Jones will now turn his attention to pro baseball. A left-hander with a 91 mph fastball, Jones was a 13th-round pick by the Houston Astros coming out of high school. Following his accident, Milwaukee picked Jones in the 50th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft, but those rights have expired. He would be a free agent should he get to a point where he wanted to try out for a franchise. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...up-football-comeback-trying-baseball-instead/ http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...s-will-try-baseball-after-failed-nfl-comeback http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2013/05/is_former_lsu_star_chad_jones.html
Mainieri said this about him in Oct 2012 "I wouldn't put anything past this kid," Mainieri said. "He hadn't pitched since high school, and three years later and comes and gets the biggest outs imaginable in the College World Series. He's an amazing athlete, probably along with (Chicago Cubs pitcher) Jeff Samardzija, the best athlete I've ever coached. If he totally dedicated himself to baseball, I have no doubt he could be a Major League Baseball player." "If he's healthy throwing-wise and works on the things he needs to do as a pitcher, he could progress (as an outfielder) just as easily as he could as a pitcher," Mainieri said. "He has all the tools to do either one." http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2012/10/lsu_baseball_coach_paul_mainie_17.html#comments
Wish him the best as he is a real Tiger. I thought pursuit of FB after the accident was quizotic but maybe he needed it to push the rehab.
Props to the Giants organization for signing him and sticking with him during his rehab. A less classy organization would have broken him off before that.
It's tough when a dream dies, that's for sure, but I can easily see the Dreadlocks of Doom stalking onto the mound from the bullpen like Wild Thing from Major League in a few years.
That would be the logical choice but I'd like to see him make it as a position player (corner outfielder?). I bet he would hit with some pop. He could probably make the Astros roster now.
Fletcher Mackel @FletcherMackel 1d Chad Jones baseball UPDATE - Jones worked out for TB Rays scout Thursday. Source tell me "Jones 87-89 fastball, solid curve."
