PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: D.J. Jones

By PATRICK EBERT

Alabama centerfield prospect D.J. Jones is a name on the rise this spring.  A talented and athletic five-tool talent, Jones received more attention for his speed and defense prior to the 2007 season.  His power started to emerge, as the high doubles and triples totals that he had posted in his three years leading up to his senior campaign started to turn into home runs, as he blasted 16 dingers this spring while also setting the state record for triples.

Hardly a stranger to larger, national showcase and tournament events, Jones put his skills on display at last summer’s Perfect Game National Showcase in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and later at the East Coast Professional Showcase in Wilmington, North Carolina.  The busy summer travel schedule started to wear on Jones, who admittedly wasn’t as sharp at the plate as he has been at other events, yet he still received high overall marks for his approach, arm strength, speed and overall athleticism.

Now that the bat has come around again this spring, Jones has been drawing large crowds from the scouting community.  His regular season is over, but he continues to show his ability at private workouts and at the recently completed Perfect Game Pre-Draft Showcase in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

I recently talked to Jones about his season, what he did to get his bat back on track and the strong base of talent available from the state of Alabama .

Patrick Ebert (PE):  In regards to the talent available for this year’s draft, it is a very good year in the state of Alabama .  How does it feel to be a part of this group, and how well do you know the other players being considered for the first several rounds of the draft?

D.J. Jones (DJ):  Alabama has been especially strong the past couple of years and it is definitely an honor to be included in this special group of players.  I know Kentrail (Davis) well as we roomed together last summer with the Florida Bombers.  I know all of the other guys from either playing against them in tournaments or playing against them in high school, as well as  attending the same (showcase) events.  Of course, I have a special connection to Hunter Morris and Kevin Patterson because we have all signed with the Auburn Tigers.

(PE):  Your speed and power profile seems similar to Colby Rasmus, a first-round selection from Alabama two years ago.  Is he a player you looked to given the proximity to model your own game after?

(DJ):  I know all of the Rasmus family and I played a tournament with Colby a couple of years ago.  We are similar in makeup physically and tool wise.  Obviously being from Alabama and knowing what kind of player he is I would be crazy not to model my game after his to a certain extent.

(PE):  Less than a month away from the draft, are you starting to get a feeling of where you may be taken and for what teams are showing the most interest in you?

(DJ):  As far as the teams that have shown the most interest, I definitely know who they are. My family has done a good job of keeping up with who has been at games.  I’ve not worried about where I might be taken in the draft, I’ve just been enjoying my senior year and playing the sport I love.

(PE):  How many scouts regularly attended your games this spring, and was it difficult to focus during the games given that added attention?

(DJ):  Most games there was someone there and a lot of nights there would be several clubs represented.  It was not difficult to focus as I just made up my mind at the beginning of the season to go out and play for the Gulf Shores Dolphins and concentrate on helping my team.  My coaches did a good job of accommodating scouts without it being a distraction and my teammates did a nice job of understanding the situation.  Concerning scouts, I would like to add that I think the few clubs that did not see me play this season dropped the ball because of the numbers I put up.  After a frustrating summer and at Wilmington (at the East Coast Professional Showcase), I just wanted more (scouts) to come out this season and watch me prove myself, and I think the numbers were an indication that I did that.

(PE):  Now that your season is over, what are some of the things you do to showcase your skills?

(DJ):  My coaches have set up a workout schedule for me at our Sportsplex.  We contacted the area scouts for every club so that they would have a copy of the schedule, but I am mainly working out to stay sharp and prepare for the All-American Game in Albuquerque .  I work speed training, long toss, batting progression at the cage, hit live (pitching) and off of the machine, and on the field and I take fungos. I also plan to attend Perfect Game’s Pre-Draft workout in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

(PE):  Speaking of showcasing, what are the biggest things you learned and improved upon from attending numerous Perfect Game showcase events?

(DJ):  I learned what to expect in a showcase format.  From my first Perfect Game event (Sunshine South in 2005) I have enjoyed attending and getting to know a lot of good players and people. Also, you always try to better your performance at each one and I appreciate everything that Mr. Ford and the Perfect Game staff has done to help me.

