Druw

Jones

There are some lingering questions marks for Crews in the hard contact department, but the second-overall selection from the loaded 2023 MLB Draft has been excellent this season in the upper minors, batting .267/.331/.433 with eight homers and 20 thefts in 71 games between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester. He figures to arrive in the big leagues at some point following the All-Star break. We could spend hours discussing the rest of this fascinating assortment of prospects that includes some of the fastest-rising names in fantasy circles. Here’s the rest of the senior circuit’s lineup: Justin Crawford LF, Crews RF, Termarr Johnson 2B, Bryce Eldridge 1B, Ethan Salas C, Druw Jones CF, Cam Collier 3B, Aidan Miller SS and Drake Baldwin DH.

Jones was added to the 7-day injured list on Saturday. Jones, who was selected second overall in last summer’s MLB draft, was off to a slow start this year, hitting .175/.283/.200 across 46 plate appearances. The 19-year-old underwent shoulder surgery last year, so seeing him slow out of the gate is not surprising. He’s regarded as a top-50 prospect but is still years away from the majors.

Jones, who was selected second overall in last summer’s MLB Draft, continues to make steady progress in his recovery from shoulder surgery. The 19-year-old tore the posterior labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder during his first official workout with the club at Salt River Fields just a few days after the draft. He’s universally-regarded as a top-50 prospect entering the 2023 campaign, but is years away from the majors.

It’s unclear how long Jones will be sidelined at the moment and it’s an unfortunate outcome for the second overall selection in the 2022 MLB Draft. The 18-year-old outfielder sustained the injury in his first official batting practice session with the organization last week. There should be an update on his status sometime in the near future.

This BP session took place just after Jones, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, signed pen to paper on an $8.19 million signing bonus from the D-backs. “It seems like he will be out for a little while,” farm director Josh Barfield told The Athletic. Jones is scheduled to visit a doctor on Wednesday to help determine the best course of action, but it sounds like he might not play any pro ball this season.

Jones is the son of former star OF Andruw Jones, and he’s considered by many to be the best prospect in this class by a considerable margin, even if he didn’t go with the first selection. The 18-year-old outfielder has five tools that have a chance to be plus when he’s done developing, and like his dad, he’s a terrific outfielder with a strong throwing arm. His smooth swing and bat speed give him a chance to hit for average, and he’s already showing plus power with a chance for more as he fills out his 6-foot-4 frame. Jones will need a few years in the minors, but he’s the type of talent that could someday be the best fantasy prospect in baseball.

It’s the largest bonus ever for a high school position player, topping the $7.7 million that Bobby Witt Jr. received from the Royals back in 2019. The 18-year-old outfielder, who was selected second overall in the 2022 MLB Draft on Sunday by Arizona, is the son of former Braves’ legend Andruw Jones. He’s widely considered the top prospect in the entire draft class, especially from a long-term fantasy perspective, despite being taken behind high school shortstop Jackson Holliday, who the Orioles grabbed with the first overall pick.