Hunter Jones
Encyclopedia
David Hunter Jones is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
who is currently a free agent
. He played college baseball
at Florida State University
in 2004 and 2005 but missed much playing time due to a fractured arm. Jones had successful surgery but went undrafted. He signed as a free agent
with the Red Sox organization then spent several seasons in the minor leagues
from 2005 thru 2009. Jones was called up to the Red Sox on April 15, 2009 and made his major league debut five days later, pitching one scoreless inning in a Red Sox victory over the Baltimore Orioles
.
Jones is six feet, four inches tall and weighs 235 pounds. He throws and bats left-handed
.
On November 5, , Jones was traded to the Florida Marlins with minor league pitcher
Jose Alvarez for Jeremy Hermida
.
Florida Marlins
released Jones on June 22, 2010.
Jones is playing winterball for the Aguilas del Zulia in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional) for the 2011-2012 season.
and a 89–93 miles per hour two-seam fastball
. He used to throw a circle changeup
and a curveball
but in 2007 he stopped throwing the changeup and the curveball developed into a slider
which almost acts like a slurve
. He has had good success versus righties.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He played college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
in 2004 and 2005 but missed much playing time due to a fractured arm. Jones had successful surgery but went undrafted. He signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the Red Sox organization then spent several seasons in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
from 2005 thru 2009. Jones was called up to the Red Sox on April 15, 2009 and made his major league debut five days later, pitching one scoreless inning in a Red Sox victory over the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
.
Jones is six feet, four inches tall and weighs 235 pounds. He throws and bats left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
.
On November 5, , Jones was traded to the Florida Marlins with minor league pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Jose Alvarez for Jeremy Hermida
Jeremy Hermida
Jeremy Ryan Hermida is an outfielder in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.-Early career:...
.
Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
released Jones on June 22, 2010.
Jones is playing winterball for the Aguilas del Zulia in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional) for the 2011-2012 season.
Pitching
Jones throws a 92–96 miles per hour fastballFastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
and a 89–93 miles per hour two-seam fastball
Two-seam fastball
A two-seam fastball is a pitch in baseball and a variant of the straight fastball. The pitch has the speed of a fastball, but the general movement of a screwball...
. He used to throw a circle changeup
Circle changeup
In baseball, a circle changeup is a pitch thrown with a grip that includes a circle formation, hence the name. The circle is formed by making a circle with the index finger, holding the thumb at the bottom of the ball parallel to the middle finger and holding the ball far out in the hand...
and a curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
but in 2007 he stopped throwing the changeup and the curveball developed into a slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
which almost acts like a slurve
Slurve
The slurve is a baseball pitch in which the pitcher throws a slider as if he were throwing a curve ball. The term is a portmanteau of the words "slider" and "curve".-History:...
. He has had good success versus righties.