(PE):  You fared pretty well as a pitcher this season as well, highlighted by the no-hitter you tossed in the state playoffs.  Do you have any interest to continue pitching at the next level, and have you received any interest from scouts and recruiters for your ability on the mound?

(DJ):  I think some of the scouts wanted to see me pitch to find out what kind of competitor I am, because you can’t hide when you are up on that mound.  I like being on the mound and up until my junior year I thought about pitching a lot.  But with my speed and the way I’ve swung the bat I think I am better suited for the outfield.  Plus, I want to play every day.  However, I would gladly trot in from the outfield if needed.

(PE):  Is it difficult to devote your summers to the game of baseball, and how much were you on the road last summer?

(DJ):  I believe that all baseball players need time off but summer is not the right time to take off.  I’ve always played travel ball in the summer as well as league ball when I was younger. It’s what you do to get better and to face tougher competition.  Last summer I took my year-end exams early in order to get started with summer ball.

(PE):  What did you learn the most from the amount of time you spent on the road playing baseball?

(DJ):  I learned that on the road a player is going to have some downfalls and in order to survive you have to make adjustments and overcome adversity.  At times I have handled it better than others but I will use it as a learning experience for the future.

(PE):  What led to your decision to play football last fall, and did you receive serious interest to play football or possibly both sports at the college level?

(DJ):  Right after I came home from summer ball I went to a seven-on-seven scrimmage.  I had not planned to play, but I love football and wanted to enjoy my senior year in high school.  We had a good season and I was able to play on both sides of the ball at wideout and corner(back).  I had already committed to Auburn so I called Coach Slater to tell them I was going to play (football).  I received full support from the Auburn coaches.  As far as football at the next level, being able to run out of that tunnel at Jordan Hare Stadium would be awesome, but I better just stick to baseball.

(PE):  Auburn obviously is a big draw given the program’s reputation, but was there anything in particular that led to your decision to commit to play for the Tigers over the other colleges that were pursuing you?

(DJ):  First of all I love the state that I live in and Auburn is a great school, not to mention I am a die-hard Tiger fan. The coaches at Auburn are great, the facilities are amazing and it’s a place I wouldn’t mind calling home for the next couple of years.

(PE):  In what aspects do you feel you excel as a player?

(DJ):  I enjoy hitting and being able to run.  The home runs are fun, too.  I believe that one of my best strengths is being a top-level defensive outfielder.  I don’t like for the baseball to hit the ground if it’s up in the air, and I take pride in getting good reads and tracking the baseball.  I also feel that I keep my emotions under control and play with a level head.  I might not be a rah-rah type of player, but I still play with passion and I play as hard as I possibly can.  I love to play the game.

(PE):  In what areas have you worked the most to improve, and what have you done to get better in these areas?

(DJ):  I’ve always spent a lot of time hitting. My dad has thrown to me since I was very young and we’ve spent a lot of hours at the park. My high school hitting coach, Dirk Dixon, has helped me to fine tune my plate approach. I got stronger in the weight room this year and that has helped in all areas of my game. I still want to get stronger, faster and continue to improve my arm strength.

(PE):  Who has had the biggest influence on you as a player, and what was the biggest piece of advice you have ever received and from whom?

(DJ):  My father has always been a huge influence on me and my baseball career.  He wasn’t a great player himself, but he is a football coach, and he knows how much ability I have and how much room I have to improve.  He hasn’t allowed me to slack off and I work much harder because of that.  The best advice I have been given is to thank God for the ability he has given me and to use it, not take it for granted.  Also, to set my goals high and don’t stop until I reach them.  These values came from my family.

(PE):  I always give those that are kind enough to speak to me the opportunity to end the interview with their own words of wisdom.  The podium is now yours…

(DJ):  Baseball is the greatest sport of all time and I plan on being in the game for a long time.  Hard work mixed with God-given ability, discipline and passion will put an athlete where he deserves to be and I believe I am on the right track.

Patrick Ebert is affiliated with both Perfect Game USA and Brewerfan.net, and can be contacted via email at pebert@brewerfan.net.