In 10 words or less: The Angels’ highest upside position player prospect since Mike Trout.
Position: OF | Age (2016): 18
Bats: R | Throws: R
Height: 5’11″ | Weight: 210
2015 Rank: N/A
OFFENSE
Contact – B. It’s hard to give out a definitive grade on a 17-year-old’s performance across his first 40 games in Rookie Ball. But in his limited exposure there, Jones didn’t show any signs of impending weakness in terms of making contact.
Power – B. Jam’s a strong kid, athletic kid. He looks every bit the all-state wide receiver he was as a sophomore in high school. His reflexes and bat speed are both premium stand-out tools in a class full of talented prep players. While his swing is currently more geared toward line drives, it’s very easy to envision this changing as he matures. When all is said and done, I can see him developing into a 20-30 HR type of hitter just as easily as I could see 5-10. The point is he’s strong and is set to only get stronger.
Discipline – B. Jones has an advanced bat for his age (very young for the draft). Though scouts and Angels personnel alike are quick to remind us that he still has a ways to go, Jam has shown signs both in high school and the professional ranks of being able to work counts with a polished game in the batter’s box.
Speed – B+. He’s VERY fast, as evidenced by the 16 SB in only 40 games. I wouldn’t project him to steal 60 bases a year like he was paced for in Arizona, but I do believe 20-30 should be the norm once he reaches the upper minors and the majors. It’s one of Jam’s many standout tools.
DEFENSE
Arm – C. So far, Jahmai’s arm probably ranks the worst of all his tools, and that’s to say it’s currently an average offering. I’d put it on par with Mike Trout’s arm at the same age (keep in mind, Trout’s arm only got stronger as he grew older, which explains why it’s a solid MLB quality arm now). Jahmai has enough arm to stick in CF, though I don’t envision him being classified as “plus” ever. We could see him move to the corner outfield in a few years, but such a move isn’t necessitated right now.
Fielding – B. All reports indicate Jones more than held his own with his glove. He should be an above average fielder moving forward.
Range – A. This is where I was most impressed with Jahmai. His jumps and closing speed were absolutely fantastic. It reminded me of watching Lorenzo Cain from the Royals play CF. His jumps, routes and quickness aren’t as good as Trout, but the closing speed makes up for much of it. While Jones won’t be elite like Trout or even Bourjos out there, he looks like he can cover a ton of ground.
OVERALL
Performance – B. Gets drafted, has a very good performance as one of the younger players in Rookie Ball. I’d say Jones has every reason to be happy with his on-field performance in 2015.
Projection – A. Right now, if Jones hits his ceiling, we’re looking at an all-star caliber player. The type of guy that could hit for a high OBP, steal 20+ bases, hit 20+ HR’s and play good defense. There’s a long way to go before he gets there, but Jones has that sort of upside.
What to expect in 2016 – We should be able to expect Jones to man CF for the Orem Owlz in his age 18 season, which isn’t unheard of. The truly elite high school talent will head to A-Ball this next season, and while I view Jones to be part of the elite group of prep players from the last draft, I’ve studied the Angels farm system long enough to know they used to be ultra-conservative when it come to their promotions, frequently keeping players at a level for an additional year longer than necessary. This has since normalized to where now they just conservative, instead of ultra-conservative. So while a smart, progressive team would move Jones to A-Ball, the Angels will likely keep him in Rookie Ball.
Most Likely Scenario – Jones takes a few years to develop, but eventually grows into an everyday major leaguer. Not a superstar but good enough to be a starter.
Grade as a Prospect – B. His youth, tools and upside all garner “B” status from me.
Estimated Time of Arrival – 2020. Making the major leagues as a 22-year-old. That’s the age where many of the best prospects usually get their first taste.
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