Adam Jones considers each at bat a chess match between the hitter and the pitcher. The opponents must adjust to each other from season to season, game to game and pitch to pitch. Yet in Jones’ case, the chess match rarely lasts more than a few moves. As one of baseball’s most aggressive hitters, he goes up there swinging.
He summarizes his hitting approach succinctly: “get a good pitch to hit and let it go.”
He’s true to his word. Even at a time that most teams around baseball value patient hitters highly, Jones swings early and often. He has offered at 59 percent of all pitches since the start of the 2013 season, ranking second behind only A.J. Pierzynski among all qualified batters.
“If you’re going to throw a ‘get me over’ pitch, I’m going to hit it,” Jones says.
There are times that taking a walk can help, which Jones acknowledges. His career on-base percentage of .322 would be higher if he prioritized walks, but that’s simply not his style.
“There are certain situations I should learn and be better, but for the most part my style is who I am and changing that would change a lot about my game,” Jones explains. “You can fine-tune things, but me being aggressive is going to be one thing that’s me. It’s gotten me to where I’m at, so I don’t think I’m going to mess with those things.”
The 28-year-old San Diego, Calif. native is sticking with what he does best for good reason. He has reached the 30-home run plateau in consecutive seasons, earning All-Star Game selections, Gold Gloves and MVP votes each year. He’s off to a slower start this year, with a .284 batting average and one home run through Wednesday. But his approach at the plate hasn’t changed. American League pitchers should know that Jones steps into the box with an aggressive approach.
“You can’t just flip in a first-pitch off-speed pitch,” Jones says. “You can’t groove a fastball because the middle of the lineup guys are aggressive guys and they’re good mistake hitters. It’s a chess match with them, trying to go back and forth consistently. See what they’re going to do, what you’re trying to do. It’s a constant chess match of adjustments. That’s what makes the game beautiful.”
Even if the results aren’t there just yet, the 2003 first round pick remains a bat opposing pitching coaches and managers focus on. “Jones is such a good hitter,” says Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. “A dangerous hitter.”
Jones goes up to the plate looking for fastballs, his favourite pitch. (“I love hitting heaters. Oh yeah. I love hitting heaters.”) But when runners are in scoring position, he’s ready for off-speed stuff, too. In the end, Jones will end up swinging more often than not even if it’s not a fastball.
“I don’t mind hitting a hanging slider,” Jones says. “I don’t mind hitting a hanging change-up. I don’t mind hitting a hanging curveball, a hanging split. If you hang it, I’m going to bang it. That’s my motto.”
