Images from an Evergreen 2A Conference baseball game between Centralia and W.F. West at Wheeler Field in Centralia on Thursday, April 25, 2019.
Images from a State 2A regional baseball game between W.F. West and Archbishop Murphy at Wheeler Field in Centralia on Saturday, May 18, 2019.
Five weeks after being selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the amateur draft, former Bearcat standout Brock Jones has signed on the dotted line. With the ink now dry on his contract the southpaw pitcher is officially a professional baseball player.
A 2019 graduate of W.F. West, Jones was picked by the Diamondbacks in the 16th round of the draft back in June. Listed at 6’1 and 180 pounds, Jones was the 484th pick in the draft. During his senior season for the Bearcats he tossed 43 ⅔ innings with a 4-3 record and a 0.80 ERA. He allowed just 14 hits and five earned runs while striking out 89 batters.
“I still don’t think it’s hit me yet, honestly,” Jones said during a phone call from the Diamondbacks spring training facility in Arizona on Monday. “The last few days have felt just like being at a tournament with my summer ball team. I’m sure it will hit me in the next couple weeks.”
Jones will be working out with the Arizona League Diamondbacks in the Rookie League until Aug. 31. He says he hopes to return home for a couple of weeks at that time for a visit and some rest. Until then he plans on putting in the time to hone his craft and begin what he hopes is a steady ascent through the minor league ranks.
“The facilities are amazing. They feed us and give us all sorts of apparel. Then the workout facilities are great. Everything is top notch,” said Jones, who is being housed in a hotel by the Diamondbacks.
A scouting report on the MLB.com draft tracker notes, “Jones’ delivery is clean and repeatable from the left side, and he possesses a natural ability to spin his breaking ball for strikes. The Washington commit needs to add a bit more life on his below-average fastball to succeed at the next level.”
Jones says that he would love the opportunity to play for the Hillsboro Hops in short season A-ball at some point since it’s relatively close to home. However, he admits he has no idea where he’ll end up playing his next season. He’s just ready to start proving he belongs in the professional ranks.
“I’m not really sure yet. They’re just taking me really slow right now. They take all the high school pitchers slow,” Jones explained. “I don’t have control over where they put me. I only have control over my performance and doing what I do. If I do well then I’ll get what I want and if I don’t then I’ll be stuck in the same place for a long time.”
Jones had previously committed to play baseball and further his education at the University of Washington. After being selected by Arizona he was initially unsure which path he would choose for his next step on the diamond. Late last week he made up his mind with the help of an increased signing bonus offer that wound up totaling $550,000.
“I’d really like to thank my advisor because he really negotiated pretty well and got me the amount that I wanted. It was ultimately just how much can I get that way it would satisfy me to not go to college,” Jones said. “Another big part is that they have the college scholarship thing so at any point I can go to any college I want and they’ll pay $150,000. I just can’t play college baseball.”
Jones was named the Evergreen 2A Conference All-League Baseball MVP this year as well as the The Chronicle’s All-Area Baseball team MVP.
