Adam Jones (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adam Jones |
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![]() Jones with the Baltimore Orioles in 2009
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Center fielder | ||||||||||||||
Born: San Diego, California, U.S. |
August 1, 1985 ||||||||||||||
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Professional debut | ||||||||||||||
MLB: July 14, 2006, for the Seattle Mariners | ||||||||||||||
NPB: June 19, 2020, for the Orix Buffaloes | ||||||||||||||
Last appearance | ||||||||||||||
MLB: September 28, 2019, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | ||||||||||||||
NPB: September 19, 2021, for the Orix Buffaloes | ||||||||||||||
MLB statistics | ||||||||||||||
Batting average | .277 | |||||||||||||
Home runs | 282 | |||||||||||||
Runs batted in | 945 | |||||||||||||
NPB statistics | ||||||||||||||
Batting average | .250 | |||||||||||||
Home runs | 16 | |||||||||||||
Runs batted in | 66 | |||||||||||||
Teams | ||||||||||||||
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Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Adam LaMarque Jones (born August 1, 1985) is a former American professional baseball player. He was a fantastic center fielder who played for 14 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, and Arizona Diamondbacks. He also played two seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes in Japan.
Adam Jones was a key player for the United States national baseball team. He helped Team USA win its first gold medal in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, which is a big international baseball tournament. The Seattle Mariners chose Jones in the first round of the 2003 MLB draft. He started as a shortstop in the minor leagues before becoming an amazing outfielder. He made his MLB debut in 2006 and later joined the Orioles in 2008. Adam Jones was chosen for the MLB All-Star Game five times, won the Gold Glove Award four times for his excellent defense, and also won a Silver Slugger Award for his hitting.
Contents
- Adam Jones's Early Life
- Adam Jones's Professional Baseball Journey
- Playing for the Seattle Mariners
- Joining the Baltimore Orioles
- 2008 Season Highlights
- 2009: All-Star and Gold Glove
- 2010: More Great Defense
- 2011: Best Hitting Season So Far
- 2012: Big Contract and Playoffs
- 2013: Another All-Star Year
- 2014: Division Champions
- 2015: Fifth All-Star Selection
- 2016: Reaching 200 Home Runs
- 2017: Breaking Records
- 2018: Final Orioles Season
- Playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks
- Playing in Japan: Orix Buffaloes
- Retirement from Baseball
- Adam Jones's International Baseball Career
- Adam Jones After Playing Baseball
- Adam Jones's Personal Life
- See also
Adam Jones's Early Life
Adam Jones was born in San Diego, California, on August 1, 1985. He grew up loving the San Diego Padres baseball team and their famous player, Tony Gwynn. Adam was good at both football and basketball, but he didn't start playing baseball until he was 12 years old.
In 1997, his stepfather took him to a Padres game, and that's when Adam really got interested in baseball. He learned the sport quickly and became a star player on his high school team. Adam graduated from Morse High School in 2003. In his senior year, he was a great pitcher and shortstop. He hit .406, had four home runs, and brought in 27 runs. He was also a good pitcher with a 3–0 record. Adam had planned to play college baseball at San Diego State, where Tony Gwynn was coaching.
Adam Jones's Professional Baseball Journey
Playing for the Seattle Mariners
Starting His Career: 2003–2005
The Seattle Mariners picked Adam Jones as the 37th player in the first round of the 2003 MLB draft. He was chosen as both a shortstop and a pitcher. Even though he could throw very fast as a pitcher, Adam preferred to play every day. He started his professional career as a shortstop.
In 2005, the Mariners asked Adam to switch to playing center field, and he agreed. He started playing this new position regularly in the Arizona Fall League. Baseball experts often said Adam was one of the best athletes in the Mariners' minor league system and had a very strong throwing arm.
First MLB Games: 2006–2007
Adam Jones joined the Mariners' main team in MLB on July 14, 2006. He made his first MLB appearance that night. On July 18, he got his first major league hit. His first major league home run came on August 10.
