O's Jones making his mark

By Jeff Zrebiec | jeff.zrebiec@baltsun.com

May 12, 2009

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Orioles center fielder Adam Jones has left his mark everywhere in the first five weeks of the season, and that includes the home bullpen at Camden Yards.

The New Era baseball cap sign that hangs there now carries a significant dent, courtesy of Jones' line-drive home run off the New York Yankees' Brett Tomko on Saturday, a blast that left the park fast and landed with a thud.

Such displays of power, talent and bat speed are becoming regular occurrences for the 23-year-old, whose rapid growth has gotten the attention of teammates and opponents, and given the Orioles something to feel good about in a season that has had its share of frustrating moments.

"The improvement we saw from the beginning of last year to now is staggering," Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon said. "He's very, very talented. If he keeps this progression rate going, he's going to be at a few All-Star [games]. If the Orioles put it together, he might even have a chance to challenge for MVP honors. He's that talented."

The Orioles knew all about Jones' tools when they insisted that he be the centerpiece in their five-player return in the trade that sent ace left-hander Erik Bedard to the Seattle Mariners last February. What they didn't know was how quickly he would adapt to the major leagues, how he would respond to failure and how eager he was to learn. They do now.

"He's a remarkable young player," Orioles hitting coach Terry Crowley said. "Adam Jones is getting to the point where he's going to be around .300 this year and he's going to hit for more power.

"He's made a tremendous amount of improvement in a very short span of time. He's still a young man. There are guys his age that we call prospects that are in A-ball, but he's already with us for the second year."

Jones had a solid first season with the Orioles, batting .270 with nine home runs and 57 RBIs while proving a quick study in center field, a position he didn't start playing until late in the 2005 season. All he has done so far this year is lead the Orioles in batting average (.358), total bases (75), doubles (12), extra-base hits (19) and slugging percentage (.480). He's tied with Nick Markakis for the team lead in hits (43) and runs (33), and with Markakis and Aubrey Huff in home runs (six).

"I'm more mature," said Jones, whose hot start has made his locker a popular attraction for members of the local and national media. "I feel like I don't have to try and hit the ball harder, or do other things harder. I just try to put the barrel on the ball and let my ability take over."

Jones (6 feet 2, 210 pounds) is physically stronger than last year after spending the offseason on a strict training and eating regimen. However, there are plenty of other reasons that teammates cite for his dramatic improvements.

Markakis and Huff credit his improved plate discipline after watching Jones get overpowered by high fastballs and fooled by sharp breaking balls last year. Crowley and first base coach John Shelby talk about Jones' increased confidence, while manager Dave Trembley feels that Jones has simply learned how to hit and use both sides of the field.

Jones acknowledges that it is probably a combination of all those things but says an increased comfort level with his surroundings has made the biggest difference.

"I'm an Oriole now," Jones said. "People would always ask me last year, 'Who did you get traded for?' I couldn't stand that question. I don't get asked it anymore. That's the best part."

Jones, a San Diego native, can be both inquisitive and brash, and on most days, appears to enjoy the give-and-take between teammates, opposing players and even reporters. Last season, he approached Los Angeles Angels center fielder Torii Hunter, the owner of eight Gold Gloves, and informed Hunter of his plans to win the award.

When told by a writer from a fantasy baseball publication this spring that he was being projected to hit .260 with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs in 2009, Jones scoffed. "I was thinking, 'Thanks for the vote of confidence, you jerk,' " Jones said, smiling.

Still, Jones concedes that he often suppresses some of his thoughts and opinions in deference to veteran teammates. It's something he learned from his baseball mentors, a group that includes Hunter and Mark McLemore, a former Oriole and longtime big league infielder who went to the same high school as Jones.

"They say that he has the same abilities that I have, but I think he has a little more," Hunter said. "I had a chance to watch him when he first came up in Seattle and he was like 20, and I couldn't believe the talent that he had. I saw all the potential in the world, and I was thinking, 'Just think if this guy had a little more time.' Now, he is getting the time, and he's showing what he can do."

There are still times when Jones shows his age and inexperience. He can be prone to swinging at bad pitches. Defensively, he has thrown to the wrong base and taken circuitous routes on some fly balls this season. But the Orioles say it's all part of his maturation process, which has accelerated before their eyes.

"I think a lot of people still don't know how good he is, but by the end of the year, everybody will know about Adam Jones," Orioles infielder Ty Wigginton said. "In my opinion, he's going to have a lot of hardware in his house someday, probably a mantel filled with Gold Gloves. It's just a matter of everybody else seeing it, too."

Stunning development

Center fielder Adam Jones has played in 30 of the Orioles' 32 games. Here's a look at his numbers through the 30-game mark, compared with his 2008 totals at that point.

Year	Avg.	R	2B	HR	RBI	OBP	Slg.
2008	.248	11	7	2	10	.292	.390
2009	.358	33	12	6	21	.418	.625