Full Name : Andruw Jones
Born : April 23, 1977
Hometown : Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles
Height : 6' 1
Weight : 210 lbs
Bats : Right
Throws : Right
Major League Baseball debut : August 15, 1996 for the Atlanta Braves
Primary Position : Outfielder
Not many players in the MLB stick with one team when they put up astounding numbers. Whether it is contract negotiations, free agency, trades, or the need for a change of scenery, baseball players usually end up on multiple teams throughout their careers. However, there is always an exception to the rule, and in this case, it's the Braves' Andruw Jones.
Andruw Jones definitely hit the spotlight at a young age. He was drafted by the Braves in 1993. At just 16 years old, the organization did not know what to expect from this premier prospect. On August 15, 1996, he made his major-league debut with the Braves, and scouts were already comparing him to the famous Ken Griffey Jr. Since Marquis Grissom and Kenny Lofton were receiving most of the spotlight in the Braves' outfield, Jones began his professional career as an everyday right fielder. Little did Atlanta know that Mr. Jones would soon emerge as a Gold Glove center fielder and set new standards for the Braves' organization.
After having a rough year in 1997, Jones really started to make his presence known in the 1998 season when he put up astounding numbers in every category you could imagine. He became recognized as a five-tool player that year, batting .271, slugging 21 homers, driving in 90 RBI, and stealing 27 bases. This is all aside from the fact that he also won his first (of nine straight) Gold Glove Award that year for his wholehearted performance in center field. It was clear that Jones was panning out to be one of the games best all-around athletes.
Throughout his career as a Brave, Jones put up many successful numbers that made him stand out from other center fielders. Next to winning nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards, Jones is also a five-time all-star. After posting a .263 batting average, belting 51 home runs, and driving in 128 RBI's in 2005, Jones was honored with the National League Silver Sluggers Award for center fielders. Unfortunately, he was beat out by Albert Pujols for the Most Valuable Player award during that same year.
Now at 30 years old, Jones is definitely considered out of his prime. However, he is still an exceptional center fielder, and despite losing a bit of his speed on the base paths, he still has much power to his swing. His Gold-Glove streak is on the line for the 2007 season, and with some of the emerging outfielders coming into the league, it is hard to say whether or not Mr. Atlanta will continue to claim this award. Something else to consider: Jones' current contract expires at the end of the 2007 season. That leaves fans with one question: Will Atlanta be Brave enough to sign Andruw to another long-term deal?
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