On August 3, 2007, Adam returned to MLB. In his two partial seasons with the Mariners, he played in 73 games. He hit .230 with 3 home runs, 12 RBIs, and 5 stolen bases. He was even more successful with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, leading his team in home runs, RBIs, and triples in both 2006 and 2007.
Joining the Baltimore Orioles
On February 8, 2008, Adam Jones was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. This trade was a big moment in his career.
2008 Season Highlights
In 2008, Adam Jones had a unique game on July 28. He became only the second player ever to hit both a triple and a grand slam in the same game at Yankee Stadium as a visiting player. On September 21, he hit the very last triple ever at the old Yankee Stadium.
Adam finished his first season with the Orioles hitting .270, with nine home runs, 57 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases in 132 games. He was tied for 11th in all of Major League Baseball with seven triples.
2009: All-Star and Gold Glove
Adam Jones started the 2009 season very well and was chosen to play in the 2009 All-Star Game on July 5. In that game, he hit a sacrifice fly that brought in the winning run for the American League.
Later in the season, on September 1, he hurt his left ankle and missed the rest of the year. He finished 2009 with a .277 batting average, 19 home runs, 70 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases. He also won his first Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense in center field.
2010: More Great Defense
In 2010, Adam finished with a .284 batting average, 19 home runs, 69 RBIs, and seven stolen bases. He led all center fielders in the league with 12 outfield assists, which means he threw out runners trying to advance on the bases.
He even hit an inside-the-park home run on May 22 in a very unusual play!
2011: Best Hitting Season So Far
Adam had his best hitting season up to that point in 2011. On August 6, he hit his career-high 20th home run of the season. He led all major league players with 12 sacrifice flies that year.
2012: Big Contract and Playoffs

Adam Jones started the 2012 season hitting very well. On May 26, he signed a big contract extension with the Orioles, which was the largest in the team's history at the time. On June 9, he hit his second career walk-off home run, winning the game for the Orioles in the 12th inning.
On July 1, Adam was chosen for the 2012 All-Star Game. He hit his 100th career home run on August 28. Adam played in all 162 games in 2012, hitting .287 with 32 home runs and 82 RBIs. He won his second Gold Glove award and was named the Most Valuable Oriole for the second year in a row.
The Orioles made it to the playoffs as a wild card team. Adam helped the Orioles win the Wild Card Game against the Texas Rangers. The Orioles later lost to the New York Yankees in the 2012 American League Division Series.
2013: Another All-Star Year
Before the 2013 season, Adam Jones played for the United States national baseball team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Fans voted Adam to start in the 2013 All-Star Game, which was his third time being an All-Star. He had a strong 2013 season, hitting .285 with 33 home runs and 108 RBIs, both new career highs. He won his only Silver Slugger Award and his third Gold Glove award.
2014: Division Champions
On April 13, 2014, Adam got his 1,000th career hit. On May 11, he reached 500 career RBIs. Fans again voted him to start in the All-Star Game. After the season, he won his third straight Gold Glove award.
The Orioles won their division and swept the Detroit Tigers in the American League Division Series. However, they were then swept by the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series. After the season, Adam traveled to Japan to play in the 2014 Major League Baseball Japan All-Star Series.
2015: Fifth All-Star Selection
Adam was chosen for his fifth and final All-Star Game, his fourth in a row. He hit two home runs in one game, which was his seventh time doing that in his career. He also reached 100 career home runs at Camden Yards, the Orioles' home stadium.
Adam played in 137 games in 2015, hitting .269 with 27 home runs and 82 RBIs. He won the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, which is given to a player whose leadership inspires others.
2016: Reaching 200 Home Runs
Adam Jones started the 2016 season batting second in the lineup. On May 13, he hit his 200th career home run. On June 2, he hit two home runs in a game where the Orioles hit seven home runs as a team. His second home run was his 200th with the Orioles.
