Druw Jones Learned A Lot About Himself in 2023
Druw Jones' first year in the Diamondbacks organization proved to be a difficult one. Quad and hamstring injuries limited the former No. 2 overall pick to 29 games with Class A Visalia, plus another 12 rehabbing at the complex. Returning to Visalia in the final four weeks of the season, Jones finished strong with a .296 average with a pair of home runs and a solid 20/14 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his final 19 games. Even with the strong finish, he only got 131 plate appearances at the level he started the season with.
Dealing with an injury-marred season can be difficult for any player to endure. Instead of being on the field and getting reps to improve, that time is spent working on rehab. Handling adversity is the toughest skill in professional sports, especially in a sport where the best hitters fail more often than they succeed.
"I learned a lot about myself, I learned a lot about my body, and how I'm going to be able to succeed to get to the next level," said Jones. "I realized that I'm still going to be a baseball player at the end of the day. I'm still going to come out here and do what I can, whether I'm off the field or on the field."
For Jones, he sought advice from his family on handling the ups and downs of professional baseball. His father, Andruw Jones, played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball and may be enshrined in Cooperstown as one of the greatest center fielders in the game's history. There was a point in Andruw's career where he struggled to stay in the big leagues, so having someone close who's been in that situation before is a great resource.
Despite the down season, D-backs general manager Mike Hazen quickly declared Jones untouchable in any trade conversation. He's much like his father, Andruw, a super-rangy center fielder with a howitzer for a throwing arm and projected plus raw power. He showcased that arm last night, nearing gunning down Yanquiel Fernandez on a 94 MPH throw from center.
"Everybody here is a fan at the end of the day. Everybody's working to get to the same place, we're all trying to win a championship."
Although he's years away from regular MLB action, Jones qualified for the Prospect Promotion Incentive by placing on ESPN and MLB's Top 100 Prospect lists. His stock has dipped some, dropping into the lower half of these lists compared to the upper half he was on entering 2023. Jones isn't overly concerned with his ranking, although it could have draft implications in the future. For 2024, he's focused on being healthy, improving, and getting closer to the big leagues.
"Just going through it, whatever happens, happens. Just trying to be myself and win games for everybody."
