Andruw strengthened his wrists as a teenager by swinging a sledgehammer like a baseball bat.

• Andruw was on an episode of Unique Whips on SPEED TV, in which he had his Buick customized.

[edit] See also

• 50 home run club
• Top 500 home run hitters of all time

[edit] External links

• Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis
• Andruw Jones at ESPN.com

Preceded by Bobby Abreu	National League Player of the Month June 2005	Succeeded by Adam Dunn
Preceded by Adam Dunn	National League Player of the Month August 2005	Succeeded by Randy Winn
Preceded by Adrian Beltre	National League Home Run Champion 2005	Succeeded by Ryan Howard
Preceded by Vinny Castilla	National League RBI Champion 2005	Succeeded by Ryan Howard
Preceded by Barry Bonds	National League Hank Aaron Award 2005	Succeeded by Ryan Howard