Outfielder Adam Jones Set to Retire With Baltimore Orioles in September

Outfielder Adam Jones will return to Baltimore to retire an Oriole, the club announced Friday morning.

The five-time All-Star spent 11 of his 14 major league seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, carving out major real estate in the franchise's all-time record books in the process. Jones is scheduled to sign with Baltimore and officially retire on Sept. 15.

Jones started his career with the Seattle Mariners in 2006, but the former first round pick was one of five prospects dealt to the Orioles in 2008 for pitcher Erik Bedard. From there, Jones immediately broke out as an everyday player in Baltimore, and he never looked back.

From 2008 to 2018, Jones racked up 1,781 hits, 263 home runs, 305 doubles, 866 RBI, 875 runs and a 32.5 WAR while batting .279 with a .777 OPS. Jones was named an All-Star in 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Jones won Gold Gloves in 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014, as well as a Silver Slugger in 2013. The center fielder earned AL MVP votes in three consecutive seasons from 2012 to 2014, placing sixth, 13th and 14th, respectively.

The Orioles went through plenty of highs and lows with Jones in the meat of their lineup, finishing last in the AL East in each of his first four and last two seasons with the team. In between those downtrodden stretches, though, Jones helped lead Baltimore to Wild Card spots in 2012 and 2016, plus an AL East crown in 2014.

Jones ranks No. 9 in franchise history in games played, No. 7 in runs, No. 6 in RBI, No. 5 in hits and No. 5 in home runs. Jones also has the ninth-highest WAR by any Orioles position player since they moved to Baltimore in 1954.

After the Orioles went 47-115 in 2018, Jones left to sign a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Jones spent the end of his playing days with the Onix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball, last appearing in a game in 2021.

Adding in his time with the Mariners, Diamondbacks and Buffaloes, Jones ended his professional career with 2,075 hits, 1,023 RBI, 1,012 runs, 298 home runs, 403 walks and 102 stolen bases.

Jones effectively retired in 2022, starting a podcast and eventually joining MLB’s baseball operations department and the Commissioner's Ambassador Program, but he'll get to make things official in Baltimore next month.

Did someone order a pie? pic.twitter.com/T5bzQeBAUv
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 25, 2023

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