2:00pm: The Rockies have now made the official announcement, recalling Jones and Toglia while placing both Bryant and Bouchard on the 10-day IL. Bryant’s ailment is listed as a left rib contusion while Bouchard’s is a right ankle sprain.
1:08pm: The Rockies are set to recall infielder/outfielder Greg Jones from Triple-A Albuquerque for what’ll be his major league debut, reports Thomas Harding of MLB.com. Jones is already with the club in St. Louis, and the Rockies appear set to place not only Kris Bryant (as reported yesterday) but also fellow outfielder Sean Bouchard on the injured list. Harding notes that Bouchard, who exited last night’s game with an apparent foot or ankle injury after running out a sacrifice bunt (video link), was on crutches in the clubhouse prior to the game.
Acquired from the Rays in a spring training trade sending pitching prospect Joe Rock to Tampa Bay, the 26-year-old Jones was the No. 22 overall pick in the 2019 draft. After impressing with a 2019 run in Low-A and a 2021 run in High-A, his bat stalled out in Double-A and Triple-A, however, and his prospect stock tumbled accordingly. Jones had a rebound last year when he slashed .278/.344/.467 in a hitter-friendly Triple-A setting (101 wRC+), which was enough to pique Colorado’s interest and bring about that offseason swap.
While Jones spent about a month on the injured list this season, he’s gotten into 20 Triple-A games and taken 89 plate appearances, batting .240/.360/.387 with a hefty 12.4% walk rate against an also sizable 28.1% strikeout rate. Jones has popped two home runs and, despite his limited time on the field, already swiped 15 bases in 16 attempts. He’s played both shortstop and center field in Albuquerque this year, spending more time at the latter of the two.
Strikeouts have been an issue for Jones throughout his minor league tenure, but scouting reports have credited him as a 70- or even 80-grade runner with a plus arm and huge athleticism. Injuries have regularly kept him off the field though, and paired with the lost minor league season in 2020, Jones has just 293 professional games despite being drafted nearly five years ago.
Those roadblocks in his development have left him rougher around the edges than most 26-year-old minor leaguers, but there’s a clear collection of impressive tools in his skill set if he can eventually hone his bat-to-ball skills with more reps. Doing so at the game’s top level will be a challenge in and of itself, but with Bouchard and Bryant likely headed to the IL alongside outfielders Nolan Jones and Jordan Beck, the Rockies aren’t exactly teeming with outfield options. Michael Toglia is already expected to take Bryant’s spot on the big league club, and Jones is the only other outfielder on Colorado’s 40-man roster.
It’s sad, the poor Rockies just go from bad to worse. Well, maybe some of the young players getting a chance due to injury will stick.
Respectfully, Greg Jones is an upgrade on KB at this point. When Nolan comes back, the Jones boys will party at Coors. Greg has 129 steals in 1100 at-bats. Greg is a fun lottery ticket, KB is just trash mistakenly placed in the recycle bin.
Welcome to the show!
Doesn’t appear to be much of a hitter but speed plays in that ballpark. He could earn a role on the club even if it isn’t a long term full time role.
I keep reading these articles about players making their debut and then the word recall included I hate being bloody pedantic, but recall means to “return” or “remember.” If they’re debuting, they can’t be recalled…
I’ve thought the same thing. How can you be “recalled” to the majors if you were never there? You can be called but not recalled.
Because he was on the 40 in ST and had to be optioned when the 26 man roster took effect. So he’s being recalled from his option assignment.
Makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up.
Makes sense
No it’s actually correct we’re just looking at it in the wrong context. It is a recall because the Rockies preferred to fix their damaged goods while they’re chewing up major league roster space and plate appearances with garbage output.
I recall Central Park in fall
Let’s take a peak back at that trade too lol. What is wrong with the Rockies
Rays fan here, was always intrigued with Jones, but he never quite got a chance. Hope he does well with the Rockies. All those switch-hitting middle infielders that were top prospects…only one of them panned out, and then we know what happened. Jones has to work!
They didn’t recall him, they called him up.
It’s time for the Lance Vance Dance!