The Dodgers have signed infielder Jahmai Jones to a minor league contract, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. MLBTR’s Steve Adams reports that it’s a two-year contract, since Jones will miss the remainder of this year after having undergone Tommy John surgery.
Jones, 25, was a second-round pick of the Angels and made his MLB debut with them in 2020. He was a highly-touted part of their system, with Baseball America placing him on their list of top Angel farmhands starting in 2016 and even ranking him #89 in all of baseball in 2018. He went to the Orioles in the trade that sent Alex Cobb to the Halos prior to the 2021 campaign. Between the two clubs, he’s gotten into 29 MLB games, hitting .176/.228/.216 in that small sample.
He’s generally fared better in the minors, however, hitting .243/.337/.431 in Triple-A last year. He walked in 11.9% of his plate appearances and stole 11 bases in just 70 games. His offense was 6% better than league average by measure of wRC+ and he was also versatile enough to play both second base and left field, along with a very brief cameo in center.
This year, his production slipped a bit, though in a small sample of 27 games, with his injury potentially playing a role there. He underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of May. Jones was on optional assignment at the time, continuing to occupy a spot on the 40-man roster. The Orioles could have added him to the 60-day IL, which would have removed him from the 40-man, though that would have also entitled him to MLB service time and pay. Instead, the club designated him for assignment and, since injured players can’t be put on outright waivers, put him on release waivers.
Though Jones won’t return this season, the Dodgers are making a long-term play with these two-year deal. In the short term, Jones can use team facilities and staff as part of his rehab, later allowing the Dodgers to add a former top prospect as a depth option.
Another reclamation project for Andrew and company. Love it
If the Angels didn’t bother to scoop him up, that tells you something.
…about the Angels. Interesting that he didn’t sign back with a team that he was familiar with.
One of the nicest people I’ve ever run across. such a great person I’ll even root for him in Dodgers blue.
When writing a story on our minor league affiliate I found out that while in low A Burlington he’d stand by third on Kids Run the Bases Sunday and shake every kids hand. He didn’t put it on his social media, never even talked about it in multiple interviews. He just did it.
That’s the kind of guy you are getting, Dodgers fans.
Awesome story – thanks for sharing. Sounds like an awesome, humble bloke
He was so nice! Signed a ball for me last spring I went too and then asked me to go golfing w him cause they had a spot open! I wish I had my clubs !!
I follow the Anaheim Angels (not one of those Dodger fans that hates em; they’re not a rival). Never heard this story about JJ but glad he’s gonna get another chance. Dodgers are good with guys coming off TJ.
Nice pick up.
Last year, outside of the big four (Rutschman, Rodriguez, Hall and Henderson) in the Orioles minor league system, Jahmai got his fare share of hope + hype from the fan base on our local sports talk shows as well.
Outside of his injury, not quite sure what went awry this year? Per this story, the Os are definitely still trying to keep costs down as much as possible, so that MLB service pay thing may have been the culprit?
If the issue is major league pay while on the 60-day, that’s just such a huge embarrassment. Orioles payroll is already one of the lowest in the majors. What would it have cost them, league minimum?
Hes not very good as a Major League player. Not much upside. Never impressed with Angels, but I remember the hype.
He has the intangibles you always hear about. He’s a captain of men, is a good, God fearing man, and has considerable upside. I think he’ll carve out a career in the major leagues, but after his playing days are done, he’s going to make an incredible coach/manager.
I remember seeing him at the Arizona Fall League, big prospects were Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh, Angels are brutal
I expect a good year for him in OKC.