Adam Jones to retire as an Oriole September 15th
Former Baltimore Orioles star center fielder Adam Jones is set to retire as an Orioles on September 15th, the Orioles announced today. Jones was the leader of the Orioles during the Buck Showalter rebirth of the Orioles and nicknamed Captain.
The Seattle Mariners originally drafted Jones in the first round (37th) overall of the 2003 draft. Jones would play parts of two seasons in 2006 and 2007 for the Mariners before being traded in the offseason in a blockbuster trade for Erik Bedard along with several other players coming the Orioles way.
The Erik Bedard trade brought the Orioles Jones, Kam Mickolio, Chris Tillman, Tony Butler, and George Sherrill. Jones, Tillman and Sherrill would all become All-Stars for the Orioles, in a trade that I consider to be the best in Orioles history.
Jones would go to five All-Star games and win four Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger award for the Orioles. Jones would play for the Orioles from 2008 to 2018 before finishing his MLB career in Arizona in 2019. After the 2019 season, Jones would go on to play in Japan.
Jones would finish his career with 282 home runs, 336 doubles, 29 triples and a .277 average, a very good career. The only real knock on Jones’ game was his lack of discipline at the plate, Jones only walked 340 times in his career and often swung at balls out of the strike zone.
I do think Jones career was cut a little short, at age 34 he headed to Japan despite still being able to play at a pretty high level but he lost some speed that effected his ability to play center.
Jones will always be a fan favorite in Baltimore who took leadership of the team day one despite being only 22. Jones brought personality to the Orioles with his famous cream pie celebrations.
The Orioles should induct Jones into the Orioles Hall of Fame soon.
