Adam Jones
The defensive anchor and offensive force who led the Orioles to three consecutive playoff runs.
Adam Jones, born August 1, 1985, is an American former professional baseball center fielder who played a pivotal role for the Baltimore Orioles. Selected by the Seattle Mariners in the first round of the 2003 draft, he transitioned from shortstop to the outfield before being traded to Baltimore on February 8, 2008. Over parts of six seasons with the Orioles, Jones became a five-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, leading the franchise in games played at center field. His tenure included three postseason appearances, highlighted by a wild card berth in 2012 and an AL East title in 2014.
- Role
- Center Fielder
- Team Tenure
- 2008–2015 (with Orioles)
- All-Star Selections
- 5 times
- Gold Glove Awards
- 4 times (3 with Orioles)
- Silver Slugger Award
- 1 time
- Status
- Retired
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Jones arrived in Baltimore as part of a blockbuster trade that sent Érik Bédard to Seattle. In his debut season with the Orioles in 2008, he immediately made an impact, becoming the second player ever to hit both a triple and a grand slam in the same game at Yankee Stadium on July 28. On September 21 of that year, he hit the final triple in the old stadium's history. By 2009, his defensive prowess earned him his first Gold Glove Award after recording nine outfield assists. The following year, on May 22, Jones showcased his speed and instincts by hitting an inside-the-park home run when center fielder Nyjer Morgan threw down his glove in frustration. His offensive peak came in 2013, where he set career highs with 33 home runs and 108 RBIs while winning the Silver Slugger Award. That same year, a fan threw a banana at him during a game in San Francisco, an incident that drew significant attention.
In Their Own Story
On June 9, 2012, the tension was palpable as Jones stepped up to the plate against the Philadelphia Phillies. He connected for a two-run home run in the bottom of the 12th inning, securing a dramatic 6–4 victory and recording the second walk-off hit of his career. Just weeks later on August 28, he reached the 100-home run milestone against the Chicago White Sox. Two days after that, he set a new personal best by hitting his 26th home run of the season, also against the White Sox. In the 2014 postseason, Jones faced elimination in the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, contributing to a three-game sweep before the team fell to the Kansas City Royals in the Championship Series. During that series, he batted .222 with one home run and three RBIs across seven games.
Reader's Guide
Adam Jones played for the Orioles from his trade on February 8, 2008, until his departure after the 2015 season (the source notes he played parts of 14 total MLB seasons). During this span, he was selected to five All-Star games, with his first coming in 2009 where he drove in Curtis Granderson for the winning run. He won four Gold Glove Awards during his time in Baltimore, becoming the franchise leader in games played at center field. On May 13, 2014, Jones recorded his 1,000th career hit off Mark Buehrle of the Toronto Blue Jays. In July 2015, he hit his 182nd home run as an Oriole, tying Ken Singleton for seventh on the all-time list, and the very next night hit a three-run homer to take sole possession of that spot while reaching his 100th career home run with Baltimore. He also won the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award in 2015.
Did You Know?
- Jones hit the final triple in the history of Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2008.
- He became the second player ever to record both a triple and a grand slam in the same game as a visitor at Yankee Stadium.
- In 2013, Jones won his only Silver Slugger Award while setting career highs with 33 home runs and 108 RBIs.
- Jones played for the United States national team that won the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
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