He finished 2016 hitting .265 with 29 home runs and 83 RBIs.
2017: Breaking Records
In 2017, Adam Jones continued to climb the Orioles' all-time lists for home runs and RBIs. On May 21, he hit his 124th career home run at Camden Yards, tying the record for most home runs in that ballpark. The next night, he broke that record with a three-run homer. He also became first all-time in extra-base hits and RBIs at Camden Yards. On August 28, Adam hit the 250th home run of his career.
2018: Final Orioles Season
On Opening Day 2018, Adam Jones hit a walk-off home run to win the game for the Orioles. On August 10, he played his first game as a right fielder for the Orioles after playing 1,555 games in center field. He also got his 86th stolen base as an Oriole, moving him into 10th place all-time for the team.
Adam Jones played the most games in center field for the Orioles and ranks high in many team statistics. His 259 career home runs as a center fielder are among the most in MLB history. He became a free agent after the season.
Adam Jones is in the top 10 for several Orioles team records, including hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, and runs scored. He was an All-Star five times and won four Gold Gloves and one Silver Slugger award during his 11 years in Baltimore.
Playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks
On March 11, 2019, Adam Jones signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In his one season with Arizona, he hit .260 with 16 home runs and 67 RBIs in 137 games.
Playing in Japan: Orix Buffaloes

On December 10, 2019, Adam Jones signed a two-year contract with the Orix Buffaloes in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan.
He made his NPB debut on June 19, 2020. In the 2020 season, he hit .258 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs in 87 games.
On November 25, 2021, Adam became known as "Mr. Thanksgiving" in Japan. He hit a game-winning home run in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2021 Japan Series on the American Thanksgiving holiday. This helped his team, Orix, avoid being eliminated. He finished his professional baseball career in 2021, hitting .234 with 4 home runs in 71 games.
Retirement from Baseball
On September 15, 2023, Adam Jones signed a special one-day contract with the Baltimore Orioles. This allowed him to officially retire as a member of the team he played for the longest.
Adam Jones's International Baseball Career
Adam Jones proudly played for Team USA in the 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC) and the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
In the 2013 WBC, he played in all six games for the U.S. team. In the 2017 WBC, Adam helped the U.S. team move forward by hitting a game-winning single in the 10th inning against Colombia. In a game against the Dominican Republic, he made an amazing catch that saved a home run and helped the U.S. reach the semifinals. The team went on to win the 2017 championship against Puerto Rico. Adam later said that playing with those guys was "probably the best experience of my life so far, especially with sports."
He also hit a game-tying solo home run against Venezuela in the eighth inning of a game, which started a rally that led to a 4–2 victory.
Adam Jones After Playing Baseball
After his playing career ended, Adam Jones worked for Major League Baseball's operations department. On January 27, 2025, the Baltimore Orioles hired Adam Jones to be an advisor to their general manager and a community ambassador. This means he helps the team with important decisions and connects with the community.
Adam Jones's Personal Life
Adam Jones married Maude "Audie" Fugett in late December 2014. They had their first son in March 2014. Adam was the best man at his high school teammate Quintin Berry's wedding and is also the godfather to Berry's son.
Adam is a big fan of the San Diego Gulls hockey team and has even helped out as an off-ice official during their games. He still supports the San Diego Padres baseball team.
Adam has four tattoos, including ones of his mother and grandmother, whom he calls "the two most important women in my life." When he hit a home run, he would often tap his left shoulder as a tribute to them.
While playing in Japan, Adam Jones started a podcast called Heckle Deez with his brother-in-law. They talked with baseball players from both the U.S. and Japan. The podcast was later relaunched in 2022 as The Adam Jones Podcast by The Baltimore Banner. Adam co-hosts the podcast with a Baltimore radio personality.
See also
In Spanish: Adam Jones (beisbolista) para niños