Justin

Jones

Jones, one of the Cubs’ top pitching prospects, had missed a month with shoulder tendinitis.

Jones was demoted earlier this month even though he had a 3.25 ERA in six starts for Double-A New Britain. The talented left-hander should move back up soon.

Jones was hit in the left foot by a line drive. X-rays are scheduled for today. Jones, a 2002 second-round pick, has a 2.35 ERA in eight starts for Lansing. He’s one of the better pitching prospects in the low minors.

Jones is now 3-3 with a 2.91 ERA in nine starts for Lansing.

Jones had been in extended spring training. The 20-year-old lefty still has a great deal of long-term potential, but he’s had major problems staying healthy. If he can just get through the rest of this year without any difficulties, it’d qualify as progress.

Jones is the surprise here. Four years removed from his days as one of the Cubs’ top prospects, he had a 3.72 ERA in 121 innings in the Nats’ minor league system this year. Most of those came at Single-A Potomac. Mock is the best prospect in the group. Whitesell and Bernadina don’t currently project as major leaguers, but the Nationals still have little enough older talent in their system that they can afford to protect them for a year. 40-man roster spots will be at more of a premium in 2009 and 2010.

That explains it. Bowden didn’t suggest it, but Jones could be re-signed to a minor league deal.

We’d like to know what changed the Nationals’ minds about Jones, who was added to the 40-man roster back on Oct. 24. The former Cubs prospect had a 3.72 ERA in 121 innings in the minors last season.

Jones, who was acquired from the Cubs for Doug Mientkiewicz two years ago, is a candidate to take a big step forward if he can put in a completely injury-free season. He’s allowed just an unearned run in six innings this spring.