The Astros have signed utility player to a major deal, according to an announcement from the team. He’s currently been assigned to the Florida Complex League but is expected to join Triple-A Sugar Land soon.
Top prospect, 27, was recently released by the White Sox to make room on their 40-man roster for Yoendrys Gomez, who has since been designated for assignment. At the time of his release, he was on the minor league injured list with an unspecified injury. Since injured players can’t be placed on outright waivers, the White Sox had no choice but to release him.
Now free to sign elsewhere, he has landed with the Astros. While his current health status is uncertain, he brings impressive speed to the organization. Over 375 minor league games, he’s stolen 167 bases in 192 attempts—an 87% success rate. He’s also shown versatility in the field, having played second base, shortstop, and all three outfield spots.
Offensively, Jones has struggled. Since the beginning of 2023, he’s made 769 plate appearances in the minors, primarily at Triple-A, hitting 28 home runs but also striking out 37.3% of the time. That’s resulted in a .247/.326/.428 slash line and an 84 wRC+. In the majors, he’s had just eight plate appearances, posting a .143/.250/.571 line.
For Houston, this is a no-risk signing. Jones, a former first-round pick by the Rays in 2019, could be a valuable bench piece as a pinch runner and defensive option. Any improvement at the plate would be an added bonus.
