Detroit Tigers: An ode to Jacoby Jones

The Detroit Tigers recently designated JaCoby Jones for assignment. We look back at his career in Detroit and the memories he provided to me as a fan.

In one of the final moves by David Dombrowski made as Detroit Tigers GM, on July 15, 2015, he traded Joakim Soria to the Pittsburgh Pirates for JaCoby Jones, who was playing the infield for the Altoona Curve.

Jones would split time in between two seasons of Arizona fall ball, Erie and Toledo. The day he hit the first home run of his Double-A career in Erie was a special one. He would go on to hit three home runs that day against the New Britain Rock Cats.

Another favorite memory of mine was he being mic’d up during a March spring training this year against the Phillies. Videos like this can be cheesy but this a great behind the scenes on a player before and during a game.

JaCoby Jones broke into the Major Leagues just as the Detroit Tigers competitive window was closing. He played 13 games in 2016 when the Tigers went 86-75, good for a second-place finish in the American League Central.

Since then, Jones and the Tigers have limped through five years together in a rollercoaster marriage. The team has gone just 222-380, good for a meager .369 winning percentage. Despite the team’s struggles, Jones has been a fan favorite over the years and it is sad to see him go. I am going to break down Jones’ time here in Detroit through the good, the bad, and the ugly.