Today: ATL Prospect Brandon Jones
The most major league ready of Atlanta's stable of outfield prospects, Brandon Jones is a player on the cusp of a big league career, just waiting for the right opportunity. Drafted in the late rounds of 2003, Jones has been something of a late-bloomer, only breaking into the top echelon of prospect ranks last season.
After paying his dues in three levels of professional ball, Jones broke out AA Mississippi in 2007 and really came into his own after being promoted to AAA Richmond, where he hit an even .300 with four homers and five steals in six weeks of duty. He received an opportunity on the Atlanta bench near the end of the year, and while he struggled under the bright lights, his tools were enough to get him invited to big league camp as 2008 broke.
| Yr | Tm | Age | Lvl | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| 2004 | Danville | 20 | R | 57 | 209 | 35 | 62 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 33 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 33 | .297 | .366 | .416 | .782 |
| 2005 | GCL Braves | 21 | R | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .125 | .125 | .125 | .250 |
| 2005 | Danville | 21 | R | 2 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .286 | .375 | .286 | .661 |
| 2005 | Rome | 21 | A | 43 | 156 | 37 | 48 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 27 | 4 | 1 | 29 | 29 | .308 | .423 | .577 | 1.000 |
| 2005 | Myrtle Beach | 21 | A+ | 17 | 60 | 7 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 9 | .350 | .437 | .417 | .854 |
| 2006 | Myrtle Beach | 22 | A+ | 59 | 226 | 27 | 58 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 35 | 11 | 6 | 25 | 49 | .257 | .329 | .420 | .749 |
| 2006 | Mississippi | 22 | AA | 48 | 176 | 18 | 48 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 38 | .273 | .326 | .477 | .803 |
| 2007 | Mississippi | 23 | AA | 94 | 365 | 58 | 107 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 74 | 12 | 7 | 44 | 84 | .293 | .368 | .507 | .875 |
| 2007 | Richmond | 23 | AAA | 44 | 170 | 26 | 51 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 36 | .300 | .363 | .453 | .816 |
| 2007 | Atlanta | 23 | MLB | 5 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | .158 | .190 | .211 | .401 |
Jones was a football and baseball star in high school and turned down multiple college gridiron offers to focus on baseball. On the field, he has a quiet workaday confidence that belies the fact his body is exploding with latent ability. A quick swing with blossoming power projects to 30 home run potential in the major leagues if he gets an everyday job, he also has plus speed that should translate to serious base-stealing potential once he learns the nuances of reading pitchers and catchers.
Due for more seasoning at AAA, Jones will remain a phone call away should the Braves suffer more injuries or require an extra lefthanded bat. Atlanta is well-stocked in young outfielders, though, so it's quite possible Jones won't get the opportunity he needs until some roster-cleaning happens at the trade deadline, or even after the season.
Each and every day, TodaysProspect.com looks at a new up-and-coming player somewhere in baseball, helping you learn a little more about baseball's talent pool one day at a time.
To look back through earlier prospects of the day, click the 123 date boxes on the top right corner of this page.
