Calvin Jones (baseball)
| Calvin Jones | |
|---|---|
Jones with the Chattanooga Lookouts c. 1987 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: September 26, 1963 Compton, California, U.S. | |
| Died: February 12, 2022 (aged 58) Dallas, Texas, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 14, 1991, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 1, 1992, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 5–7 |
| Earned run average | 4.33 |
| Strikeouts | 91 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Calvin Douglas Jones (September 26, 1963 – February 12, 2022) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played during two seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners. He later worked as a scout.
Career
Jones attended Chaffey Junior College and University of California, Riverside, where he played college baseball for the Highlanders from 1982–1983.[1][2]
Jones was drafted by the Mariners as the 1st pick in the first round of the January 1984 MLB draft.[3] He played his first professional season with their Class A Short Season Bellingham Mariners in 1984 and his last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A Albuquerque Dukes in 1996.
Jones led the Salinas Spurs in strikeouts in 1986. He converted to a relief pitcher role in 1987, then missed most of 1989 with a back injury.[4] He made his MLB debut in 1991, going 2–2 with the Mariners. He lost his only start with the Mariners, in June 1992, his final MLB season. The Colorado Rockies selected Jones in the 1992 MLB expansion draft, but he did not return to the majors.[5][2]
Jones later pitched in 1996, 1998, and 1999 in the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan, the Mexican Baseball League in 2000, and the Atlantic League in 2001 and 2002.[6]
After ending his career, Jones became a scout with the Los Angeles Dodgers, working in Texas. He was instrumental in the team drafting and signing future Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw.[7][8]
Personal life and death
Jones died from cancer on February 12, 2022, at the age of 58.[9][10]
References
- ^ "University of California, Riverside Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues". Baseball Almanac. Archived from the original on July 12, 2004. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
- ^ a b Colorado Rockies 1993 Media Guide. pp. 53, 54.
- ^ "Calvin Jones, a 20-year old right-handed pitcher from Chaffey... - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
- ^ Seattle Mariners 1991 Media Guide. p. 180.
- ^ "Calvin Jones Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
- ^ "Calvin Jones Minor, CPBL, Mexican & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
- ^ Stephen, Eric (February 15, 2022). "Remembering former Dodgers scouts Calvin Jones & John Sanders". True Blue LA. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
- ^ Miller, Scott. "How Prep Phenom Clayton Kershaw Became an L.A. Dodger 10 Years Ago". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
- ^ McDonald, Darragh (February 13, 2022). "Calvin Jones Passes Away". MLBTR. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Viola, Tommy. "Former Knights Pitcher Calvin Jones Passes Away". Knight Fever.
External links
- Career statistics from MLB · Baseball Reference · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac